Courtesy Photo | Lance Cpl. Jordan Orr, a rifleman with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and a Mount...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS TRAINING AREA BELLOWS – When it comes to combat proficiency, Marines are expected to work effectively in stressful situations. In order to better prepare themselves for those scenarios, Marines with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment conducted their monthly military operations in urban terrain training aboard Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, Sept. 29, 2015.
The purpose of the training was to provide an opportunity for the “Trinity” Marines to practice various strategies and tactics in urban terrain with simulated improvised explosive device explosions and enemy fire, all while catering to the needs of simulated casualties. The Marines also received training on how to properly interact with local villagers during a crisis.
Staff Sgt. Melvin Carter, a weapons platoon sergeant with Kilo Co., 3rd Bn., 3rd Marines, said it’s important to train Marines for real-world scenarios to get them out of the range mindset.
“At the range, Marines are in the state-of-mind that things can’t happen and they don’t need to react to the environment around them,” said Carter, an Oakland, Calif., native. “If they are training in the MOUT town, however, the Marines are able to utilize both their weapons and mind to accomplish the mission.”
Lance Cpl. Chance Fitzgerald, a rifleman with Kilo Co., 3rd Bn., 3rd Marines, said the MOUT town provided realistic training experience.
“With all the explosions and role players, everything seemed so real,” said Fitzgerald, a Beaumont, Texas, native. “It got confusing, between simulated IED explosions, receiving enemy fire and evacuating casualties, because you have to do so many tasks at once.”
Carter said one of the biggest obstacles the Marines of “Trinity” were faced with was the fact that they had to mutli-task and prioritize their objectives.
“Many of our team leaders are corporals, some are even lance corporals, and they aren’t used to having that problem,” he said. “However, through all the pain, they learn what takes priority and realize providing security is one of the most important things they can do.”
Carter said while coming up in the Marine Corps, he learned that providing security is the most important aspect of accomplishing a mission. He said if the Marines feel secure, they can think effectively and keep composed in stressful situations; if the locals feel secure, they are more likely to trust the Marines and their presence.
“Dealing with the civilians was another challenge the Marines had to face,” he said. “In the beginning, they weren’t sure how to interact with them, however, as time went on, they learned to expect the villagers’ involvement. The Marines were in their house, after all, so they must learn to accomplish the mission while avoiding conflict with the locals.”
Carter said the Marines had exceeded all expectations during the training.
“Overall, they did way better than what was expected of them,” he said. “They eventually became proactive, rather then reactive, and were prepared to face any challenges that could have arisen.”
Carter said it was important for the Marines to learn that it was better to plan for chaos and not receive any, than to not prepare and lose control of the situation. He said the MOUT training was able to provide a holistic training experience that is important to the “Trinity” Marines.
“We should incorporate more training like this,” Carter said. “We are warriors. Even in peacetime, we need to sweat and continue to train the way we fight.”
| Date Taken: | 09.29.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 10.11.2015 22:23 |
| Story ID: | 178685 |
| Location: | MCBH, HAWAII, US |
| Hometown: | BEAUMONT, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 114 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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