Photo By Cpl. Jack Gumbin | U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Lorenzo Francobogenoff, a rifleman with 3rd Littoral...... read more read more
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The best squads from four Marine Corps divisions congregated at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, April 29 – May 3, 2024 for the 2024 Marine Corps Annual Rifle Squad Competition determining which squad was the most lethal and proficient. Divisions were represented by the following squads:
1st Marine Division - 1st squad, 2nd platoon, Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment.
2nd Marine Division - 1st squad, 1st platoon, Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment.
3rd Marine Division - 1st squad, 1st platoon, Charlie Company, 3rd Littoral Combat Team, 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment.
4th Marine Division - 1st squad, second platoon, Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment.
The squads were evaluated on offensive operations, defensive operations, patrolling, physical fitness, and marksmanship. Within the 72-hour evaluation, the competition put squads in complex situations that tested the small-unit leaders’ decision making, responsiveness and ability to accomplish the mission with just their squad.
“As a company commander, I would want all four of these squads,” said Capt. Tyler Spencer, the action officer for the squad competition. “Knowing that I have Marines this proficient makes my job that much easier.”
On May 9, 2024, 3rd LCT’s squad was announced the winner at the Marine Corps Association Ground Awards Dinner, marking the first time a littoral combat team has won the competition. They set themselves apart from the other squads with their innovative squad structure. 3rd LCT was established in 2022 in alignment with Force Design and creation of 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment.
“If we look to the present characteristics of war, there are fundamentals that show there is change upon us and in many ways, showing how we must evolve,” Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Christopher J. Mahoney said during the awards dinner.
While the traditional rifle squad has three fireteams of four, 3rd LCT’s new squad structure consisted of two teams of six. One of the biggest differences in their squad structure was the squad leader. While the other squad leaders were sergeants, 3rd LCT allocates their squad leader position for a staff sergeant. The senior leadership led to a disciplined squad that’s teamwork and cohesion was unmatched.
“It’s not the equipment that defines us,” said Gen. Mahoney. “We’ve never been defined by what we wear on our back; we’ve never been defined by the weapons we carry. It is the character and the quality of the Marines that has defined us.”
While Marines found sleep deprivation to be the most challenging part of the competition, they found motivation in their brothers around them.
“We found out in our squad, we always have one more mile,” said Sgt. James Little, a team leader with 3rd LCT. “You don’t rise to the occasion; you fall to the lowest level of training you have, and I feel what we’ve done here has shown that our training has really paid off.”
| Date Taken: | 05.10.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 05.10.2024 16:57 |
| Story ID: | 470953 |
| Location: | QUANTICO, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 454 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 3rd LCT Wins 2024 Marine Corps Annual Rifle Squad Competition, by SSgt Kelsey Dornfeld, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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