Mojave Viper: culminating exercise tests capabilities

Photo By Cpl. Paul Zellner | Sgt. Maj. Angela Maness, battalion sergeant major for Combat Logistics Battalion 3 (reinforced), Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, checks on the Marines as they provide security over the Combat Logistics Support Area, July 31 at the Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif. The Marines from Engineer Company built the CLSA as a part of the General Engineering Exercise to prepare for the final exercise.  

MARINE CORPS AIR-GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, CALIF, OKINAWA, JAPAN

08.12.2010

Story by Cpl. Paul Zellner 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

Marines and sailors from Combat Logistics Battalion 3 (Reinforced), Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force participated in the culminating Mission Rehearsal Exercise, July 31-Aug. 5, to finish their Enhanced Mojave Viper pre-deployment training here.

The exercise was designed to simulate CLB-3's mission while deployed, which is to provide direct tactical logistics support to deployed units beyond their organic capabilities in the areas of transportation, intermediate level supply, field level maintenance, and general engineering.

The mission during the MRX included setting up a forward Combat Logistics Support Area in order to provide responsive combat service support to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, undergoing their own pre-deployment training.

"The MRX incorporates all the skills we learned at EMV 5-10 into a real-world scenario allowing the battalion to practice command and control and combat logistics patrol skills," said Maj. Jason M. Eby, operations officer for CLB-3. "It's designed to push command and control forward and integrate battalion capabilities in support of the ground combat element's scheme of maneuver."

Other than setting up the CLSA, the battalion also provided convoy logistics support while utilizing their previous training in improvised explosive device detection, reacting to ambushes, and utilizing crew-served weapons among other military occupation specialty skills.

Before the final exercise began, each company practiced the skills they would need for the MRX by taking part in separate exercises and missions.

The motor transport companies took part in the Combat Logistics Patrol Exercise during which they conducted logistics patrols while taking simulated enemy fire and reacting to IED detonations.

"The CLPX is a live-fire event incorporating movement," said Capt. Everett Ledman, company commander, Motor Transport Company A, CLB-3. "It tests the (motor transport) platoons' ability to react to several situations at the same time, which is similar to what they could experience in Afghanistan."

As the CLPX was taking place, the engineer companies participated in the General Engineering Exercise where they began construction of the CLSA and made construction improvements to two combat outposts which were used to conduct simulated forward operations.

"The GENEX was designed to test our general engineering skills as we built and improved upon a CLSA, two combat outposts, two (quanset) huts, and a modular protective building all while providing force protection," said Master Sgt. David W. Dickens, operations chief of Engineer Company, CLB-3. "Being able to do this in a tactical environment lets the Marines see what it takes to work successfully in this type of environment and gives us the confidence to say we are prepared for the deployment."

The other companies in the battalion provided direct support to both missions by conducting operational planning and embedding individuals within the forward operating elements.

"The use of role players embedded in the MRX scenario, the challenging command and control issues, and the long distance combat logistics patrols significantly tested our battalion's training proficiency," said Eby. "The MRX coupled with the rest of our pre-deployment training has been a huge benefit and went a long way towards preparing us for the upcoming deployment."

In the fall, CLB-3 reinforced will deploy in support of 1st Marine Logistics Group to Afghanistan. The reinforced battalion includes more than 400 Marines and sailors augmented from Marine Corps bases throughout Japan.

• Date Taken: 08.12.2010
• Date Posted: 08.12.2010 21:41
• Story ID: 54490
• Location: MARINE CORPS AIR-GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, CALIF, OKINAWA, JP