TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - More than 5,000 Marines came to in the Combat Center’s training area from Marine Forces Reserve and I Marine Expeditionary Force to participate in Large Scale Exercise-1/Javelin Thrust 2012 from July 2 through July 12.
In the past, the Javelin Thrust Exercise focused on refining tactical skills for individual Marines and units while small unit commanders and staff practiced command and control. Now with LSE-1/JT12, the focus is put on the Marine Expeditionary Brigade-level to conduct command and control of the Main Subordinate Elements.
LSE-1/JT-12 was not only taking place at the Combat Center, some of the exercises supporting actions took place at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. The additional sites provided a venue to fully exercise a MEB staff across the range of military operations in a combination of live and synthetic environments. This is designed to meet the Commandant’s intent to provide training venues to the Marine Corps’ middleweight force.
Though not a true MEB-sized exercise, the 1st MEB oversees the command element of the MAGTF. The size of a MEB can range from 10,500 to 14,500 Marines and sailors. Even though the Combat Center is the largest installation in the Corps, a full-sized MEB could not operate in its training areas.
LSE-1/JT12 follows a series of three Javelin Thrust exercises.
LSE-1/JT12 retains the opportunity for small unit training while providing a rare training opoportunity for a MEB staff to exercise command and control of units in a complex joint and coalition operating environment.
One of the most significant achievements of this year’s Javelin Thrust and LSE-1 is the collection of data and lessons learned for designing the future LSE. This is a crucial step in developing the MAGTF Training Program.
Editor's Note: Individual units participating in LSE-1/JT12, the 25th Marine Regiment; Marine Aircraft Group 49; Combat Logistics Regiment 4; 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division and the 33 Canadian Brigade Group.