1/8 Hikes to prepare for upcoming deployment

Photo By Sgt. Shawn Valosin | A Marine with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment runs ahead to position himself as a road guard for his brothers during an 8-mile hike aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 6, 2015. This hike was used as a starting point with a gear load of 85 pounds, preparing them for more strenuous hikes in the future, and an upcoming deployment in support of the Black Sea Rotational Force. (U. S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Shawn Valosin)  

CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, UNITED STATES

03.06.2015

Courtesy Story

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marines with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment conducted an 8-mile hike early in the morning aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, March 6, 2015.

The hike served dual purposes: preparing Marines who are new to the unit for longer, more strenuous hikes than they may have been used to, and preparing the unit as whole for future hikes in preparation for their deployment in support of the Black Sea Rotational Force next year. Following this hike, 1/8 plans on conducting longer hikes with heavier gear loads.

“We’re in a buildup stage right now. For this hike everyone carried approximately 85 pounds, which is a relatively slim amount of gear for what we’re capable of carrying,” said 1st Lieutenant Ryan Murray, a weapons platoon commander with 1/8 and Baltimore, native.

Corporal Jordan Crawford, an infantryman with the unit and native of Louisville, Kentucky, said that the hike was rough due to the fast pace, but that the gear load wasn’t too strenuous.

“The hike was used to keep us conditioned,” said Crawford. “When we get to the field we’re going to have to do this in a combat scenario. In Fallujah people had to hike with whatever they needed for months at a time in a combat zone. It is just to keep our physical and mental conditioning sharp. Physically, it is difficult, but it is good for the new guys because they haven’t done long hikes before.”

Despite the blistering cold and biting wind, the group maintained a brisk pace, finishing the hike in less than two hours.

“It was a good hike,” said Murray. “Everyone kept up, which is impressive. Overall it was a solid training session.”

• Date Taken: 03.06.2015
• Date Posted: 03.06.2015 14:41
• Story ID: 156214
• Location: CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US
• Hometown: BALTIMORE, MD, US
• Hometown: LOUISVILLE, KY, US