Photo By Sgt. Ashley Lawson | A Marine with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, reloads an...... read more read more
Subscribe
Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, conducted a squad attack at Golf Six Range, Camp Lejeune, N.C., Sept. 14, 2017.
The Marines used the M203 grenade launcher, M4 rifle, M240B machine gun, M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle and Shoulder-launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon while they were supporting by fire or bounding.
The Marines were accompanied by a mortar section that provided 10 minutes of suppression; allowing machine guns to get into position and get two to three minutes of overlapping suppression with mortars.
Meanwhile, the riflemen were to move out of the tree line and begin their assault on the objective.
“We used fire and movement tactics to gain ground with the enemy still under support of the machine guns,” said Cpl. Camden Baker, a squad leader with the unit. “Once the enemy’s bunkers were destroyed, we were able to cover the rest of the ground with our own suppression and assault through the objective.”
A squad is made up of 13 Marines and is broken down into three fire teams. Each fire team has a team leader equipped with the M203, an Infantry Automatic Rifleman and two Marines that carry M4 rifles and support the fire team leader.
“In my opinion, the fire team is the most important because if your team doesn’t work well together, then it makes the squad leader’s job more difficult,” said Baker. “When I have fire team leaders that are capable and knowledgeable of my intent, it makes my job easier so I can focus on the things I need to do to keep my Marines safe.”
This training exercise focused on their basic knowledge and tactics, but also developed the confidence to perform well on a live-fire range where they experience the noises of gunfire and chaos of the battlefield.
“We have a fairly new company so it takes time and effort to teach the Marines how to work together and lean on each other,” said Sgt. Cory Espejo, a machine gun section leader with the unit. “Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to build that cohesion. You don’t know how fast the guy to your left is or how much weight he can carry at first, but you develop an unspoken level of trust after a while.”
Although many of the Marines don’t have combat experience, it helped them understand the stressors of operating in a deployed environment and how to make quick decisions.
“You’re walking away and no one is hurt or killed,” said Baker. “This kind of training ensures you are as prepared as you possibly can be when you actually have rounds coming at you, so it’s a good day to be us.”
| Date Taken: | 09.15.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 09.15.2017 18:41 |
| Story ID: | 248501 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 281 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Rounds down range: 2/8 conducts squad attack, by Sgt Ashley Lawson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
