Photo By Sgt. Timothy Lenzo | The Marines of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment follow Capt. Edward Solis, the...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif – For many people, Friday morning begins with a loud alarm, hot coffee and a morning commute. But for some Marines, it began with the loud and unmistakable yell of “Stepping!”
The Marines are from Company K, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, and that yell meant the start of their nine-mile hike, July 29.
This was Company K’s second hike since returning from Sangin, Afghanistan, April 22.
The Marines gathered at the battalion’s parade deck and started hiking at 5:30 a.m. The company uses hikes to build endurance and strengthen camaraderie.
The Marines hiked with flak jackets, Kevlars, weapons and packs to simulate the type of gear they carry when deployed.
“Its main purpose is to build endurance,” said Lance Cpl. Travis Haggerty, a team leader for Company K. “That’s what we’re training here for – building our bodies up physically so that we can make it to the fight and still fight when we get there.”
These exercises help the leaders in the company identify which Marines need to build up their endurance.
“One thing I focus on when I’m (physically training) is long distances so when we do hikes like this nobody falls out,” said Sgt. Jeffery Tarvis, a platoon sergeant for Company K.
The hike doesn’t just build endurance, it promotes teamwork and camaraderie.
“I think hikes and training events where the platoon and company work as a whole brings unit cohesion because it forces the Marines to count on each other,” said Tarvis.
Teamwork gives the Marines confidence in themselves, the platoon and the company.
“When the platoon stays together and they can make it through long hikes, it shows how strong the platoon can be,” said Haggerty.
“If someone started to fall back the guy behind him would guide him up or assist him up the hill,” said Tarvis
The hikes might seem unnecessary to some Marines, but for Tarvis and the leadership of Company K, the hikes and training exercises help the Marines stay sharp when not deployed.
“It keeps the Marines engaged,” said Tarvis. “So when it’s time to deploy, they’re ready and they’re not missing a beat.”
This hike is not the end of training for these Marines. They will continue preparing for their next deployment, building that camaraderie and staying sharp through military operations on urban terrain exercises, annual training and different programs.
“We do classes on everything you can think of in terms of infantry knowledge,” said Haggerty.
These Marines traded the traditional morning routine for a commute in boots and an unmistakable alarm of “stepping,” as they continue the training to maintain their combat readiness at all times.
| Date Taken: | 07.29.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 08.10.2011 12:21 |
| Story ID: | 75118 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 446 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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