Camp Lejeune, N.C. – Marines with Alpha Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, participated in counter mobility and survivability training aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan 31, 2018.
The exercise was held to prepare the Marines for deployments by having junior Marines pair with their more experienced counterparts to see how they deal with and react to complex situations put in their paths.
“When you have a bunch of more experienced Marines like we do, that know what’s going on around us and how to react, those Marines kind of feed off us and our intensity” said Cpl. Dalton Higgs.
Alpha Company conducted a counter mobility and survivability training exercise that consisted of immediate action drills, bridge reconnaissance, patrolling, and improvised explosive device placement and identification.
The Marines broke off into two different platoons to simulate immediate action drills by having one platoon ambush the other.
“Showing them how we react to certain situations definitely improves their mindset by letting them know and reassuring them that it could be real at any time” Higgs stated.
In all, the Marines were impressed with how their junior Marines conducted throughout the events.
8th ESB provides general engineer support to Marines Expeditionary Forces encompassing mobility enhancement, including the employment of standard bridge, survivability, explosive ordinance disposal, the provision of tactical utilities support, production and storage of bulk water, and general supply support distribution of bulk fuel.
For more information on 8th ESB, visit their official page at http://www.2ndmlg.marines.mil/Units/8th-ESB/.