CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Second Marine Division is proud to announce that Maj. James A. Fuller, of the British Royal Marines, is being awarded a Bronze Star today, June 3, 2020, on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for his contributions while deployed with Task Force Southwest as the Task Force future operations officer, from June 1, 2018, to May 31, 2019, in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Maj. Fuller presently serves as the future operations officer with 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, as a part of the Personnel Exchange Program between the United States and the United Kingdom.
Maj. Fuller’s notable accomplishments include the following:
- Served as the future operations officer for Task Force Southwest
- Was critical in planning combat operations in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and the Resolute Support mission
- He led numerous operational planning teams for training and advisory missions, that helped improve the capabilities of the Afghan National Defense Security Forces
- Helped orchestrate close integration with adjacent special operations forces, which was integral in furthering Task Force Southwest operational capabilities.
- Developed an expeditionary advisory model that facilitated the deployment of U.S. advisors to different key positions across Helmand Province leading to more direct and effective cooperation between the task force and ANDSF.
- Effectively planned the safe and efficient reception, staging, onward movement and integration of hundreds of task force personnel across geographically distributed and high-risk positions within Helmand Province.
Referring to the award and his service with Task Force Southwest, Maj. Fuller commented, “It was completely unexpected to be recognized in this manner. The special relationship that the U.K. and U.S. share is not just a transatlantic catchphrase, but in the military has been reinforced through years of cooperation and shared sacrifice. That relationship is especially poignant in the collective experiences of the Royal Marines and United States Marine Corps in Helmand Province. Being able to serve alongside my U.S. Marine brothers as part of a U.S. Task Force in support of the Resolute Support Mission was an incredible opportunity. Being recognized with this award, and the significance of what the Bronze Star represents, makes this very humbling.”
Major Steven Sprigg, currently the air officer for 2nd Marine Regiment, served with Maj. Fuller in Afghanistan. Referring to Maj. Fuller’s performance, he stated, “It truly has been an honor to serve with him, both in a combat zone and in garrison. In Afghanistan, he quickly developed a reputation that extended far beyond Task Force Southwest as a thorough and highly competent officer,” he said. “His commando training and his personal experiences provided him with instant credibility.”
Imagery of the ceremony and a written story on the award will be published immediately following the ceremony on the 2nd Marine Division Defense Visual Information Distribution Service and Flickr pages which are linked below:
https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/2MARDIV
https://www.flickr.com/photos/2dmarinedivision/
For more information, please contact myself, 1st. Lt. Dan Linfante, at (910) 545-9681 or daniel.linfante@usmc.mil.