thedrifter
08-27-09, 06:51 AM
2/2 advances through Mojave Viper
8/26/2009 By Lance Cpl. Dwight A. Henderson , 2nd Marine Division
After fighting for nearly 90 minutes, the Marines entered the trench, secured the flanks and provided suppressive fire for other elements of their company advancing on the enemy position.
The Marines of Company G, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, provided cover for engineers who emplaced anti-personnel obstacle breaching systems to clear concertina wire and allow other Marines to advance and complete the mission.
This was all done as the Marines participated in their final exercise of the first phase of Mojave Viper training aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Aug. 16, 2009.
The exercise put into practice all they learned about a company offensive on an entrenched enemy position, and served as a way for senior Marines to evaluate the abilities of their junior Marines individually and the company as a whole.
“We started out as a newer battalion with a lot of new guys,” said Lance Cpl. Trevor L. Jones, a team leader with Company G. “Now the new guys are just working perfect, it’s a well oiled engine.”
The company went through the range, clearing enemy trenches and utilizing sniper, engineer and indirect-fire support to suppress the enemy as they moved forward.
According to Jones, with all the different assets, communication was the largest obstacle the company faced.
It’s important the different parts of the company can communicate so they can coordinate fire and move effectively and efficiently.
“There were a few hiccups here and there,” said Cpl. Ryan L. Hipple, a team leader with Company G. “Regardless, we improvised a little bit and were still able to breach our obstacles and take the objective.”
Mojave Viper provides similar terrain and resources as Afghanistan, and replicates the battlefield environment in which the Marines may be fighting during upcoming deployments.
“There’s a lot more available to us and we can actually use a lot of different assets on target objectives,” said Jones, a mortarman by trade. “It’s the best work up we could get.”
After completing the final exercise, the battalion moved into Clear Build Hold 2, the second phase of Mojave Viper training. The training is preparing the Marines for their upcoming deployment to Afghanistan later this year.
For more information on the II Marine Expeditionary Force, visit the unit’s web site at www.iimefpublic.usmc.mil.
Ellie
8/26/2009 By Lance Cpl. Dwight A. Henderson , 2nd Marine Division
After fighting for nearly 90 minutes, the Marines entered the trench, secured the flanks and provided suppressive fire for other elements of their company advancing on the enemy position.
The Marines of Company G, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, provided cover for engineers who emplaced anti-personnel obstacle breaching systems to clear concertina wire and allow other Marines to advance and complete the mission.
This was all done as the Marines participated in their final exercise of the first phase of Mojave Viper training aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Aug. 16, 2009.
The exercise put into practice all they learned about a company offensive on an entrenched enemy position, and served as a way for senior Marines to evaluate the abilities of their junior Marines individually and the company as a whole.
“We started out as a newer battalion with a lot of new guys,” said Lance Cpl. Trevor L. Jones, a team leader with Company G. “Now the new guys are just working perfect, it’s a well oiled engine.”
The company went through the range, clearing enemy trenches and utilizing sniper, engineer and indirect-fire support to suppress the enemy as they moved forward.
According to Jones, with all the different assets, communication was the largest obstacle the company faced.
It’s important the different parts of the company can communicate so they can coordinate fire and move effectively and efficiently.
“There were a few hiccups here and there,” said Cpl. Ryan L. Hipple, a team leader with Company G. “Regardless, we improvised a little bit and were still able to breach our obstacles and take the objective.”
Mojave Viper provides similar terrain and resources as Afghanistan, and replicates the battlefield environment in which the Marines may be fighting during upcoming deployments.
“There’s a lot more available to us and we can actually use a lot of different assets on target objectives,” said Jones, a mortarman by trade. “It’s the best work up we could get.”
After completing the final exercise, the battalion moved into Clear Build Hold 2, the second phase of Mojave Viper training. The training is preparing the Marines for their upcoming deployment to Afghanistan later this year.
For more information on the II Marine Expeditionary Force, visit the unit’s web site at www.iimefpublic.usmc.mil.
Ellie