Photo By Cpl. Joshua Murray | Pfc. Ryan Fahringer, a machine gunner with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, fires...... read more read more
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CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Marines with Weapons Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, conducted a combined mortar and machine gun live-fire exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., June 4, 2014.
The two-day exercise allowed new Marines with Weapons Platoon to get experience behind their weapons, said 1st Lt. Kenneth Joseph, the platoon commander.
“These ranges are important for the Marines’ training," said Joseph. “It gives the Marines an opportunity to fire at any distance possible with their weapons and, ultimately, that’s what makes us successful in a deployed environment.”
Weapons Platoon conducts ranges regularly to keep its Marines familiar with their weapons and train its new machine gunners and mortarmen to conduct effective fire missions, said Cpl. Justin Northern, a machine gunner with the platoon.
“When the Marines first get out of (the School of Infantry) they aren’t used to conducting the ranges that we do here,” said Northern. “We show them the basic 1,000 and 2,000-meter series, we see how comfortable they are behind their weapon systems, and make sure they know how to properly conduct everything from firing missions to traversing and searching for enemies.”
The platoon recently reformed after being tasked out as basic infantrymen for operations overseas.
“My platoon has not been a weapons platoon for over a year because during their deployment to Afghanistan and their special mission to Yemen they assumed the role as basic infantrymen,” said Joesph. “So on top of having 60 percent new Marines to train, we also have to get our more seasoned Marines back into the regular routine as a machine gunner or a mortarman.”
Training on the weapons of their trade is essential to the success of the Marines of Weapons Platoon in a deployed environment, said Northern.
“As the Weapons Platoon in an infantry company, we have quite a bit of responsibility on the battlefield,” said Northern. “We are the Marines who are responsible for controlling all of the medium ground and getting the raid force close enough to engage the enemy and take the objective.”
Over the two days the exercise spanned, the Marines of Weapons Platoon conducted approximately 15 mortar fire missions and conducted more than 50 traverse-and-search machine gun missions.
“It has been two incredibly long days for all of the Marines participating out here,” said Joseph. “It’s hot out here and the training is exhausting, but the Marines have done very well and I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
| Date Taken: | 06.04.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.05.2014 18:01 |
| Story ID: | 132227 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 146 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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