Filling in the gaps: ‘America’s Battalion’ begins final pre-deployment training exercise [Image 4 of 6]

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, UNITED STATES

08.27.2011

Photo by Cpl. Reece Lodder  

Marine Corps Base Hawaii

Cpl. Steven McKinney, a mortarman with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, moves down Range 101 to examine his target during a battle sight zero exercise on Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Aug. 27, 2011. The Marines of 3/3 traveled from Hawaii to California last week to begin the 35-day Enhanced Mojave Viper training exercise. While 3/3's prior pre-deployment training in Hawaii focused on the battalion internally, EMV will allow them to combine with supporting arms, aviation and logistics units, and train to fight as a Marine Air Ground Task Force. This exercise will be their final evaluation before deploying to Afghanistan's Helmand province in support of Operation Enduring Freedom this fall.

• Date Taken: 08.27.2011
• Date Posted: 08.28.2011 04:51
• Photo ID: 448830
• VIRIN: 110827-M-MM918-004
• Resolution: 2954x1597
• Size: 3.77 MB
• Location: MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, US