Collaborated Assault: Marines with 2nd Tanks, 2nd AAV and 3/8 assault and secure a village

Photo By Sgt. Justin Updegraff | Marines with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, took a brief pause to put on their gas masks while still providing covering fire, shortly after continuing to advance on the objective during an assault on a village as a part of their Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation aboard Fort Pickett, VA, March 26, 2015. During the assault it was called over the radio that gas might be present near and around the village. To ensure the Marines can continue to push through, they were told to don their gas masks. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Justin T. Updegraff/ Released)  

FORT PICKETT, VA, UNITED STATES

03.26.2015

Story by Cpl. Justin Updegraff 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

FORT PICKETT, Va. – The sound of tank tracks advancing echoes throughout the village, but they are nowhere to be seen. A few minutes pass, and their turrets can be seen scanning over the crest of the hill. All is silent, until infantrymen are spotted advancing over the hill, bounding and laying down suppressive fire.

Marines with 2nd Tank Battalion, supported 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment and 2nd Amphibian Assault Battalion as they assaulted and secured a village during a training exercise as a part of 2nd Tanks, Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation aboard Fort Pickett, VA, March 26, 2015.

“The attack went better than expected”, said Cpl. Caleb Sharrah, a riflemen with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment. “It was a little rough getting in but once we did, we started clearing buildings systematically, set up security on the flanks and rolled from there.”

Before the assault began, 2nd Tanks scanned the village and the field the Marines from 3/8 would bound through from a distance. Once the Tanks crested the hill, the Marines were released from the amphibious assault vehicles behind the hill and the assault began.

“They kept us questioning: What’s going on? Where [do] we need to be? Where [do] we need to move next? How are we going to get there?” said Lance Cpl. Zach Warford, a team leader with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment. “All the questions we had kept us guessing, but whenever the time arose when tanks needed us, or tracks, we were ready to move and get with them and go. And whenever they needed us, we were there for them.”

During the assault “gas, gas, gas” was called over the radio, meaning that gas might be present near and around the village. To ensure the Marines can continue to push through, they were told to don their gas masks. After a brief period of holding the line down and laying suppressing fire, the Marines continued to bound toward the village.

“It was a lot of good training,” said Warford. “We do a lot of offensive training; Military Operations in Urban Terrain … or clearing buildings. The gas they threw at us, which ended up not being gas, it was kind of a surprise to everybody. It gave them a run for their money, trying to get them thinking; getting their gas mask on, throwing their gear on with enough time to assault the town. It was good training overall.”

At the end of the attack, the village was successfully taken by 3/8 with only four simulated casualties. The simulated casualties were treated on sight then loaded onto a waiting AAV.

• Date Taken: 03.26.2015
• Date Posted: 04.02.2015 07:08
• Story ID: 158916
• Location: FORT PICKETT, VA, US