Functioning on flexibility: ‘America’s Battalion’ bolsters air-ground task force capabilities for Afghanistan [Image 2 of 5]

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, UNITED STATES

09.21.2011

Photo by Cpl. Reece Lodder  

Marine Corps Base Hawaii

Lance Cpls. Justin Downing and Patrick Walker, mortar men with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, brace themselves while firing a 60mm mortar round during Exercise Clear, Hold, Build 3 on Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Sept. 21, 2011. The two-day evolution — part of the Enhanced Mojave Viper training exercise — enabled “America’s Battalion” to improve its capabilities as the ground combat element of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force. The exercise is their final pre-deployment training event before deploying to Afghanistan’s Helmand province next month to support Operation Enduring Freedom. Walker, 25, is from Clearwater, Fla. Downing, 18, is from Huntingtown, Md.

• Date Taken: 09.21.2011
• Date Posted: 09.24.2011 11:58
• Photo ID: 462124
• VIRIN: 110921-M-MM918-002
• Resolution: 2100x1477
• Size: 2.31 MB
• Location: MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, US