Hometown Heroes of ITX 4-18: Lance Cpl. Alberto Sepulveda

Photo By Cpl. Alexis Longcrier | Lance Cpl. Alberto Sepulveda, a motor transportation operator with Mike Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, helps transport and unload ammunition for a direct fire shoot at Integrated Training Exercise 4-18 in Twentynine Palms, California, June 13, 2018. ITX 4-18 is a live-fire and maneuver combined arms exercise designed to train battalion and squadron-sized units in tactics, techniques, and procedures required to provide a sustainable and ready operational reserve for employment across the full spectrum of crisis and global engagement.  

TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, UNITED STATES

06.14.2018

Story by Cpl. Alexis Longcrier 

Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES)

Lance Cpl. Alberto F. Sepulveda, a motor transportation operator with Battery M, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is one of over 5,500 Reserve Marines participating in Integrated Training Exercise 4-18, at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California.
ITX 4-18 is a 21-day, service-level, live-fire and maneuver combined arms exercise, which brings together Marines from reserve training centers across the U.S. to train for combat in an austere desert environment.
Sepulveda has played an integral role in operations this year by transporting ammunition between the field ammunition supply point and training areas for live-fire training events.
Moving artillery munitions is no small matter. The 155mm M107 High Explosive artillery munitions used by the M777 howitzer are 23.9 inches long and weigh 95 pounds with a fuse.
“It’s been a really good experience on this training exercise,” said Sepulveda. “I’ve been learning a lot, like how to acclimate to the weather, how to prepare myself for the elements and the environment, and most importantly, I’ve acquired more knowledge and experience from the artillery and ammo side. Plus, I’ve been exercising and testing my MOS skills by driving through this rough terrain.”
Sepulveda joined the Marine Corps Reserve in 2015.
“All my family is military,” said Sepulveda. “I always wanted to join the military as well.”
When Sepulveda is not participating in Marine Corps training exercises, such as ITX 4-18, he is working toward a degree in aircraft maintenance with Tennessee Technological Center and working full-time at Nashville International Airport as an aircraft fueler.
“I joined the Marine Corps because I wanted to do something different,” said Sepulveda. “The leadership I got from joining the Marine Corps has really helped me in school and my civilian job, and I love the leadership, standards, and history in the Marine Corps.”

• Date Taken: 06.14.2018
• Date Posted: 06.21.2018 11:17
• Story ID: 281704
• Location: TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, US