Reservists rock Camp Pendleton

Photo By Cpl. Tyler Reiriz | Marines from 5th Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, reload an M777 lightweight 155 mm howitzer during a direct fire artillery competition at Las Pulgas, July 22. The competition determined which battery from the battalion had "the deadliest gun." All five batteries from the regiment came together for annual training.  

CAMP PENDLETON, CA, UNITED STATES

07.22.2011

Story by Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz 

1st Marine Division

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Reservists rocked Camp Pendleton as they blasted the hillsides with artillery rounds late into the night.

The Marines and sailors of 5th Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, came to Camp Pendleton to conduct their two weeks of annual training at Las Pulgas, July 14 - 28.

“We have all five batteries out here this year,” said Lt. Col. Mark Coast, the battalion commander of 5th Bn., 14th Marines. “They have usually been out on deployments, so this is the first time they have all been together at one time in probably about 10 years.”

Members of the reserve battalion came to Camp Pendleton from across the country for the training. The unit includes Marines from as far away as Hawaii and Washington D.C., who travel to their batteries each month for training. The batteries of 5th Bn., 14th Marines, are based in Colorado, Washington, and California.

The Marines conducted dozens of fire missions during exercises as individual batteries and in battalion-wide exercises. The reservists normally don’t have the chance to fire their howitzers as a full battalion.

At the end of the week, each battery selected their most proficient gun crews to compete in a direct fire competition. The Marines then manually aimed their M777 lightweight 155 mm Howitzers directly at their targets and blasted away.

The Marines gathered to watch their comrades in the top gun crews compete to be named the best.

“It helps a lot,” said Lance Cpl. Zachary Crossland, a cannoneer from Oscar Battery. “People are competitive by nature. We strive to be the best, so a competition just makes us that much more hungry for it.”

The crews were judged on accuracy and following correct weapons procedures. At the end of the competition, the crew of gun three from Papa Battery won the competition and were declared ‘The deadliest gun’ of 5th Bn., 14th Marines.

After the competition, the Marines returned to their scheduled training to prepare themselves for their next mission. The reservists went to the grenade range, gas chamber and rifle range.

“I love coming out here and leading the Marines,” said Coast. “We like to keep the Marines motivated and just keep them training and push on for the next mission that comes our way.”

• Date Taken: 07.22.2011
• Date Posted: 07.27.2011 17:55
• Story ID: 74399
• Location: CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US