Photo By Sgt. Austin Long | Marines with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment secure the entrance from...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – A company of Marines with faces camouflaged, wait tensely for their helicopters to land. With a bump, the choppers touchdown and the Marines rush out into a freshly mowed field of grass.
As the helicopter-borne Marines set up security at one end of the field, the second company of Marines delivered to the landing zone in amphibious assault vehicles, secured the other side of the field, which was to become the base of operations for 3rd battalion, 6th Marine Regiment during their final field exercise prior to deployment.
“This is our last major exercise before our deployment,” said Lt. Col. James Ryans, the battalion commander and Hampton, Va., native. “We have now been trained or exposed to all the required elements for deployment.”
The scenario the Marines were playing out consisted of a notional call from an ambassador to reinforce an embassy in an increasingly hostile environment. Their tasks included securing a beach landing area and main route to the embassy.
“As the scenario escalated, the ‘ambassador’ called for all Americans to be evacuated,” said Capt. Matthew Bronson, the 3/6 Operations officer and Barre, Mass., native.
The tactical scenario created for this field exercise was designed to strain and exercise all facets of 3/6’s organic assets. Contracted role players acting as local nationals and Marines from 1st battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, playing enemy forces brought a sense of realism to the training.
“We’ve received a lot of positive feedback from the Marines,” said Benson. “They’re being given realistic missions and fighting against a real opfor, which is able to adjust and force the Marines to adjust what they are doing.”
The battalion commander echoed that sentiment, “Many people think the apex of training is live fire ranges,” said Ryans, “but the apex of training is going against a living, breathing force. Fighting against someone who can choose to do or not do something, forcing you to make tactical adjustments.”
“We’re operating against a living, breathing (opposing force), this is the first time some of my Marines have been exposed to this type of training,” said Ryans.
He concluded that his Marines “have done well.”
| Date Taken: | 12.10.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 12.10.2012 13:42 |
| Story ID: | 99036 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Hometown: | BARRE, MASSACHUSETTS, US |
| Hometown: | CORSICANA, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | HAMPTON, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 186 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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