Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Jessika Alarcon | Nearly 40 Marines and sailors with Headquarters and Service Battalion, U.S. Marine...... read more read more
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JOINT EXPEDITIONARY BASE LITTLE CREEK-FORT STORY, Virginia Beach, Va. – Hikes are one of the foundations for Marine combat conditioning. They are designed to keep Marines physically fit, promote teamwork and create unit morale. While it is common for most operational units to set out on hikes on a regular basis, some units don’t have the opportunity to take part as often.
Each month, staff members with Headquarters and Service Battalion, U.S. Marine Forces Command, create events to break up the monotony and keep Marines in the warrior mindset by conducting field training events.
Nearly 40 Marines and sailors with the battalion strapped 45-pound packs on their backs and conducted a four-mile beach hike, April 8, at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia.
The battalion also brought three weapons systems, such as the M240B machine gun, to give the newer Marines a glimpse of how operational units conduct hikes in the Fleet Marine Force.
“It’s getting out in nature, doing things that warriors like to do, working with each other in a team and simulating combat environments,” said Col. Paul P. Ryan, the commanding officer of H&S Bn.
For most Marines, the hike was the very first since Marine Combat Training, an infantry based regimen for non-infantry Marines. It challenged and gave them an opportunity to build unit morale with others. Marines, both young and old, took turns calling cadence to keep each other motivated throughout the hike.
“It’s really important, especially for the youngest Marines to get out and do these kinds of Marine-oriented things,” Ryan said. “[It is] something different than what the preponderance of our work is at MARFORCOM.”
The hike was optional due to work commitments, but Marines knew it was a chance to get out of their everyday routine. The Marines took turns carrying the guidon and circling the formation as they moved forward to the end of the hike.
“I thought it would be fun to do some training,” said Cpl. Eric J. Lopez, a personnel security specialist at MARFOCOM. “Whenever I get a chance to, I come out and I do it.”
Toward the end of the hike, Marines lined up and competed against each other by racing toward their unit’s guidon, marking the finish line.
“A little competition at the end always makes folks smile … so it was a good conclusion,” Ryan said.
Shortly after they completed the hike, the Ryan took the time to share some words of encouragement and commended all those who participated for a job well-done. The Marines then rested and took part in a barbecue before heading back to their place of work.
At the end of the day, the hike did more than break the Marines’ daily routine. Marines not only developed unit cohesion, but took the role of a small-unit leader as well. The hike also served as a form of conditioning for much bigger things.
“We’ve got to be ready at all times,” Ryan mentioned. “There’s no predicting when we could be called into harm’s way. So this is one way, a small facet, in how we can be prepared to the best of our abilities.”
| Date Taken: | 04.08.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 04.14.2015 12:08 |
| Story ID: | 159944 |
| Location: | VIRGINIA BEACH, US |
| Hometown: | PICO RIVERA, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 119 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
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