Photo By Sgt. Danielle Rodrigues | Marines with 2nd Marine Logistics Group pose for a picture at the Mountain Warfare...... read more read more
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CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - In the Pickel Meadows of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, approximately 100 Marines from various units within the 2nd Marine Logistics Group trained at the Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, Calif., from Aug. 16 to Sept. 13.
The MWTC is one of the most secluded posts, comprised of approximately 46,000 acres with elevations ranging from 5,000 feet to 11,000 feet.
The Marines participated in the summer course training, consisting of survival techniques, mountain climate training and the assault climber’s course.
“It was like School of Infantry on steroids,” said Cpl. Taylor B. Lemmon, a bulk fuel specialist with 8th Engineer Support Battalion and acting squad leader during the mountain warfare training. “We had to drop everything that we knew about our military occupational specialty and go back to the basics to lead a squad and conduct missions as a Marine Corps rifle squad.”
The course could be broken down into three phases.
The Marines first acclimatized to the mountain terrain, receiving classes on safety and getting their bodies used to the high altitude.
“On the first day, we walked to the chow hall, not even a quarter mile away and we were already winded,” said Lemmon, a Gaithersburg, Md., native. “We got used to it and when I came back here I felt like superman, being used to that climate.”
Then they learned repelling, pack repelling, rock climbing, top roping, escape and evasion techniques, and shelter building, and performed long movements in between exercises.
“I found my limit and then I pushed it,” said Cpl. Benjamin E. Kramer, Jr., a Pittsburgh, Pa., native, and a motor transport operator with 2nd Supply Battalion, 2nd MLG. “It was a super-fast pace learning all of this, and we did a lot of hiking,” he said jokingly.
The 2nd MLG Marines went through rough conditions and were tested both physically and mentally.
“I hated hiking up the mountains,” said Lemmon. “It was hard not traversing the mountain sometimes, and when you hiked there [were no] trails. You hiked right through the terrain.”
There are two phases of climbing. The Marines climbed distances between 25 and 50 feet in small phase, and 160 and 200 feet in big phase.
“The climbing was fun,” said Kramer. “We only had ropes that were 65 meters long, so around halfway [in big phase] the belayer would have to pass me so I could climb the rest of the way. It was a long process.”
The Marines performed a six-day field training exercise after completing the initial training, performing a war simulation with an opposing force, and were instructed to secure objectives.
“The overall intent was to have the Marines a part of a different side of the Marine Corps, to have a chance to practice the ethos that the Corps preaches to Marines at boot camp,” said 1st Lt. Christian N. Jensen, a Paola, Kan., native, and the first provisional rifle platoon commander throughout the training. “I enjoyed leading the Marines. The training was great, but having the chance to lead an actual squad leader was (also) great. Marines here don’t get to do that much, and to see them lead squads and fire teams, and want to be better, was the best part.”
| Date Taken: | 09.25.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 09.25.2013 12:01 |
| Story ID: | 114240 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Hometown: | GAITHERSBURG, MARYLAND, US |
| Hometown: | PAOLA, KANSAS, US |
| Hometown: | PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 291 |
| Downloads: | 5 |
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