Photo By Cpl. Christofer Baines | Marines with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, help each other climb the...... read more read more
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HAWTHORNE ARMY AMMUNITION DEPOT, Nev. – Marines with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, took to the mountainous terrain of Range 600 to sharpen their squad- based tactics during Operation Javelin Thrust, July 18.
The maneuver, which combined a squad of riflemen, mortars and a machine gun section, reinforced basic war fighting skills while focusing on communication and engaging the enemy in difficult terrain, all while using live ammunition to give the movement the most realistic feel.
“As far as being a reservist, you don’t get a lot of trigger time working with weapons and working on squad chemistry,” said Cpl. Jared J. Scherer, a squad leader with Company E, 2/24. “It was definitely challenging, but I think its valuable training.”
Beginning with a literal big bang from an explosive charge, the Marines reacted by calling in a coordinated effort to soften simulated enemy positions through a barrage of 81 and 60 mm mortars and suppressing fire from a medium machine gun position, all while charging forward to eliminate the enemy identified by green, torso-sized targets. In total, six squads took the challenge head-on throughout the day.
Once the multi-pronged assault cleared the way, the Marines pressed up a nearby mountain through a washout made up of shale rock. Though the terrain to their next objective was unrelenting, the Marines prevailed, eliminating the last “enemy” and proceeding back down to the beginning of the course to assess their performance.
“Whenever we train, we always get together afterwards and receive constructive criticism,” said Rifleman Pfc. Bradley A. Kimball, a Des Moines, Iowa, native. “It even goes down to the squad and fire team levels, so we can all learn as individuals and improve our capability.”
Lessons learned beyond even this exercise continue to improve every Marine’s combat readiness. Though the Marines of Company E drill regularly throughout the year, training like this offers a different feel than what they are used to.
The terrain is somewhat similar to that in Afghanistan, where a firefight can last on average from 30-minutes to an hour-and-a-half, said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Charles Major, the Battalion Gunner. This was a challenging range, but the Marines did well.
In the end, training for combat is about improving effectiveness and safeguarding the lives of Marines.
“It not only gives the squad a chance to work with each other, but also lets them practice tactics and put themselves in different situations so that when they encounter it in country they are the best they can be,” said Scherer, a West Point, Neb., native. “It allows us to be more proactive instead of reactive, which can save lives in combat and win battles.”
| Date Taken: | 07.18.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.19.2011 12:25 |
| Story ID: | 73955 |
| Location: | HAWTHORNE, NEVADA, US |
| Web Views: | 210 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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