Photo By Sgt. Joshua Young | Marines with 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, and 4th AABn., perform an amphibious...... read more read more
Subscribe
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Marines with 1st and 4th Marine Divisions, partnered for amphibious training at Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 15-29.
The 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, and 3d Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, teamed with 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, 4th Marine Division, a Jacksonville, Fla., based Marine reserve unit, to conduct beach assaults and mechanized infantry operations.
While Iraq and Afghanistan were the focus of operations for more than 10 years, amphibious battalions deployed in non-amphibious roles to support the mission overseas. The Pendleton-coast training evolution provided all three units the opportunity to get back to their amphibious nature.
“Everything we’re doing out here is to try to get us back to our amphibious roots,” said Maj. Michael Hunzeker, the company commander of Bravo Company, 4th AABn. “They’ve had a lot of experience in Iraq and overseas doing infantry work, but not doing amphibious assault vehicle work. By focusing primarily on working with grunts on the water is how we’re trying to get back to our roots. We’ve spent a lot of time in the water teaching classes and re-familiarizing.”
Marines with 4th AABn., train at Camp Pendleton for two weeks and utilize the California coast for beach assaults and amphibious training.
“It’s basically the only base that allows us to do a full spectrum of operations with an AAV,” Hunzeker said. “We can get in the water and do live fire and terrain driving.”
Infantrymen with 1/4, recently returned from a deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and are training for their next float. The general role of an amphibious battalion is to transport infantrymen from ship to shore while supporting them with cover fire during beach assaults.
“We’ll be able to start thinking of, and using, the tracks as a supporting asset rather than just someone that drives us around,” said 1st Lt. Zachary D. Duncan, the Weapons Platoon commander with 1/4.
It’s been years since Marines with 4th AABn., trained side-by-side with infantry units during amphibious exercises.
“The sole reason the amphibious assault vehicle exists is to lift infantry and take them to the fight, and we haven’t had the chance to work with the infantry in a long time,” Hunzeker said. “The Marines are learning the lesson well and the training is going great since the grunts have been out here with us.”
| Date Taken: | 07.26.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 08.06.2012 14:10 |
| Story ID: | 92725 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 226 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Amphibious units train with infantry on Pendleton coast, by Sgt Joshua Young, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT