Company K adopts combat mindset

Courtesy Photo | Recruit Dennis O. Ngirchongor, Platoon 3227, Company K, takes a drink of water before getting ready for the next Crucible event Dec. 1, at Edson Range, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. The recruits are encouraged to drink water between events so that they can remain hydrated throughout the Crucible.  

CAMP PENDLETON, CA, UNITED STATES

12.01.2010

Courtesy Story

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego       

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - A recruit stands ready with his weapon pointed down range, a magazine of 15 rounds in his left hand. He waits for the field instructor to give the command to load, aim and fire so he can begin putting rounds on target.

Recruits of Company K, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, lined up for an exercise at the Crucible Dec. 1, at Edson Range, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif.

The Crucible is a 54-hour training event conducted during Marine Corps recruit training. It is here where recruits go through simulated combat stress scenarios, which consist of food and sleep deprivation, and where recruits must overcome mentally and physically demanding obstacles.

Although recruits are challenged daily throughout their training, the Crucible is the defining moment in recruit training, said Sgt. Louis Gallardo, drill instructor, Platoon 3227, Company K.

“You need to have a combat mindset to take it seriously,” said Recruit Juan R. Sanchez-Velasquez, Platoon 3227, Company K. “You get a small taste of what the real world is.”

“Here the recruits learn how to utilize supportive firing positions, shoot from unknown distances, and use their iron sights,” said Sgt. Leeland Reyna, field instructor, Field Company, Weapons and Field Training Battalion, MCB Camp Pendleton. “They need to shoot fast and accurately at the same time.”

The recruits fire five rounds from each of three positions. The three positions simulate the prone position on a roof, a standing position from a bunker window, and a kneeling position behind a low wall.

“It [the exercise] puts you in a combat mindset,” said Recruit Jason M. Roberson, Platoon 3227. “It helps teach you to hold off a position, while having good weapon control.”

One of the challenges is that all the targets are at unknown distances. The targets are colored torsos that are placed at distances in the field unknown to the recruits, forcing them to adjust the sights on their rifles.

“It was very random. I couldn’t quite figure it out,” said Recruit Keith A. Price, Platoon 3227. “It shows how much is really unknown in combat.”

After a recruit hits the target it drops behind a mound of dirt to show a hit and comes back up a few seconds later.

The squads are starting to move from a training mindset to a real life war mindset, said Price. They are learning how to work as a team and be aware of the challenges everyone is facing rather than focusing on their own difficulties.

“It’s starting to hit home for a lot of us that we are going to war,” said Price. “It’s getting more real.”

• Date Taken: 12.01.2010
• Date Posted: 12.12.2010 20:09
• Story ID: 61824
• Location: CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US