Photo By Cpl. Scott Whiting | Cpl. Randy Teal, a squad leader with 3rd Platoon, Company B., 1st Battalion, 6th...... read more read more
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YUMA, Ariz. - Company B took to the field for the first week of a rigorous, month-long infantry training exercise for 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, March 26, 2013.
The Marines practiced all kinds of firing drills for the Talon Exercise, which precedes the bi-annual Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course aboard Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona. Talon Ex is specific to the infantry Marines before they support Marine Aviation and Weapons Tactics Squadron One in WTI.
The battalion traveled on March 22, from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune to Yuma, then to Forward Operating Base Laguna, where the Marines are currently staying for the duration of the training.
Company B left the FOB the evening of March 25 to set up camp at the first range. The next day they were up and firing in the early morning. The first day included the usual tables three and four firing drills which require the Marines to fire on targets at different distances while moving and pivoting, along with other variables, including a nighttime shoot.
They also executed live-fire buddy-rushing drills, which require communication between partners to rush the target while maintaining a steady rate of fire.
The company moved to a different range the next morning where they spent the day engaging targets at a distance with different weapon systems, including the Shoulder-launched Multipurpose Assault Weapons, AT-4’s, the M16A4 with the M203 grenade launcher, M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle and the M240B machine gun.
They also fired the weapons at night under a simulated high-stress environment to teach composure under duress. Leaders yelled orders to their Marines to get their adrenaline running in order to duplicate a stressful situation.
The next two days were spent on a vast, hilly range, teaching the Marines to assault an area with a platoon-sized force. The scenario they were given had them facing an enemy special forces group taking refuge in a small village. Each platoon had to plan and execute their attack on the second day.
Second Lt. Nick Rossovkij, the platoon commander for 1st Platoon, Company B, said his platoon did very well in the platoon attack. He explained that after their practice runs, they executed their plan perfectly.
The final two days of Talon Ex tested the company’s focus. After successfully completing the platoon attacks, the last training objective was a company attack.
“The scenario was a battalion attack on an enemy company reinforced with tanks, artillery and mechanized reconnaissance,” said Capt. Daniel Grainger, the company’s commanding officer.
The simulated enemy was in a prepared defensive position reinforced with obstacles.
The company’s signal to attack was mortars dropping, and when they hit, the platoons charged attacked up the hill. The Marines pushed through fatigue and exhaustion and made it to the top of the hill to fire on the distant targets. They provided fire until a Combined Anti-Armor Team arrived on the firing line, firing TOW missiles and Javelin rockets.
“(Company B) destroyed the enemy, seized the key terrain, and suppressed battalion objective two in order to allow another company to attack,” said Grainger. “I was very happy with our performance. It was a tough week for us out there. Even though we are in good shape, we are still operating in a desert environment at 1000-foot elevation with a fighting load for six days. They covered about 1000 meters in the final attack, which is a long way for a rifle company. The platoons were exactly where they needed to be. The platoon sergeants and squad leaders did a great job of moving their Marines.”
Arizona’s terrain varies greatly from Camp Lejeune’s humid environment, but it didn’t take the Marines long to adjust.
“I don’t think the adjustment was that bad,” said Grainger. “The weather wasn’t too harsh so far. We, as a company, have a very aggressive combat conditioning program, and that really aided in our acclimatization.”
With Talon Ex over with for Company B, they now look forward to getting into the heart of the WTI training.
“We are at a very good place as a rifle company,” said Grainger. “We came out here relatively inexperienced, and we’ve grown a lot just in the last week. I’m looking forward to the more complex operations in store for us as a company while supporting MAWTS-1during WTI.”
| Date Taken: | 04.04.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 04.04.2013 18:10 |
| Story ID: | 104657 |
| Location: | YUMA, AZ, US |
| Web Views: | 587 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
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