thedrifter
03-05-08, 07:51 AM
Exercise teaching young Marines value of support
By Jimmy Norris, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Thursday, March 6, 2008
RODRIGUEZ RANGE, South Korea — The sound of rifle fire echoed through Rodriguez Range’s Cherokee Valley on Monday as Marines from the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment raced in four-man fire teams toward their targets.
Cover teams alternated rushing forward and laying down suppressive fire on their imagined enemies.
The training was conducted in phases beginning with two-man buddy teams then working up to four-man fire teams. The goal was to work up to squad- and platoon-level tactics, said 1st Lt. Juan Cabrera, commander of the Combined Anti-armor Team Red platoon.
Cabrera was training his platoon, along with an attachment of 10 Marines from D Company, 3rd Assault Amphibious Battalion.
The Marines also received briefings on how tanks and amphibious assault vehicles could work with them in combat.
Cabrera said the training would lead to a combined arms live-fire event featuring tanks, AAVs, mortars, F-18s and South Korean marines that will begin Saturday.
That event is the culmination of the 7th Marine Regiment’s participation in the annual Key Resolve/Foal Eagle exercise.
“I’d like the Marines to see that,” Cabrera said. “It shows them we have support and we’re not in the fight alone. That’s pretty motivating.”
Younger Marines said they were learning a lot from the exercise.
“We haven’t trained with tracks and tanks,” said Cpl. Terry Moynihan, Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. “It gives us a warm and fuzzy knowing how we can work with them.”
Ellie
By Jimmy Norris, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Thursday, March 6, 2008
RODRIGUEZ RANGE, South Korea — The sound of rifle fire echoed through Rodriguez Range’s Cherokee Valley on Monday as Marines from the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment raced in four-man fire teams toward their targets.
Cover teams alternated rushing forward and laying down suppressive fire on their imagined enemies.
The training was conducted in phases beginning with two-man buddy teams then working up to four-man fire teams. The goal was to work up to squad- and platoon-level tactics, said 1st Lt. Juan Cabrera, commander of the Combined Anti-armor Team Red platoon.
Cabrera was training his platoon, along with an attachment of 10 Marines from D Company, 3rd Assault Amphibious Battalion.
The Marines also received briefings on how tanks and amphibious assault vehicles could work with them in combat.
Cabrera said the training would lead to a combined arms live-fire event featuring tanks, AAVs, mortars, F-18s and South Korean marines that will begin Saturday.
That event is the culmination of the 7th Marine Regiment’s participation in the annual Key Resolve/Foal Eagle exercise.
“I’d like the Marines to see that,” Cabrera said. “It shows them we have support and we’re not in the fight alone. That’s pretty motivating.”
Younger Marines said they were learning a lot from the exercise.
“We haven’t trained with tracks and tanks,” said Cpl. Terry Moynihan, Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. “It gives us a warm and fuzzy knowing how we can work with them.”
Ellie