Bravo Company shoots down Khe Sanh event

Photo By Cpl. J Nava | Recruits from Bravo Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion practice patrolling techniques during Event 6, The Battle of Khe Sanh, as part of the company's Crucible, May 12. Here the recruits demonstrate a "ranger file" characterized by a linear formation with several meters of distance between each recruit.  

PARRIS ISLAND, SC, UNITED STATES

05.19.2011

Story by Cpl. J Nava 

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island           

MCRD PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- The men of Bravo Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, completed the Battle of Khe Sanh, also known as Event 6, as part of the 54-hour trial known as the Crucible.

The event gave recruits hands-on training with patrolling techniques and was the last time the recruits would fire their weapons in recruit training.

The event kicked off with a hike from Page Field to the Battle of Khe Sanh starting area, in front of Weapons and Field Training Battalion. From there the recruits were briefed in a wooded area about the battle and its significance to the Marine Corps.

“This is a siege, and there are Marines pinned down over there,” said Cpl. Aaron Detwiler, a Weapons and Field instructor, as he pointed through the tree line across a large open area.

“You are the only ones who got the call and the only ones who can help those Marines,” Detwiler continued. “This is about as close as we can get you to the real thing.”

As soon as the brief was over, squad leaders in the company received their chance to practice small-unit leadership as they decided how to tackle the event and briefed their subordinates.

The squad-sized elements left the safety of the tree line and patrolled across the open area in a staggered column formation, keeping on the alert and checking their “six,” the area behind them, every couple of steps.

“This training has been very helpful and insightful,” said Rct. Jonathan Martin, guide of Platoon 1038, Bravo Co., 1st RTBn. “I really admire the instructors. I enjoy learning from them and their experience.”

When the recruits made it across the open field, they entered another heavily wooded area, where they formed a “ranger file,” a linear formation with several meters of dispersion between each recruit.

Once the recruits reached the end of the trail, they were given live ammunition and instructions to assault the objective.

Under the cover of smoke grenades, the individual squads of recruits advanced by fire teams to eliminate their target.

Although they had finally conquered Khe Sanh, the recruits still had more than an entire day left of the Crucible. They were tested with many more events like this one, but ultimately prevailed, earning them the right to stand among the ranks as United States Marines today.

“It feels amazing to be here,” Martin said. “I’ve wanted to be a Marine my whole life and I can’t possibly explain how this feels now.”

• Date Taken: 05.19.2011
• Date Posted: 05.19.2011 13:23
• Story ID: 70675
• Location: PARRIS ISLAND, SC, US