Marines get in touch with roots, perform amphibious training

Photo By Lance Cpl. David Hersey | Assault amphibious vehicles drive out of the ocean onto Onslow Beach aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Nov. 22, 2014, during an amphibious exercise. The Marines of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, performed the exercise with sailors on board the U.S.S. Oak Hill. Following the landing, the Marines moved to an urban training site where they proceeded to engage other Marines in simulated combat to secure the area. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David N. Hersey/Released)  

CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, UNITED STATES

11.22.2014

Story by Lance Cpl. David Hersey 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Engines roared and propelled the craft through the waves, its tracks grabbing at the wet sand as it reached land carrying its cargo of Marines eager to begin the day’s training.

Marines with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division conducted an amphibious landing and assault exercise Nov. 22 aboard Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

“The Marine Corps is tasked in public law and national policy to conduct amphibious operations and develop amphibious doctrine, tactics, techniques and equipment,” said Lt. Col. Trevor Hall, commanding officer of 3rd Bn., 8th Marines. “As such, infantry battalions have a core mission essential task to conduct amphibious operations.”

The Marines spent two nights aboard the U.S.S. Oak Hill and departed in the morning in three waves aboard two landing craft, air cushions and twelve assault amphibious vehicles. Upon landing, the Marines attacked an urban training area, where another of the battalion’s companies acted as the opposition force. Working in teams, the Marines cleared the buildings and secured the site, completing their mission before conducting a nine mile hike back to their battalion area.

For the Marines new to the operational forces, the amphibious training provided a unique opportunity to get in touch with one of the core purposes of the Marine Corps itself, according to Pfc. Blake J. Alewelt, an infantry assaultman with the battalion.

“It’s all new for me,” said Alewelt, an Alden, Iowa, native. “And the Marine Corps was created to do things like this so it’s cool to train to do it and the [senior leaders] are saying we’ll be doing more so I can’t wait.”

Due to the Marine Corps’ recent activities in global conflicts, and limited access to amphibious ships, the opportunity for amphibious training has been limited, according to Hall.

“Due to deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and the availability of amphibious vessels, amphibious training has been limited to infantry battalions assigned to Marine Expeditionary Units and those participating in Marine Expeditionary Brigade exercises such as Bold Alligator and Dawn Blitz,” said Hall, a Cartersville, Georgia native.

The training also made some of the Marines consider the Marines of past generations that performed amphibious assaults during previous engagements, according to Cpl. Dylan J. Braddy, a rifleman with the battalion.

“It kind of made me think about the men on D-Day,” said Braddy, a Soperton, Georgia, native. “Like what they may have been thinking about and the motivation to actually do something so dangerous. It makes me want to say that if I was ever called upon to do the same that I will be ready to do so.”

For the senior Marines in the battalion the training provided a chance to pass on a key piece of the Corp’s heritage, according to Hall.

“This exercise has been an opportunity to pass down amphibious experience to today’s generation of Marines and sailors, to educate them on integration of naval forces and maintain the Blue/Green Team of the Navy and Marine Corps.”

• Date Taken: 11.22.2014
• Date Posted: 12.08.2014 09:05
• Story ID: 149638
• Location: CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US
• Hometown: ALDEN, IA, US
• Hometown: CARTERSVILLE, GA, US
• Hometown: SOPERTON, GA, US