IWAKUNI, Japan - Combat Logistics Company 36 Marines returned here after completing jungle warfare training at the Jungle Warfare Training Center in Camp Gonsalves, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 26, 2012.
During the eight-day course, 66 servicemembers learned basic infantry tactics, such as patrolling, ambushes and communication in a jungle environment.
“If we were to get deployed to a jungle, we would have the basic knowledge on how to survive,” said Lance Cpl. Bryan Stuck, CLC- 36 motor transportation mechanic and jungle warfare training participant.
Nine Marines and a Navy corpsman from CLC-36 were given the opportunity to volunteer for the training. CLC- 36 personnel were put together into first squad and worked together throughout training.
“It was a good experience for me just to get out and do something with Marines,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Joshua White, CLC-36 corpsman. “Of course, when you go to the field, you get to know your Marines better because we don’t work together in the shop.”
Upon their arrival, all participants had to go through a final medical screening to ensure they were able to participate.
“When I heard about what this was, I was bummed because there were no more spots open,” said Marine Pfc. Alexander Huntington, CLC-36 motor transportation mechanic and jungle warfare training participant. “But then two people couldn’t go because of medical reasons, so I was able to go.”
After numerous classes, rappelling and setting up a forward operating base, each squad worked together in the final event, an endurance course.
“There are 31 obstacles in the endurance course,” said Lance Cpl. Victor Seif, CLC-36 basic electrician and jungle warfare training participant. “It takes up 3.8 miles of jungle.”
The obstacles were a culmination of everything servicemembers learned during jungle warfare training.
The last mile of the course consisted of a litter carry where the squad must carry a member on a stretcher through rugged terrain.
Although training was demanding, Marines in first squad kept the motivation high as they progressed through the endurance course said Stuck.
With training complete, knowledge wasn’t the only thing taken away from training.
“There was a lot of camaraderie in our squad,” said Stuck. “The 10 of us that were out there, it brought us closer together.”