Vertical assault prepares MEU Marines for upcoming deployment

Photo By Capt. Adam Miller | Sgt. John M. Dearing provides security July 18 at the Central Training Area, Okinawa, Japan, during a Marine Expeditionary Unit exercise. The training scenario called for the 31st MEU’s Battalion Landing Team to insert via aircraft into a landing zone near a simulated hostile village to seize and capture high-value individuals. Dearing is a rifleman with 3rd Bn., 5th Marine Regiment, 31st MEU. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Adam B. Miller/Released)  

CENTRAL TRAINING AREA, OKINAWA, JAPAN

07.18.2014

Story by Cpl. Adam Miller 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

OKINAWA, Japan - Training for an upcoming deployment, Marines participated in a vertical assault scenario July 18 at the Central Training Area, Okinawa, Japan, during an ongoing Marine Expeditionary Unit exercise.

The scenario incorporated the 31st MEU’s air and ground combat elements to test their capabilities in a seize-and-capture response situation which required Marines to fast-rope from a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter.

“This training is the first time for us to work underneath the 31st MEU’s command element and execute a vertical assault, integrating the Battalion Landing Team with the ACE,” said Lt. Col. Robert C. Rice, a Richland, Washington, native and the commanding officer of BLT 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st MEU. “It’s an opportunity for us to work together, share standard operating procedures, and make sure that we can accomplish the missions assigned to us by the MEU.”

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 provided support to the ACE by piloting aircraft and directing the insertion of Marines near their objective to seize and capture simulated high-value individuals.

“Today was a little different for us,” said 1st Lt. Ryan P. Castello, an infantry officer with BLT 3rd Bn., 5th Marines, 31st MEU. “We were able to use the fast-rope technique out of the CH-53 and insert into the landing zone when it was untenable for the (aircraft) to land. It allows us to get a little bit closer to the objective, faster.”

There are several different ways Marines can respond to a call for action in the Asia-Pacific area of operation, according to Castello, a Ridgewood, New Jersey, native.

“(This training) is extremely important because in a combat situation we need to be very familiar with the ACE that we’re working with, as well as maintain our ability to execute our tactics, techniques and procedures,” said Castello. “So there are a lot of things that we need to be able to sustain and that we need to improve for future operations.”

The scenario included all levels of the units’ chain of command, so analysis and review could be provided from all participating members to include the battalion commander down to individual riflemen.

“These guys train for this stuff and we try to throw some scenarios in there that they may not be accustomed to, so it’s not just like walking the dog,” said Gunnery Sgt. Jason M. Whipkey, a Pennsgrove, New Jersey, native and an infantry unit leader with BLT, 3rd Bn., 5th Marines, 31st MEU. “It was evident by how they executed that they had trained to this and it was a success.”

• Date Taken: 07.18.2014
• Date Posted: 07.29.2014 02:51
• Story ID: 137584
• Location: CENTRAL TRAINING AREA, OKINAWA, JP
• Hometown: PENNS GROVE, NJ, US
• Hometown: RICHLAND, WA, US
• Hometown: RIDGEWOOD, NJ, US