thedrifter
09-06-03, 05:39 AM
Lava Dogs unleashed at Jungle Warfare Training Center
Submitted by: MCB Camp Butler
Story Identification Number: 20039423935
Story by Cpl. Ryan D. Libbert
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP GONSALVES, Okinawa, Japan(September 4, 2003) -- They suffered tremendous heat conditions, the absence of two companies, and a typhoon; still, nothing was going to stop the Marines from 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division from completing their scheduled training.
Three companies from 1/3 took part in three different training packages that the Jungle Warfare Training Center at Camp Gonsalves offers. The training was designed to give the "Lava Dogs," as they are also known, a good taste of what it is like to operate in the jungle said 1st Lt. Racine M. Brown, battalion training officer.
"The three packages we are putting the companies through are the rough terrain and rope package, the jungle shooting and patrol package, and the survival package," the Chapin, S.C. native said. "We are also doing an endurance course when the training is complete where the Marines will negotiate every obstacle JWTC has."
Each package is three days long. The companies participating, C, Headquarters and Weapons, will switch to another package once they have completed the one they had started.
The rough terrain and rope package puts Marines in situations where they rely on each other and their tools to overcome obstacles, according to Brown.
"Our Marines will be crossing rope bridges, doing a hasty rappel down the cliff and receiving rope management classes during this package," Brown stated. "They will also be taught the various ways to cross streams and then be graded on how they perform doing so."
The jungle shooting and patrol package involves Marines conducting assaults through the thick trees and brush that surrounds JWTC.
"The patrol package starts off with Marines receiving classes on shooting and moving through the jungle," Brown explained. "They will then conduct force-on-force assaults at the platoon level and company level to practice what they learned."
The final training package 1/3 participated in was the survival package where Marines were drilled on how to stay alive in the jungle with only the bare minimum of supplies.
"The survival package starts in the classroom where Marines learn what plants to eat, how to build shelter, and how to avoid the dangers of the jungle," Brown continued. "They are then put out in the jungle for two days where they must use what they have learned to survive."
The Marines of 1/3 currently in their first UDP to Okinawa claim the JWTC experience is a good challenge and differs somewhat from their home in Hawaii.
"It's a lot hotter out here and the jungle is really thick," said Lance Cpl. Mark D. Roberson, mortarman with Weapons Co. and Sparta, Ga., native. "The terrain and weather forces us to watch out for each other a lot more."
As the battalion begins to finish up their instruction at JWTC, Brown reflects on the importance of such training in Okinawa.
"Many of the countries in the AOR (area of responsibility) of 4th Marines have terrain and environment very similar to Okinawa," Brown concluded. "It would behoove all UDP battalions to take full advantage of what JWTC has to offer."
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20039424610/$file/JWTC01.gif
Marines assigned to 1st Battalion 3rd Marine Regiment emerge from the lake at the Jungle Warfare Training Center at Camp Gonsalves. Crossing the lake was just one of many obstacles during the endurance course which 1/3 participated in.
Photo by: Cpl. Ryan D. Libbert
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20039425528/$file/JWTC03.gif
Sempers,
Roger
:marine:
Submitted by: MCB Camp Butler
Story Identification Number: 20039423935
Story by Cpl. Ryan D. Libbert
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP GONSALVES, Okinawa, Japan(September 4, 2003) -- They suffered tremendous heat conditions, the absence of two companies, and a typhoon; still, nothing was going to stop the Marines from 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division from completing their scheduled training.
Three companies from 1/3 took part in three different training packages that the Jungle Warfare Training Center at Camp Gonsalves offers. The training was designed to give the "Lava Dogs," as they are also known, a good taste of what it is like to operate in the jungle said 1st Lt. Racine M. Brown, battalion training officer.
"The three packages we are putting the companies through are the rough terrain and rope package, the jungle shooting and patrol package, and the survival package," the Chapin, S.C. native said. "We are also doing an endurance course when the training is complete where the Marines will negotiate every obstacle JWTC has."
Each package is three days long. The companies participating, C, Headquarters and Weapons, will switch to another package once they have completed the one they had started.
The rough terrain and rope package puts Marines in situations where they rely on each other and their tools to overcome obstacles, according to Brown.
"Our Marines will be crossing rope bridges, doing a hasty rappel down the cliff and receiving rope management classes during this package," Brown stated. "They will also be taught the various ways to cross streams and then be graded on how they perform doing so."
The jungle shooting and patrol package involves Marines conducting assaults through the thick trees and brush that surrounds JWTC.
"The patrol package starts off with Marines receiving classes on shooting and moving through the jungle," Brown explained. "They will then conduct force-on-force assaults at the platoon level and company level to practice what they learned."
The final training package 1/3 participated in was the survival package where Marines were drilled on how to stay alive in the jungle with only the bare minimum of supplies.
"The survival package starts in the classroom where Marines learn what plants to eat, how to build shelter, and how to avoid the dangers of the jungle," Brown continued. "They are then put out in the jungle for two days where they must use what they have learned to survive."
The Marines of 1/3 currently in their first UDP to Okinawa claim the JWTC experience is a good challenge and differs somewhat from their home in Hawaii.
"It's a lot hotter out here and the jungle is really thick," said Lance Cpl. Mark D. Roberson, mortarman with Weapons Co. and Sparta, Ga., native. "The terrain and weather forces us to watch out for each other a lot more."
As the battalion begins to finish up their instruction at JWTC, Brown reflects on the importance of such training in Okinawa.
"Many of the countries in the AOR (area of responsibility) of 4th Marines have terrain and environment very similar to Okinawa," Brown concluded. "It would behoove all UDP battalions to take full advantage of what JWTC has to offer."
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20039424610/$file/JWTC01.gif
Marines assigned to 1st Battalion 3rd Marine Regiment emerge from the lake at the Jungle Warfare Training Center at Camp Gonsalves. Crossing the lake was just one of many obstacles during the endurance course which 1/3 participated in.
Photo by: Cpl. Ryan D. Libbert
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20039425528/$file/JWTC03.gif
Sempers,
Roger
:marine: