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thedrifter
02-20-09, 07:16 AM
Combat mind-set - Division Marines get fired up for training

2/20/2009 By Lance Cpl. Thomas W. Provost , Marine Corps Bases Japan

OKINAWA, Japan —When enemy contact is made, the automatic weapon becomes a Marine’s best friend.

It is key to success or failure during a firefight. More specifically, it can mean the difference between life and death. Marines are typically introduced to automatic weapons at Marine Combat Training at Camp Lejeune, N.C., or Camp Pendleton, Calif.

One of the most exciting moments for new Marines is shooting the machine gun on the range. A feeling of power comes with each squeeze of the trigger, said Pfc. Martin Guajardo, a motor vehicle operator with Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division.

“It feels like you have so much power in your hands,” said Guajardo. “Once you shoot (a machine gun), it’s such a good feeling, you don’t want to stop.”

After combat training, non-infantry Marines move on to their respective military occupational schools. Some may never again unleash a barrage of belt-fed rounds.

But with the Marine Corps' fast and growing operational tempo, a Marine's chances of seeing a machine gun again are better than average.

Prior to deploying to combat zones, units go through intense predeployment training.During training, Marines are again required to take apart, re-assemble, clean, hike with and fire countless rounds of ammunition from the machine gun.

This is especially true for CAB Marines. They recently completed weapons training in preparation for future deployments.

The training hammered home some basic principles.

“Every Marine is a rifleman, which also means he is a machine gunner too,” said Cpl. Tyler J. Light, a platoon sergeant with CAB.

Marines must possess specific qualities to be good machine gunners, Light said.

“It takes someone who’s not scared, not timid, someone who knows the weapon in and out, can jump on the weapon when rounds are going down range,” he said. “The toughest and baddest Marine – that’s what it takes to be a machine gunner.”

When asked which Marines in his platoon possessed these unique qualities, Light responded “all 35.”

“If you put the Marines through the proper training, you make them successful,” he said.

Being in a combat mind-set, is vital to being a machine gunner, Light said. This principle holds true in both combat and during training.

“I want them (Marines) to know when they are shooting down at those plastic targets, (in real life) there’s going to be (rounds) coming back at them, so it’s a whole different ball game over there,” Light said. “They need to get in that mind-set.”

Ellie