June 26, 2105 -- Marines with Marine Forces Reserve
participated in Integrated Training Exercise 4-15 aboard Marine Corps Air
Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, June 9 – 24, 2015.
ITX
is the largest annual exercise of the Reserve component, focusing on
utilization of the Marine Air Ground Task Force. Over the course of the two-week
exercise, Marines trained in different elements of the MAGTF to reach mission
accomplishment. From platoon and company attack exercises, to battalion and
regimental scales, progressively, each exercise increased its components to combine
more elements of the MAGTF puzzle.
“ITX is one of the best exercises the Marine Corps has;
it brings all elements of the MAGTF together,” said Lt. Col. James Martin,
operations officer, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces
Reserve. “We bring aviation capabilities, logistics, infantry, tanks, artillery,
engineers, reconnaissance and all other enablers together. We make them work
together and operate as a cohesive force.”
Each
year at ITX, a different Reserve regiment is selected as command element for
the exercise. The command element’s responsibility is to coordinate with
Marines Forces Reserve to plan and execute operations. The 25th Marine Regiment
was selected as the command element for ITX 4-15.
“Our
responsibilities are to get everyone from their home training center to here,
to get them on training on time with the right ammunition and the right number
of people, with the right attitude, to improve their combat readiness and to
get them home safely,” said Col. Russell E. Smith, 25th Marine Regiment
commanding officer.
At
the culmination of each ITX there is a combined arms exercise which showcases
all elements of the MAGTF joining together to assault an objective. The MAGTF
is one of the Marine Corps’ best assets and is crucial in maintaining readiness
for worldwide deployment.
“The
culminating exercise brings together all the elements of MAGTF and Reserves,
and they participate fully in a combined arms exercise,” said Lt. Gen. Richard
P. Mills, Marine Forces Reserve commanding general. “It is challenging all
across the board, from the logistics to the air support, artillery and the
ground forces that have to engage together the targets in order to overcome
them and push on to victory.”
All
exercises of this magnitude present unique challenges throughout the execution
phase. The challenges create opportunities for Marines to apply their training
and solve each problem accordingly.
“What we look for in an exercise like this is the
opportunity to stress the force and to replicate combat conditions as best as
possible,” said Brig. Gen. Patrick J. Hermesmann, 4th Marine Logistics Group
commanding general. “To take each individual Marine from the lowest level up to
the highest level, push them within their military occupational specialty
skills and to have them stressed, but not broken, was my goal.”
The
cohesion between different units is a recurring theme at ITX, whether between
different major subordinate commands or different branches of service.
“The
Marines and Sailors here work great together, everyone steps up when needed,”
said Petty Officer 1st Class Adam C. Strotz, lead petty officer with 4th Medical
Battalion, 4th MLG. “The Marines are definitely playing a vital part in
maintaining security, communication and non-medical assets. All the corpsmen
are stepping up and ensuring that any type of support the Marines need is being
taking care of.”
Without
its own medical military occupational field, the Marine Corps relies on the
presence of Navy hospital corpsmen to fill that need. Within Marine Forces
Reserve, 4th Med. Bn. is a prime example of the exchange of capabilities
between the Navy and Marine Corps.
“Without
the Marine Corps there are a lot of things we can’t do here, not just because they
provide security and drive our ambulances. We have countless Marines that will
step up and do things they never thought they would. They give us an extra hand
carrying patients off the ambulance and onto the aircraft, while providing
security,” said HM2 Justin A. Henriquez, Fleet Marine Force hospital corpsman
with 4th Med. Bn. “With their logistics and moving parts we can get the job
done. Our cohesion is definitely a big asset to the Marine Corps and Navy team.”
With
the combination of high temperatures and the continuous and strenuous physical
stress within each exercise, heat related illness is the most common type of
health issue during ITX 4-15.
The
climate and terrain present at the ranges in Twentynine Palms can be a crucial
factor in the troop’s welfare during exercises. However, it provides a
realistic environment and conditions of what Marines may face in future
deployments, therefore enhancing their combat and deployment readiness.
“This
is the premium training environment for the Marine Corps; you can’t shoot on
any other ranges like this in the world as a Marine,” said Col. Morgan Mann,
25th Marine Regiment deputy commander. “For the junior Marines it’s all about
getting that individual proficiency and those small unit leader skills they
need to do their job, this is what is getting them to ready for mobilization
and service wherever the Marine Corps asks.”
As
ITX came to a close, Marines successfully overcame the hardships within the
exercises, growing stronger and better prepared as a Reserve Force, ready to
support their active duty counterparts whenever and wherever needed.
“Any
time you go through hard challenges like this, it always brings the unit
together,” said Lance Cpl. Andrew Morris, rifleman with 2nd Platoon, Company L,
25th Marine Regiment.
During
the final combined arms exercise, Lt. Gen. Mills, Maj. Gen. Paul W. Brier, 4th
Marine Division commanding general and Brig. Gen. Patrick J. Hermesmann, 4th
Marine Logistics Group commanding general witnessed the final demonstration of
cohesion between all the MAGTF elements.
“This
is what Marines and Sailors joined to do, to get out in the field and show off
their skills, they are being tested hard and responding extremely well,” said
Mills. “I am very proud of the Marines.”