thedrifter
09-15-07, 06:35 AM
Marines from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment began arriving here Monday for their annual, roughly three week, combined arms training.
Weapons Company was the first to arrive to the desolate area, affectionately known at “PTA,” and will stay the duration, constantly training and supporting the other companies. The remaining companies will arrive, for approximately one week, throughout the training cycle.
The first days are primarily for organizing and revising the training matrix to ensure a smooth training experience for 2/3’s Marines and Sailors.
“Our goal is to provide realistic training,” said Master Gunnery Sgt. Allen Benjamin, operations chief, 2/3. “We accomplish whatever training we can on Oahu, and then we come to the Big Island for PTA and focus on military occupational specialty training that is constricted on Oahu primarily because of the lack of area.
“Weapon systems like mortars and MK-19 machine guns need a large cushion of space to train without endangering or affecting nearby civilians. PTA allows us to further our proficiency before going to Mojave Viper, the final pre-deployment training cycle,” Benjamin said.
Hawaii Marines have trained at the Army-ran training area for more than 20 years, Benjamin said. The training area, 6,600 ft. above sea level, is an ideal location because of the abundant space and the freedom to train with long range weapons that Oahu’s limited area prevents.
“We get a chance to do much more as well,” Benjamin continued. “Training, like small unit leadership and tactics, are emphasized on ranges that focus on fireteam-level fire and maneuver exercises. It takes the senior, lower enlistees with a deployments worth of experience and refines their leadership . . . Ultimately it provides realistic, relevant and practical training for deployment, while minimizing any unnecessary confusion while deployed.”
PTA hosts a variety of ranges to allow Marines the opportunity to train with heavy weapons such as the M2 .50 caliber machinegun, MK-19 automatic grenade launcher, Tube Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire Guided weapon system (better known as the TOW), and even demolitions.
Snipers also have a designated area to practice concealment and accuracy.
Although some Marines might not enjoy missing luxuries from base like hot food, personal vehicles or their own room, Benjamin reinforced that these small sacrifices are necessary to enable Marines adequate training for success during deployments.
Senior Marines with multiple deployments and combat experience are providing the majority of instruction during the PTA training cycle. Common training evolutions and inevitable mistakes here will inevitably be crucial for success during future missions, and provides an accurate source of relevant and realistic training, according to Sgt. Nic Ruggieri, a platoon sergeant with Weapons Company.
“We get a chance to focus on MOS training,” Ruggieri said. “On Oahu we might be doing more rifleman training, like room clearing and patrolling, which is still crucial, but mortarmen and TOW gunners need time to train and become proficient with their own weapons too.”
Ruggieri also said that, with a focus on machineguns, Marines have a good opportunity to cross train with and fire the M2 .50 caliber machinegun.
“Some infantry have never had the chance to fire the M2 .50 caliber, and we make sure they know how to use it efficiently because it’s so common during deployment.”
Ultimately, 2/3 hopes to use the realistic training at PTA as a stepping stone, and perfect the training they’ll need in combat with the final pre-deployment training cycle at Mojave Viper at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif.
Weapons Company was the first to arrive to the desolate area, affectionately known at “PTA,” and will stay the duration, constantly training and supporting the other companies. The remaining companies will arrive, for approximately one week, throughout the training cycle.
The first days are primarily for organizing and revising the training matrix to ensure a smooth training experience for 2/3’s Marines and Sailors.
“Our goal is to provide realistic training,” said Master Gunnery Sgt. Allen Benjamin, operations chief, 2/3. “We accomplish whatever training we can on Oahu, and then we come to the Big Island for PTA and focus on military occupational specialty training that is constricted on Oahu primarily because of the lack of area.
“Weapon systems like mortars and MK-19 machine guns need a large cushion of space to train without endangering or affecting nearby civilians. PTA allows us to further our proficiency before going to Mojave Viper, the final pre-deployment training cycle,” Benjamin said.
Hawaii Marines have trained at the Army-ran training area for more than 20 years, Benjamin said. The training area, 6,600 ft. above sea level, is an ideal location because of the abundant space and the freedom to train with long range weapons that Oahu’s limited area prevents.
“We get a chance to do much more as well,” Benjamin continued. “Training, like small unit leadership and tactics, are emphasized on ranges that focus on fireteam-level fire and maneuver exercises. It takes the senior, lower enlistees with a deployments worth of experience and refines their leadership . . . Ultimately it provides realistic, relevant and practical training for deployment, while minimizing any unnecessary confusion while deployed.”
PTA hosts a variety of ranges to allow Marines the opportunity to train with heavy weapons such as the M2 .50 caliber machinegun, MK-19 automatic grenade launcher, Tube Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire Guided weapon system (better known as the TOW), and even demolitions.
Snipers also have a designated area to practice concealment and accuracy.
Although some Marines might not enjoy missing luxuries from base like hot food, personal vehicles or their own room, Benjamin reinforced that these small sacrifices are necessary to enable Marines adequate training for success during deployments.
Senior Marines with multiple deployments and combat experience are providing the majority of instruction during the PTA training cycle. Common training evolutions and inevitable mistakes here will inevitably be crucial for success during future missions, and provides an accurate source of relevant and realistic training, according to Sgt. Nic Ruggieri, a platoon sergeant with Weapons Company.
“We get a chance to focus on MOS training,” Ruggieri said. “On Oahu we might be doing more rifleman training, like room clearing and patrolling, which is still crucial, but mortarmen and TOW gunners need time to train and become proficient with their own weapons too.”
Ruggieri also said that, with a focus on machineguns, Marines have a good opportunity to cross train with and fire the M2 .50 caliber machinegun.
“Some infantry have never had the chance to fire the M2 .50 caliber, and we make sure they know how to use it efficiently because it’s so common during deployment.”
Ultimately, 2/3 hopes to use the realistic training at PTA as a stepping stone, and perfect the training they’ll need in combat with the final pre-deployment training cycle at Mojave Viper at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif.