Lima Company splashes off ship, raids island

Photo By Sgt. Ryan Carpenter | Company L squad leader and 26-year-old Tomball, Texas native Sgt. Alex M. Piasecki provides security, Sept. 12, during a field exercise in which amphibious assault vehicles transported the company ashore from USS New Orleans off the coast. The company is one of three rifle companies in Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit began a sea-based exercise Sept. 1, its second aboard amphibious ships since becoming a complete Marine air-ground task force in May. A platoon of tracked vehicles from 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, Camp Pendleton, Calif., reinforces the Pendleton-based 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines. The platoon provides the go-to means of maneuver for Company L.  

SAN CLEMENTE, CA, UNITED STATES

09.12.2011

Story by Lance Cpl. Ryan Carpenter 

11th Marine Expeditionary Unit   

SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND, Calif. – A rifle company with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit raided simulated enemy installations here Sept. 12 during the unit’s second at-sea exercise since becoming a complete Marine air-ground task force in May.

Company L moved from the sea – launched in amphibious assault vehicles from USS New Orleans – neutralized mock-enemy forces, gathered intelligence and captured an enemy role player before returning to the vessel.

In six hours from receiving its mission, the company planned, prepared and rehearsed before launching the first wave of vehicles.

Company L gunnery sergeant Gunnery Sgt. Patrick E. Fay said it was the first raid that used a realistic format: “The actions on the objective went well. From the beginning of the planning process to the actual execution.”

A mock detainee offered additional training.

“Until now we had never validated that process,” said Fay. “It was the first time we detained an individual, brought him back to the ship, processed him and handed him over to the Navy.”

Company L is one of three rifle companies with Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the ground-combat element for the unit, which is scheduled to deploy this fall.

A platoon of tracked vehicles from 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, Camp Pendleton, Calif., reinforces the Pendleton-based 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines. The platoon provides the go-to means of maneuver for Company L.

• Date Taken: 09.12.2011
• Date Posted: 09.14.2011 12:37
• Story ID: 77022
• Location: SAN CLEMENTE, CA, US