Photo By Cpl. Colby Brown | Marines from 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, sit...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — The lock to the back door of an amphibious assault vehicle releases. Before the door is halfway down, Marines sprint out. They form an assault line in front of the AAV and buddy rush into town. Insurgents send small arms fire at the Marines from windows in buildings. The Marines engage and eliminate the threat. Tanks roll through the main intersection of the town, drawing out remaining insurgents to clear the area.
That was the scene as 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, began Enhanced Mojave Viper with Clear, Hold and Build Exercise 1 at Range 215 here Feb. 27. Each company from the Lava Dogs cleared the mock town of a military operations in urban terrain facility in platoon-sized assault forces. A platoon of tanks from 1st Tank Battalion and AAVs with 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion were integrated with the Lava Dogs while each platoon commenced their assault.
The exercise spaned three-day period, encompassing a different part of the exercise each day. “Clear” is the first part, focusing on the fight, and is an assault into a known hostile position with the mission of eliminating any hostiles or driving them away from the area.
“This training exercise gives us the opportunity to practice going from an all out fire fight to focusing on the Afghan people,” said 2nd Lt. Josh White, 1st Platoon commander, Bravo Company, 1/3, of Hayti, Mo. “Today we focused on the fight and while conducting the exercise we focused on basic infantry tactics and information gathering.”
During the assault, each platoon was able to practice buddy and fire team rushes. They also practiced communicating between each squad while taking fire and assaulting an enemy position.
“We’re sharpening our ability to work together as a unit and with this being the first exercise of EMV, everything goes back to the basics,” said Staff Sgt. Michael Euller, platoon sergeant, 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, native of Rison, Ark. “We’re building on the skills we will need when we deploy to Afghanistan.”
This exercise also allows squad leaders and platoon leaders to evaluate their unit and pinpoint any areas that need improvement. “Coyotes,” or evaluators of the unit’s readiness during each exercise help by giving a third party view of their performance and advice on how they could do better.
“We’re combining all the things we have learned from previous training and working on how to employ it in a real life scenario,” said Sgt. Ruben David, squad leader, Bravo Company, and native of Allen Park, Mich. “It allows us to see where we are at as a squad and as individuals so we can become more successful as a unit.”
For the Lava Dogs, training in the field provides them much more learning experiences than classroom teaching or their regular duties while in garrison. It allows them to work together as team as they will while deployed learn firsthand.
When Marines are on a base or waiting for training to begin, it can sometimes be difficult to maintain a positive mindset, said Lance Cpl. Edward Stevens, designated marksman team leader, 1st Platoon, Bravo Company. “But when we come out to the field and train, it is easier to find something good to be happy about. We’re all hands-on learners, so for us to learn something we have to do it. You will never find the stressful atmosphere of the field during a PowerPoint presentation.”
| Date Taken: | 02.27.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.02.2011 23:02 |
| Story ID: | 66365 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 238 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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