Photo Information

Marines with 4th Medical Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, Marine Forces Reserve, extract a casualty from a aircraft during a mass casualty exercise during 4-15 Integrated Training Exercise aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., June 20, 2015. During the exercise Marines and Sailors worked together to perform a casualty rescue, where victims were extracted or boarded onto an aircraft and transported to a field medical station. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ian Ferro)

Photo by Cpl. Ian Ferro

Marines Complete ITX 4-15

26 Jun 2015 | Cpl. Ian Ferro The Official United States Marine Corps Public Website

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.”