Training differs between nations, goal remains the same

Photo By Staff Sgt. Erik Estrada | Cpl. Travis Snow, a Killeen, Texas native and radio operator for 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and a platoon from Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry hike to a range prior to conducting a live fire shoot, during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2014, July 18. Twenty-two nations, 49 ships and six submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 26 to Aug. 1 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2014 is the 24th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Erik Estrada/Released)  

POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA, HI, UNITED STATES

07.22.2014

Story by Cpl. Erik Estrada 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific

POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA, Hawaii - Canadian and Malaysian service members along with U.S. Marines with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, conducted a squad live- fire shoot, July 18, during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2014.

RIMPAC, the largest maritime exercise in the Pacific region, is hosted in the Hawaiian Islands every two years, providing unique training opportunities to strengthen maritime partnerships, enhance interoperability and the readiness of participating forces.

“RIMPAC is an excellent exercise to promote unit cohesion and interoperability between Canada, the U.S. and all of the participating nations,” said Capt. Lexian Luciak, platoon commander, 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.

Although Marines didn't fire rounds that day, they supported the training by being personnel safety officers and got to see how the other nations conducted their assaults.

“As part of RIMPAC integration with Lima Company, we conducted squad section attacks,” said Luciak. “That way we could see how the Marines conduct their squad standard operating procedures.”

Luciak wanted to see ways both nations differentiated and possible ways to use each other’s tactics.

“It’s different, you noticed it right away from our techniques, but it’s all a part of RIMPAC and the interoperability,” said Gunnery Sgt. Ricardo Gill a San Antonio native and Company Gunnery Sergeant with Lima Co., 3rd Bn., 3rd Marines, on the way nations were training.

Techniques were different between the partnering nations, but Luciak said the basics and tactics, techniques and procedures between the two were similar. “I think a lot of the fundamentals are the same, we just use different terminology.”

Training on American bases offers many nations the chance to hone their skills and train on equipment and landscapes they might not otherwise have access to.

“I thought the range was challenging, it promoted a lot of great critical thinking out of my section leaders, and I got to see how they react on the spot which was good,” said Luciak. “I really like to empower my section commanders to see what they can come up with, as long as it is safe and effective it’s what I’m looking for.”

Twenty-two nations, 49 ships, six submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC, and it is the 24th exercise in the series that began in 1971.

• Date Taken: 07.22.2014
• Date Posted: 07.22.2014 22:58
• Story ID: 136954
• Location: POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA, HI, US