Charlie Co., 1/4 conducts helo raid training

13th Marine Expeditionary Unit
Story by Cpl. Jennifer Pirante

Date: 03.28.2013
Posted: 04.03.2013 19:23
News ID: 104563
Charlie Co., 1/4 conducts helo raid training

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Marines and Sailors of Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, teamed with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 166 (Reinforced) to conduct helicopter raid training exercises at Camp Pendleton, Calif., March 25-28.

The training afforded the Marines and Sailors an opportunity to improve squad-level maneuvering and urban warfare tactics.

Capt. Michael Williamson, commanding officer of Charlie Co., Battalion Landing Team 1/4, said the Marines focused on understanding task organization of a raid, how to isolate an objective, conduct an assault and exploit the success of the assault.

Marines also focused on combat life-saving skills in order to help a casualty until a corpsman arrived to take over.

“I’m very pleased with the efforts they have made,” Williamson said. “As they have demonstrated on a very difficult and complex night raid, they understand the overall concept.”

The Marines and Sailors were mentored and trained by I Marine Expeditionary Force’s Special Operations Training Group, which provides training facilities, instruction and resources.

SOTG instructors were present during and after each exercise to evaluate the Marines’ and Sailors’ performance and provide guidance to help the Marines better implement tactics.

“Since we’ve got the big picture figured out, working out the details will be easy,” Williamson said.

While the higher echelon of Marines fine-tuned the planning process and procedures, Marines honed their skills on how to breach, kick down doors, secure buildings and take down the enemy.

1st Sgt. Joseph Caputa, company first sergeant with Charlie Co., 1/4, said, the key is being brilliant in the basics and paying attention to detail.

“They’re living together. They’re training together. They’re sharing hardship,” Caputa said. “They’re becoming more confident.”

The Marines and Sailors of Charlie Company are slated to carry out follow on training at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif., during the upcoming week to further prepare for their upcoming Western Pacific deployment with the 13th MEU.