11th MEU's motorized rifle company sharpens raid skills 

Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's ground combat element completed a Motorized Raid Course at Fire Base Gloria here July 9-13.
The course consisted of classroom lecture and practical application designed to train personnel in raid planning and to apply the tactics, techniques, and procedures for executing raid operations, according to the course letter of instruction.
Marines from Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, the MEU's motorized rifle company, took part in three separate raids on different objectives as part of their pre-deployment training. Two raids were conducted in daylight hours and one at night.
During the course, Alpha Company's motor raid force was supported by elements of the battalion's Combined Anti-Armor Platoons, 81mm mortar platoon, and combat engineer platoon. Other support was provided by a fire support team responsible for planning and controlling close air, naval surface fires, artillery, and mortar support, according to the LOI.
Throughout the course, the Marines set up camp within Firebase Gloria and slept under the stars. The fire base simulated the amphibious ships from which the raids were executed.
During the exercises, the raid force captured hostile combatants, seized small arms weapon caches, improvised explosive devices and rocket-propelled grenades. The raid training, which is administered by Special Operations Training Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, from here, offers elements of the BLT an opportunity to train together and build standard operating procedures that will be used when they deploy later this year.
For more information about the 11th MEU, visit their website athttp://www.usmc.mil/11thmeu.