Photo By Staff Sgt. Immanuel Johnson | Marines with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, make their way to...... read more read more
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USTKA, Poland - Marines with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment took part in BALTOPS 2015, that included working closely with NATO and other partner allies in the Baltic region, from June 7-17. Marines emphasized ship-to-shore assault capabilities, operating directly with the Swedish Marines and British Royal Commandos.
BALTOPS is an annual exercise that provides the opportunity for NATO and regional partners to strengthen interoperability through a series of tactical maneuvers and scenarios. The exercise involves Marines, sailors, airmen and soldiers of participating nations working side-by-side to enhance each other’s tactics and expertise on air, land and sea.
“My mission was to lay rounds downrange, and ensure my Marines are set up in a tactful position,” said Lance Cpl. Garrett Gibson, a squad leader with 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. “My responsibilities as a squad leader include overseeing my team leaders and the Marines under them.”
The squad leader demonstrates a thorough understanding in weapon systems as well as infantry tactics.
Improving warfighting skills and strengthening the operability between NATO was the mission.
“Operating with the Swedish Marines and the Polish was a good experience for the Marines,” said 1st Lt. Kyle Jackson, the platoon commander with 2nd Platoon, Charlie Co., 1st Battalion. “We had the chance to see how they operate and use infantry tactics.”
Marines conducted live-fire ranges with the Swedish to strengthen marksmanship techniques and operability.
“It was a good experience for us operating overseas (Sweden),” said Gibson. “It gave us a chance to see how the Swedish Marines operate on their terrain, and gave us an opportunity to work there and see what potentially lies ahead in the future.”
BALTOPS includes approximately 5,600 ground, maritime, land and air forces from Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Turkey, United States and the United Kingdom.
“When we go out on a deployment or a MEU, this is a good experience for them,” Jackson said. “It gives them a chance to be on ship if they’ve never been on ship before, an inside look at what life is going to be for the next 9 months.”
BALTOPS allowed NATO and allied nations the ability to conduct a full realm of military operations.
“It was a good experience for how big an event like BALTOPS is,” said Gibson. “It gave me an opportunity to take back to Camp Lejeune to further educate myself and help the Marines below me.”
| Date Taken: | 06.17.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 07.04.2015 18:31 |
| Story ID: | 169073 |
| Location: | USTKA, PL |
| Web Views: | 156 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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