Photo By Cpl. Antonino Mazzamuto | U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Cody Merson, right, a squad leader with Golf Company, 2d...... read more read more
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Camp Savaneta, Aruba - U.S. Marines with Golf Company, 2d Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division traveled to take part in Tres Kolos 24 at Camp Savaneta, a Royal Netherlands Marine Corps base on the small Caribbean island of Aruba on Oct. 11, 2024. Greeted by the intense humidity and heat of Aruba, Dutch and U.S. forces, along with French Soldiers from the 33rd Régiment D'Infanterie de Marine, joined forces for a two-week competition on Dutch Marine's home turf.
The exercise, designed to promote partner and ally relations, was a testament to the shared purpose and unity among the participating forces. "Working alongside our allies here is an incredible experience," said 1st Lt. Jop Pompe, the exercise control officer of Tres Kolos 24 with Marine Squadron Carib. "It's all about building relationships and learning from one another — That's how we succeed."
The competition kicked off with its opening ceremony where music filled a gymnasium full of service members as the "N.G.S. Unique Brassband," a local Aruban musical group, performed, giving the competitors a warm welcome to Camp Savaneta.
The first week of Tres Kolos 24 consisted of various competitive events, from shooting ranges to tactical maneuvers. Each day, challenges were introduced, bringing out service members' mental agility and physical grit. Marines and Soldiers completed different workouts, including burpees, box jumps, sandbag tosses, tire flips, and rowing for prolonged intervals, which tested the troops' physical fitness.
"We may come from different countries, but we're all here for the same reason: to improve and grow," said U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Clayton McDonald, a team leader with Golf Company, 2d Battalion, and 2d Marine Regiment. "That's what makes this experience so valuable."
The competitors faced their next tall obstacle, “Haystack Mountain,” a conical hill 165 meters above sea level with a 541-foot peak, known as Aruba's “centerpiece.” With their destination in sight, the participants raced to the top of the hill carrying various heavy weights, their determination and grit palpable in the air, with the Dutch Marines ultimately claiming victory.
"Seeing the teams push themselves to the limit, it's inspiring," said Pompe. "These exercises help us stay sharp and ready for any mission. Adversity is a teacher, and every obstacle faced is an opportunity to learn and adapt."
The early mornings, crystal-clear waters, cactus fields, and dry terrain, presented the U.S. Marines with 2/2 with new unique environmental challenges that would not normally be found in their swampy home of North Carolina.
“Even when the stakes are high, you have to rely on each other,” said McDonald. “The event I was looking forward to is the water obstacle course because I love being in the water."
“Yet, there was also a sense of dread about the Triathlon. I've never done one before.”
The Triathlon event was one of the longest events, taking place midway through the exercise. Spanning across the coastline and city of Saint Nicolaas, Aruba, competitors had to conduct a two-kilometer run, 300-meter swim, and finish by transitioning to a two-kilometer cycling route that took them past old cityscapes and up-and-down steep hills. This event not only tested the participants' physical fitness but also their ability to adapt to different terrains and conditions, a crucial skill in real-world military operations. After French Soldiers with the 33e RIMA charged past the finish line, claiming their victory with U.S. Marines trailing behind, the competitors concluded the night by conducting a strongman competition where the U.S. Marines would come toe-to-toe with the allied forces, finishing in second-place among five competing teams.
"It's not just about winning; it's about working together and learning from each other," said McDonald. "Every challenge helps us grow stronger as a unit."
With the last exercise competition around the corner, the U.S. Marines soon took home first place in the shooting competition. They completed a series of exercises before sprinting across rocky terrain and firing at stationary targets in heat that felt like 104 degrees Fahrenheit. After proving to competing teams that shooting is the U.S. Marines' "bread and butter," the first week of Tres Kolos 24 ended as the participants came together one last time as competitors, reflecting on lessons learned and taking home shiny new trophies: plaques resembling the events that they won.
"It takes courage to go head-to-head with foreign militaries not knowing how they train or how good they are," said McDonald. "It takes honor to accept any losses or wins humbly, and it takes commitment to go through with the exercise and complete the events, no matter how hard they may seem."
With the competition over, the allied forces started their preparations for the second week of the exercise, where Marines and Soldiers would conduct climbing exercises in Aruba's vast caves, extracting casualties and testing their tactical aid capabilities. The second week culminated in a tracking scenario to test the warfighters' readiness and aptitude in tactical scenarios involving suspicious individuals. This exercise attempts to simulate real-world situations where quick and accurate decision-making may be the difference between life and death.
"The relationships we build here are just as vital as the skills we develop," said Pompe. "When it comes to facing adversaries, teamwork can make all the difference."
The allies and partners used the competition as a test for readiness to handle the chaos brewing around the globe. Allied nations are forging partnerships and training together today to conquer the challenges of crisis responses and the ongoing great power conflict.
"In the end, we are not just competing; we are preparing for what's next," stated McDonald, leaving a clear message. "To our adversaries today, I say bring it because we're ready. Any clime, any place.”
| Date Taken: | 10.25.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 11.08.2024 11:36 |
| Story ID: | 484772 |
| Location: | SAVANETA, AW |
| Web Views: | 86 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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