Photo By Pfc. Franklin Mercado | Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 6, 2nd Marine Logistics Group push a Humvee...... read more read more
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CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - As the sun commenced its journey across the sky, Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 6, 2nd Marine Logistics Group began their expedition to be named best in the battalion.
More than 80 of the battalion’s Marines gathered at Soifert Field here for a physical and mental challenge Sept. 27.
“It’s the worst day of your life you have to survive,” said Maj. Brian W. Mullery, the battalion’s commanding officer. “It’s our job to make sure when you encounter the worst day of your life, you can walk away from it and wake up the next day.”
After listening to the commanding officer’s words of encouragement, the Marines broke off into their teams and began the challenge.
Everyone started at the same event. Five of the team members crawled underneath each other while the sixth ran to a backpack that sat in the middle of the field. The individual had to program the frequency of a communications system and ensure they could talk to the battalion via the radio. From there, the teams grabbed their gear and took off.
Obstacles were scattered throughout the French Creek area of base, and they consisted of casualty evacuations, setting up an area for a helicopter to land, a humvee push and pull, and weapons assembly and disassembly.
“A couple things impressed me,” said Mullery. “One is, and I’ve done this kind of event with other battalions before, the basic skills of knowing how to tear down a machine gun, reassemble one or do a functions check – people tend to fall over themselves when it comes to that. You all did a great job at it and talked each other through it.”
The Marines worked as six-man teams to conquer every timed event.
“If you’re doing something by yourself it’s a lot harder to keep going,” said Cpl. Patrick Campbell, a radio repairman with the battalion. “But when you have people in your team or squad counting on you, you just give that extra effort.”
His team, which was made up of a variety of military occupational specialties, placed third overall.
“This was a good way to cross train,” he said. “Everyone has a different job, so working together is important.”
The winning team was awarded with a day off work and a Certificate of Commendation from the commanding officer, but he didn’t forget about the rest of the Marines who participated.
“I don’t want to minimize or make it sound like every Marine didn’t give full effort,” said Mullery. “I’m watching. I’m watching to make sure we are setting you up for success.”
| Date Taken: | 09.28.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 10.01.2012 06:57 |
| Story ID: | 95518 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 78 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Competition puts Marines to test physically, mentally, by PFC Franklin Mercado, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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