Marines from Okinawa take on field training at Camp Fuji

Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Jeffrey Cordero | Lance Cpl. James Crump, an admin clerk with headquarters platoon, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, engages enemy mock insurgents during a five day field training exercise at the Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, Feb. 9-13.  

02.27.2009

Story by Cpl. Jeffrey Cordero 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

Marines and Sailors with the 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, faced harsh, cold weather of the Mount Fuji, Japan, area during a five-day field training exercise at the Combined Arms Training Center, Camp Fuji, Japan, Feb. 9-13.

The purpose of the exercise was to familiarize Marines and Sailors with current standard operating procedures and to improve their effectiveness in a simulated combat environment, according to Staff Sgt. Rodrigo B. Arias, the local security chief with 12th Marines Headquarters Battery.

The Marines were tested in setting up a combat operations center in two different locations. The environment was combat simulated, which required them to set up security around the perimeter and provide a support team.

"If you don't have security, you can't operate a COC," Arias said. "The goal of the security is to enable the COC to effectively receive, compute and send missions to subordinate units."

The Marines worked from two different positions during the exercise. During the second day in the field, they changed positions to test the Marines' ability to hastily take down and put up a command post.

Once they arrived at their second location, they were given information that enemy insurgents roamed the area.

"The reason we established enemy opposition is to test the Marines' ability to work under stressful conditions," said Arias.

The command section was attacked several times during the last three days of the field exercise.

During the attacks, the security team was responsible for conducting defensive tactics and calling in support if the enemy became a threat to the command section.

"If the COC is unable to send fire missions, we are done," Arias said.

Many of the Marines and Sailors found the exercise helpful to their mission.

"We were able to perform something outside of our usual schedule," said Cpl. Jasen D. Ellis, the maintenance management chief with Headquarters Battery.

The training also helped the Marines improve their skills in a combat environment and gave them an opportunity to test their strengths and weaknesses since the Marines do not normally have the opportunity to train in the field.

"We normally don't spend more than two days training in the field," said Master Gunnery Sgt. Willie J. Currie, the senior enlisted artillery man for 12th Marines.

The Marines and Sailors were also able to use new operating equipment, according to Currie.

"This is the first time we've used a combat operation center," said Currie.

In the end the Marines were able to perform their training and successfully operate the command post without being overrun by the mock insurgents.

"I think this was a great opportunity and I was able to learn a lot from this experience," said Ellis.

• Date Taken: 02.27.2009
• Date Posted: 03.05.2009 04:26
• Story ID: 30764