Marine Corps Base Quantico is known as the crossroads of the Marine Corps where thousands of emerging leaders receive integral training and education that will impact the expanse of their career. Organizations including Marine Corps University, Officer Candidates School, The Basic School, and Headquarters and Service Battalion are among many organizations on base that help mold Marines. But perhaps the engine that keeps the entire base running like a well-oiled machine is the G-4 Logistics Division.

G-4 provides logistical support to the base, tenant activities, government agencies and regional Department of Defense components in support of their operational plan and mission. Under this division  includes the Distribution Management Office, Materiel Supply Branch, Transportation Support Branch, Bachelor Housing Branch, Food Services Branch, Ammunition Supply Point and Ordnance Maintenance Branch.

“Our role is critical in ensuring the base units and tenant commands all meet their mission, which is training Marines,” said Larry Eck, operations manager at G-4.

Although supporting the National Capital Region is not their primary mission, the Logistics Division which is comprised of 113 Marines and 161 civilians, has at times answered the region’s 911 call.

During the mass shooting at the Washington Navy Yard on Sept. 16, 2013, the Transportation Support Branch and Food Services Branch played a critical role in supplying and delivering 1,000 Meals Ready to Eat to employees who were on lockdown.

Whether it’s providing supplements for a 10-mile hike, ammunition for live-fire training or coordinating shipment for a Permanent Change of Station move, the Logistics Division is the lifeblood of the base functions, said, Master Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Williams, logistics chief at G-4.

The Materiel Supply Branch provides supply support, property control, ordinance maintenance and management, retail supply support through ServMart and fuel distribution to Quantico and NCR. The Ordnance Maintenance Section fall under this branch.

“We provide field-level maintenance support for ground ordnance, optical equipment and welding to 20 different units on base and within the NCR,” said Staff Sgt. Lorenzo Rucker, maintenance chief, Ordnance Maintenance Section.

The Quantico Ammunition Supply Point, which also falls under this division, provides ammunition, explosives storage and issue support to Quantico and external organization on base and in the NCR, including the FBI, DEA, State Department, Pentagon Police, Secret Service, Army, Navy among several others.

The supply point has more than 400 different types of ammunition and processes more than 1,345 ammo transactions per month, said Bill Rulli, officer in charge at the Quantico Ammunition Supply Point.

The Transportation Support Branch manages the base and NCR’s garrison fleet of vehicles, providing responsive, non-tactical services in support of military missions. Additionally, the Bachelor Housing Branch offers 169 housing slots for civilian and military members who are traveling on government-funded orders. The Distribution Management Office handles all commercial freight of items like military vehicles, arms and explosives. DMO also helps Marines relocate, managing the shipment of personal property goods and passenger travel.

G-4 support is an essential to Quantico’s operational plan and mission.

“Without the proper support, supply or administration mission success would be jeopardized,” said Gunnery Sgt. Guy Saucedo, operations chief at G-4.