Photo By Sgt. Isaac Ibarra | Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 4, Combat Logistics Regiment 3, execute earth...... read more read more
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CAMP HANSEN, Japan - The air was thick with fog as rain began to pour down, and although the Marines slogged through shin-deep mud, they continued to train.
Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 4, Combat Logistics Regiment 3, executed a field exercise June 23-26 at Camp Hansen. During the exercise, the Marines used heavy equipment such as the 120M motorized road grader and the Tractor, Rubber-Tired, Articulated Steering, Multi-Purpose forklift to become proficient in operating on rough terrain.
“Right now the mission is for the Marines to get used to the gear,” said Staff Sgt. Jesus Fernandezsalazar, a heavy equipment operator with CLB-4, CLR-3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “The unit was equipped with new gear about three years ago. Some new Marines were not familiar with it, and this field exercise gave them the opportunity to use (the equipment).”
This is the second time younger Marines with the battalion went out into the field to use the new equipment, according to Sgt. Michael O. Scott, a heavy equipment operator with the battalion. The only way to be become proficient at using the equipment is through practice.
“The best way to get good at moving dirt is by doing it,” said Scott, a Smithville, Texas, native. “It takes years and years of practice.”
The battalion was not expecting bad weather, but it gave them the advantage of having a more realistic scenario, according to Fernandezsalazar, a Phoenix, Arizona, native.
“It’s important for them to understand that the weather is not always going to work with you,” said Fernandezsalazar.
A Marine can be deployed anywhere in the world, and will have to train in different types of terrain to operate equipment effectively.
“On deployment in Afghanistan we did a lot of earth moving,” said Scott. “We turned what was supposed to be a three-day maneuver into a three-hour travel time.”
The rain and mud also gave the Marines an opportunity to overcome various obstacles, including vehicle recovery training.
“It keeps us ready,” said Pfc. Jacob C. Zeier, an O’Fallon, Missouri, native and a heavy equipment operator with the battalion. “No matter where we go, we will be proficient with the gear.”
| Date Taken: | 06.26.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 07.10.2014 04:13 |
| Story ID: | 135696 |
| Location: | CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, JP |
| Hometown: | O'FALLON, MO, US |
| Hometown: | PHOENIX, AZ, US |
| Hometown: | SMITHVILLE, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 187 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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