JUNGLE WARFARE TRAINING CENTER, Japan – Thirty six Marines with the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band traded their instruments for rifles, ropes and rappelling carabineers, Jan. 28 to Feb. 1, taking on the Jungle Skills Course at the Jungle Warfare Training Center.
The band members, preparing for an upcoming deployment to Korea, represented more than half of the 70 Marines from III MEF Headquarters Group who attended the course.
The course marked the first time in about five years the band has been able to take part in supplemental training, according to Gunnery Sgt. Carlos Flores, the band's training chief.
Many of the Marines took to the change of pace with zeal.
"It's fun traveling around all sorts of places and playing for people," said Cpl. Leah C. Morales, the French horn section leader with the band. "But here we get to go out, get dirty and have fun. Plus, we all know each other, so we build on our teamwork."
The course refreshes skills on land navigation, patrolling and hand and arm signals. The course also teaches jungle shooting and how to traverse rough terrain, according to Staff Sgt. Benjamin Luna, the course's chief instructor.
"We try and give them a variety of exercises to get a taste for how it is when conducting operations in the jungle," Luna said.
Even with Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, where the climate is arid and the surrounding terrain is mostly desert, the training here is still useful, according to Luna.
"This training can be applied anywhere," he said. "You will have to use patrolling techniques and land navigation skills in Iraq just as much as you would in the jungle. The jungle's rough terrain and low visibility just make it harder. I've been to many land navigation courses, and this one is, by far, the hardest."
The course was demanding for some students. However, many of the Marines felt confident and excited going into the five-day course.
"It's been a challenge, but this is the stuff I really love to do," said Cpl. Aaron Wagner, a trumpet player with the band. "We get to push ourselves to another level and build on our camaraderie."
The Jungle Skills Course culminates Feb. 1 when the III MHG Marines take on the endurance course. The course spans roughly 3.8 miles and can take teams of 15 Marines hours to finish.
With sharpened skills and an added sense of solidarity, the Marines feel confident heading into their deployment, Wagner said.
"This has given us a better feel for being in the field," he said. "I think we are all a lot more confident and are better prepared to deploy."
| Date Taken: |
02.01.2008 |
| Date Posted: |
02.01.2008 04:42 |
| Story ID: |
15953 |
| Location: |
|
| Web Views: |
311 |
| Downloads: |
295 |
PUBLIC DOMAIN
This work, III Marine Expeditionary Force Band takes on Jungle Skills Course, by 2nd Lt. Kevin Knallay, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
Subscribe
