Largest Marine Corps Reserve exercise of the year scheduled to commence

HAWTHORNE, NV, UNITED STATES

07.15.2011

Courtesy Story

Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES)

NEW ORLEANS - More than 5,000 Marines from Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Corps active component units will participate in the largest Marine Corps Reserve exercise of the year at several locations throughout the Western United States July 17-31.

Javelin Thrust 2011, the third annual iteration of the exercise, will focus individual Marines on their tactical skills and military occupational specialties in an expeditionary environment, while allowing the participating units' leadership to practice command and communication techniques throughout the widespread area of operations.

The exercise will predominantly take place at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, Calif., Hawthorne Army Weapons Depot in Hawthorne, Nev., and Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, in Yuma, Ariz. Dispersed training areas force participating units to operate in a decentralized manner, which closely replicates the contemporary operational environment of combat operations in Afghanistan.

"An exercise of this size necessitates that all elements within the Marine Air-Ground Task Force work cohesively to ensure mutual support and mission accomplishment," said Lt. Col. James A. King, deputy assistant chief of staff G-3/operations officer, 4th Marine Division, and the exercise's lead planner.

The exercise scenario requires commanders to conduct long-distance communications in order to maintain successful command and control. It will challenge ground units as Marines traverse through extreme terrain with elevations ranging from 4,000 to 10,000 feet, conducting battalion and company-level combat operations. Logistic units will resupply personnel, conduct convoy operations and support live-fire events. Aviation units will provide assault support.

The exercise will prepare the units and individual Marines for their roles in deployed Marine Air-Ground Task Forces. This goal is aligned with the Department of Defense's overall strategic objective to prepare Reservists for deployment in support of overseas contingency operations as a part of the operational Reserve concept.

"The exercise will provide many challenges and will, ideally, bring all participating forces success in disaggregated operations in complex, compartmentalized terrain," added King.

-- USMC --

*Media are invited to attend training events and will have the opportunity to conduct interviews and capture imagery. For more information, contact Capt. Andy Chrestman at [phone] or [e-mail].

**Civilian media can access free real-time broadcast-quality video, still images and print products as well as immediate interview opportunities with service members, commanders and subject matter experts at http://www.dvidshub.net/units/JT2011.

• Date Taken: 07.15.2011
• Date Posted: 07.15.2011 09:19
• Story ID: 73782
• Location: HAWTHORNE, NV, US