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The living conditions of Camp 5 were a great improvement over the
warehouse at the port.   Marines and Sailors billeted four men to
a room which featured comfortable racks and air conditioning.
Also, a free and well-appointed laundry facility was available on
the camp.

The battalion offices were established in a single building
identical to the billeting buildings with racks removed.   While
the conditions were not plush,  they were very adequate and a
prodigious improvement over the severe situation at the port.
Moving to Camp 5, however, did produce some inconvenience.   As
mentioned earlier,  the communication operations continued at the
port for nearly six weeks after the battalion billeting moved.
This was a separation of about fifteen miles requiring a twenty
minute journey by vehicle over excellent highway.   Accordingly,
periodic runs were conducted to move personnel for the   syscon,
techcon and communication center watch change overs.   A civilian
24 passenger bus was leased and utilized for this purpose as well
as two organic 5-ton trucks.

Another,  significant aspect of this initial period in Saudi
Arabia was the battalion and company training.   The companies
exerted considerable effort to accomplish worthwhile training in
anticipation of more strenuous operations to come. Specifically,
NBC training was the primary focus of this period followed by
individual weapons training.   NBC training centered on
familiarization,  individual protective measures and personal
decontamination.

Individual and crew served weapons training was conducted weekly
at the company level.   Gun drills, fire control measures and I
weapons safety were often repeated classes.   Further, the I
battalion sponsored four days of live fire training at a range I
located on the King Abdul Aziz Naval Base.   Over four hundred I
Marines completed the BZ0 course and fired while wearing a gas I
mask during these four live fire events.

Although much effort was expended in transporting watch standers

to and from the port and conducting valuable training,  the real I
focus of effort was the installation and maintenance of the I
communication system.   Growing from no tactical communication I
capability to a fully integrated system, the communication I
network initially supported CG 7th MEB and ultimately CG I MEF.

The most significant challenge of this communication system was I
the requirement to accommodate I MEF compositing upon 7th MEB.
Other than the initial installation,  the compositing events I
provided the most significant challenge that the battalion I
assumed during the initial period and influenced all planning I
and communication system operations.

At the outset of the deployment,  single channel radio was the I

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