160 Marine Reservists Are Called

Ventura County’s 160 Marine reservists are being activated for the first time since the Gulf War.

Sixteen officers, along with senior enlisted Marines and technical experts, reported Wednesday to Port Hueneme and an additional 144 men ages 18 to 41 will arrive in early February, Maj. Francis Grzymkowski said.

“They’re leaving their jobs, they’re leaving their families, but they’re willing and able,” Grzymkowski said. “They’re really excited.”

Once assembled, the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Unit will be sent to Camp Pendleton to await orders as part of a homeland security mission covering Region 9 of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

At Camp Pendleton, the unit will be joined by hundreds of other 2nd Battalion reservists from units based in Encino, San Bruno and Los Alamitos, as well as Las Vegas and Salt Lake City.

As part of a so-called Rapid Response Force, the battalion would be available to respond to any terrorism-related crisis in the region, which spans Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau. The units could remain active for up to a year.

The Port Hueneme-based unit last year received the Gen. Melvin J. Maas Award, which designated it the top reserve unit in the nation based on field exercises, shooting, athletic competitions and training attendance.