Marines find their way

Photo By Lance Cpl. Preston McDonald | Marines with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment look to determine if their grid coordinates match up with those on the ammo can during land navigation operations aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 7, 2015. Approximately 40 Marines with the unit participated in a three-hour land navigation course to brush up on basic infantry skills.  

CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, UNITED STATES

01.07.2015

Story by Lance Cpl. Preston McDonald 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Imagine being on a patrol in a country you are not familiar with. You are traveling in foreign terrain. All of your electronics just went down. You only know your position based on landmarks in the surrounding area and you must get to your checkpoint in order to properly supply resources to fellow Marines. All you have is a map and a compass. If you could have the training that allows you to confidently use these minimal supplies to successfully get to the checkpoint, wouldn’t you take it?

Approximately 40 Marines with Combined Anti-Armor Team, Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment conducted land navigation operations aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Jan. 7, 2015.

The Marines were given eight points within the boundaries of Romeo Bravo range and a time limit of three hours to successfully find all of the points. The Marines partnered up in and were given a compass, map and a protractor as tools to help find ammo cans with a specific word written on each.

“In a real-life situation, these ammo cans can represent anything from resources to the enemy,” said 1st Lt. Joseph Tortorici, CAAT platoon commander and a Bay Shore, New York, native.

When in garrison, the Marines spend their days perfecting infantry tactics such as radio communications, patrol techniques, clearing weapons and land navigation in order to keep them knowledgeable and proficient for when they are called to action.

“When you are in country and encounter complications, like your GPS going down, you have to be able to know how to pick up a compass and a map and find your way,” Tortorici said.

For the infantrymen, land navigation is a crucial skill to know, as it could play a part in their everyday survival. Tortorici says that everyone in the platoon has to be able to know how to plot points on a map and have the confidence to go find them.

The Marines must be able to rely on each other in order to successfully accomplish the mission.

“When a task is implemented, it is up to each and every one of us to do our jobs so we can go home safe at the end of the day,” said Lance Cpl. Brennan Pedraza, a machine gunner with the unit.

While deployed, Marines may face mental and physical challenges, such as muscle fatigue, tunnel vision and shock. The Marines started off the day with a 4.3-mile hike from their regimental headquarters to the range, where they would conduct their training.

“We’re not always going to be fresh coming into the fight,” Tortorici said. “Even though the hike is more for daily sustainment, it also challenges the Marines to come here a little worn out and still be able to conduct basic infantry skills efficiently.”

Everyday operations such as land navigation help the unit further their contribution to mission readiness and allows for not only 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment but 2nd Marine Division to prepare to take action at a moment's notice.

• Date Taken: 01.07.2015
• Date Posted: 01.09.2015 12:52
• Story ID: 151605
• Location: CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US
• Hometown: BAY SHORE, NY, US
• Hometown: HENDERSONVILLE, NC, US
• Hometown: MONTGOMERY, TX, US
• Hometown: SPRINGFIELD, OH, US