Photo By Sgt. Heather Atherton | U.S. Marines with 2nd Marine Division, stack-up to clear a room during a shoot house...... read more read more
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Smoke filled the air as Marines with 2nd Marine Division opened fire during a range training exercise in preparation for an upcoming deployment at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, March 23-28, 2018.
Marines assigned to the Maritime Raid Force took part in a close quarter’s tactics enabler’s course with Expeditionary Operations Training Group to prepare the Marines for their upcoming deployment with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. This training is to ensure the Marines can accurately provide effective and efficient support for the reconnaissance battalion they will be attached to for the duration of the MEU.
“For us as the security element platoon our main purpose is to integrate in with blocking positions for the Recon Marines going in,” said 2nd Lt. Austin Ahmed, the platoon commander with the Maritime Raid Force security element. “We are doing a crawl, walk, run training method. We’re focusing on exterior movement now and throughout the course we will learn how to set-up blocking positions and how to most effectively support the actual assault element of the Maritime Raid Force.”
The Marines will learn advanced close quarters tactics along with adjusting how they wear their gear to compensate for the small compartments of the ship.
“This training will help us prepare for the maritime raid force platoon,” said Corporal Aaron Vangaulder, a squad leader with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. “It will get us in the mindset to always be prepared for a mission. This training showed us how to get our gear slick so we can still move between small doorways on the ships and oil platforms. It’s a different atmosphere than what were used to as a line platoon, so were thinking outside the box with everything we do.”
The 22 MEU will push-off later this year with many exercises and work-ups between now and then. This training specifically provided the Marines the opportunity to prepare to integrate in with the Recon Marines at the Maritime Raid Force. This training focused more on blocking positions, searches of unknowns, hostiles and high value targets. It also enhanced the Marines skill in military operations in urban terrain training, and how to work independently.
This training is essential to the deployment workup because it prepares them to be a primary asset of the Reconnaissance asset for the 22nd MEU.
| Date Taken: | 03.23.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 04.04.2018 08:23 |
| Story ID: | 271662 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 640 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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