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thedrifter
10-13-03, 12:59 PM
Island Warriors return to Hawaii from CROC 2003 <br />
Submitted by: MCB Hawaii <br />
Story Identification Number: 20031010163843 <br />
Story by Lance Cpl. Monroe F. Seigle <br />
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MCB HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY,...

thedrifter
10-13-03, 01:01 PM
Island Warriors go hot in Shoalwater
Submitted by: MCB Hawaii
Story Identification Number: 2003101313455
Story by Cpl. Jason E. Miller



SHOALWATER BAY TRAINING AREA, QUEENSLAND, Australia(September 23, 2003) -- SHOALWATER BAY TRAINING AREA, QUEENSLAND, Australia - After two full weeks in the Australian bush, Marines from 2nd Bn., 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, finally received the chance to load their weapons with live rounds for the unit's planned combined arms, live-fire exercise here Sept. 23.

The battalion, supported by three companies of mechanized armor from reserve units across the United States and artillery support from Charlie Battery, 1st Bn., 12th Marine Regiment, out of MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, set out across the firing ranges of Queensland's Shoalwater Bay training area to add an even deeper sense of realism to the force-on-force exercise that occurred during the last two weeks of Exercise Crocodile 2003, which lasted Sept. 6 - 26.

Echo, Golf and Fox companies moved about the training area via Amphibious Assault Vehicles, CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters and Light Armored Vehicles to assault specified targets, which acted as enemy forces spread across the training area. Marines fired weapons ranging from M-16s to MK-19 automatic grenade launchers during the exercise.

While Marines often get the chance to use their weapons on ranges in Hawaii, the chance to use them in Australia gave them greater knowledge of their capabilities in the different environment.

"The terrain here is a lot different than something we'd encounter at a training area like PTA [Pohakuloa Training Area] or Schofield [Barracks]," said Capt. Brian Russell, commanding officer of Charlie, 1/12.

"Here there weren't any designated firing points, so we didn't know exactly where everything was going to be before we started. Training here in Australia has been great because it's so different from what we're used to."

The exercise kicked off in the early morning and kept the Marines moving for most of the day, traveling from one objective to another while destroying enemy positions along the way.

"We just recently picked up about 13 new Marines," said Capt. Brian Russell. "We're definitely leaving Australia a better unit than we arrived because the training's been so good."

The CALFEX concluded a monthlong training evolution for 2/3 in support of Exercise Crocodile 2003.

The Marines spent previous weeks training along-side Australian forces to promote interoperability and basic infantry skills, while adding air and mechanical assets provided by 3d MEB.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2003101313657/$file/ArtyShotlow.jpg

Left to Right, Lance Cpl. Mike Ackerman, Cpl. Nelson Santiago and Lance Cpl. Aaron Chaney from Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, load a live round into a Howitzer cannon during the Combined Arms Live-Fire Exercise.
Photo by: Cpl. Jason E. Miller

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/2343ED7CB60380CC85256DBE001EA9F9?opendocument


Sempers,

Roger
:marine: