MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Thirty-two Marines with 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division conducted a three-day annual gunnery training May 10 - 13, 2013.
As part of the training, Marines crossed New River with amphibious assault vehicles in preparation for live-fire shoots at the designated training range.
Marines fired automatic .50 caliber machine guns as well as Mark 19 Model 3 grenade launchers with 40mm grenade training rounds.
Amphibious assault vehicles provide Marines with the sea to land element by bringing Marines and gear ashore from ships as well as providing combat support in operations.
In order to make sure the mission of the AAVs can be accomplished this type of training is crucial for the AA Bn.
“This training is making us deployment ready. It’s testing our capabilities with shooting our weapons,” said Cpl. Carlos Cruz, an AAV maintenance chief with Bravo Company, from San Antonio.
“It’s good training. It refreshes you on all the basics that you need to know,” said Cpl. Michael Pearson, a crew chief with Bravo Company, from Pleasanton, Calif.
Each Marine had a chance to use the weapons, so it allowed all of the Marines to get used to the weapon systems, said Pearson.
Proper operation of the amtraks is also a goal of the training and a skill the Marines should remember, said Cruz.
Throughout all of the training the Marines of AA Bn still look forward to firing the weapons.
“Live-fire is the money maker, it’s the part that gets your blood pumping,” said Pearson.