Photo Information

Lance Cpl. Jeremy R. Everett, an automotive maintenance technician with 8th Communication Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force, practices driving a Humvee to gain his operator’s license during 8th Comm.’s field exercise aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 12, 2015. During the Humvee licensing course, motor transportation Marines participated in a class followed by a practice course and a set amount of miles driven on the road.

Photo by Cpl. Justin Updegraff

Loud and clear: 8th communication battalion field exercise

17 Mar 2015 | Cpl. Justin Updegraff The Official United States Marine Corps Public Website

We came out here and within a seven-hour period we had data, voice and single channel radio services up and operational,” said Capt. Adam Law, Alpha Company Commander with 8th Communication Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force. “We could’ve provided any unit or staff with the ability to communicate and command and control in six to seven hours.”

Marines with 8th Comm. exercised their communication capabilities in support of II Marine Headquarters Group aboard Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, March 6-20, 2015.

During this exercise, 8th Comm’s mission was to provide II MHG with data, voice and single channel radio services they needed to communicate and command and control.

“Our mission is to setup and maintain power,” said Cpl. Claire M. Souder, an electrician with 8th Comm. “If anything goes down, such as a generator, we have to be fast to get the generator back up. The only thing we’re worried about is communication and making sure they have everything they need.”

Radio operators, satellite communication operators and field wireman were not the only Marines involved in this exercise. The large communication equipment required motor transport for this field exercise. 

Motor vehicle operators and maintenance technicians were also present during this field exercise. They were not only maintaining the vehicles and supporting 8th Comm and II MHG with transportation, but the Marines were given classes; to include a Humvee licensing course taught by the unit’s motor vehicle operator’s. Once completed, the Marines who passed received their Humvee operator’s license.

“Any time you have in the field is a good time to exercise your capability sets,” Law said. “The Marines need to be prepared to perform their duties in a tactical environment and potentially adverse conditions. Whenever you talk about setting up a tactical network, there is no real replacements for the training aspect involved with rolling everything you have out to the field, setting it all up and making it all work.”