Exercise ensures real world training for upcoming deployment

Photo By Cpl. Mark Garcia | Lance Cpl. Harlan Rutledge a data technician with I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), works diligently to ensure communication capabilities stay operational for Marines during their predeployment Mission Rehearsal Exercise at Camp Pendleton, Dec. 9. The MRX is a two-week training exercise designed to ensure I MEF (Fwd), along with subordinate commands, is working with a seamless cohesion at all levels for their upcoming deployment.  

CAMP PENDLETON, CA, UNITED STATES

12.08.2011

Courtesy Story

Regional Command Southwest

By Lance Cpl. Mark Garcia
Regional Command Southwest

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – To prepare for upcoming combat operations in Afghanistan, the Marines and sailors of the I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) take lessons learned from 10 years of war to test their mettle during their predeployment Mission Rehearsal Exercise at Camp Pendleton.

The MRX is a two-week training exercise designed to ensure I MEF (Fwd), along with subordinate commands, is working with a seamless cohesion at all levels for their upcoming deployment.

To ensure the training is realistic, Marines must react to scenario-based problems that arise throughout the exercise.
Lt. Col. Mike Rohlfs, the deputy logistics officer-in-charge of I MEF (Fwd), added that scenarios and subject matter experts have been brought in from different units to add to the realism of the exercise.

“The goal of any exercise is to ensure that when you deploy you’re not learning things for the first time while you’re in country,” said the Pittsfield, Mass., native. “It’s important that these Marines receive hands-on training. Overall, it’s any opportunity to train with major subordinate commands, which will benefit us in the future.”

As I MEF prepared for the MRX, they gathered information and personnel from II MEF (Fwd), which is currently deployed to Afghanistan in an effort to understand and prepare for the real world challenges that await the Marines once they step into theater, said Rohlfs.

“We did a very good job in preparing for this exercise by keeping those lines of communication open with II MEF (Fwd), and by having those subject matter experts that we can pull information from,” Rohlfs said.

Having reliable communication capabilities while deployed is extremely important, said Cpl. Terrance Kennedy, with the I MEF (Fwd) staff section communications team.

“The battlefield is shifting, so it’s not necessarily who can shoot the best it’s about who can communicate the information to shoot the best,” said the Denver native.

Kennedy said real world events could have the ability to affect communication lines, which is why there must be plans that can be implemented at a moment’s notice.

“We do have ways to set up and implement and exercise plans so if we can communicate that information then we’ll be more effective,” said Kennedy.

The MRX is designed to be challenging for the I MEF (Fwd) Marines to prepare them for their upcoming deployment and is the last large-scale exercise before they deploy in the spring. I MEF (Fwd) will assume Regional Command-Southwest responsibilities from II MEF (Fwd) where they will partner with coalition forces to train and develop Afghan forces.

• Date Taken: 12.08.2011
• Date Posted: 12.09.2011 12:29
• Story ID: 81127
• Location: CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US