Raid skills improving with deployment months away
7/23/2009
By
Cpl. Jeffrey Belovarac
,
11th MEU
PACIFIC OCEAN
Company G Marines departed USS Rushmore in a mechanized raid on San Clemente Island July 23, their second ship-to-shore raid as the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit works up to deployment.
The company – one of four that make up Battalion Landing Team 2/4, the MEU’s ground combat element – departed the ship in tracked amphibious vehicles, hit the shore and drove to the island objective.
“You can tell things are being coordinated better between us and the track guys,” said Lance Cpl. Caleb D. Eggert, 22, from Tupelo, Miss. “The whole process of getting to shore is getting faster each time.”
Rounding out the Marine air-ground task force, AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters provided close-air support over the raid site.
“For being a man on the ground, there’s no better feeling than knowing I have helicopters and light-armored vehicles and who knows what else to back me up if I need it,” said Sgt. Michael M. Elder, 24, from Edmond, Okla.
Most of the Marines were on unfamiliar turf on the island, unlike Camp Pendleton’s artificial urban environments “where everyone knows exactly how everything’s laid out,” said Lance Cpl. Raymond H. Currey, 21, from Parkersburg W.Va. “It’s not like you’re going to go to a village in Afghanistan and know where all the alleyways lead to. Going somewhere new makes it all a lot more realistic.”
The Marines rushed from the vehicles into scores of cactus, which covered much of the raid site and required extra caution.
“The terrain really got in the way on this one. The cactus distracted us at times,” said Currey. “I’d get more focused on thinking ‘Oh, my leg hurts. There’s a cactus sticking out of it.’”
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Lance Cpl. Raymond H. Currey, 21, from Parkersburg W.V. loads a magazine into his rifle after emptying his previous one on enemy personnel during a simulated raid on Catalina Island July 23. For many of the Marines it was their first time training on the island, making the raid a more realistic experience by working on unfamiliar turf. The raid was carried out by Company G, Battalion Landing Team 2/4 to prepare them for deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year., Cpl. Jeffrey Belovarac, 7/23/2009 10:33 PM
Marines with Company G, Battalion Landing Team 2/4 move a wounded enemy combatant onto an amphibious assault vehicle during a raid on Catalina Island July 23. Whether an enemy or one of their own, Marines help all wounded personnel on the battle field. The Marines came across the simulated enemy while conducting a mechanized raid to prepare themselves for deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The raid was launched from USS Rushmore and was the second of three the Marines will conduct from the ship before deploying., Cpl. Jeffrey Belovarac, 7/23/2009 10:42 PM
Marines with Company G, Battalion Landing Team 2/4 rush across a simulated village during a mechanized raid on Catalina Island July 23. Marines began the operation from USS Rushmore on assault amphibious vehicles, which were then used to proceed to the objective. The raid was the second of three Co. G will perform from ship before deploying with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit., Cpl. Jeffrey Belovarac, 7/23/2009 10:43 PM
Lance Cpl. Stephen P. Bond, 19, from North Olmsted, Ohio, provides security while members of his squad move from one building to another during a mechanized raid on Catalina Island July 23. For many Marines the Island was unfamiliar territory, creating a more realistic raid experience. Marines arrived to the raid site on amphibious assault vehicles, which they rode from USS Rushmore. This raid was the second of three Co. G will perform from ship to shore before deploying with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year., Cpl. Jeffrey Belovarac, 7/23/2009 8:00 PM
Sgt. Matthew Raymond, 26, from Northern Maine ensures all the Marines in his squad make their way onto an amphibious assault vehicle during a mechanized raid on Catalina Island July 23. The Marines of Company G, Battalion Landing Team 2/4 began the raid from USS Rushmore, where they will be stationed during their deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit., Cpl. Jeffrey Belovarac, 7/23/2009 10:48 PM
Lance Cpl. Caleb D. Eggert, 22, from Tupelo, Miss., positions himself to provide security for the amphibious assault vehicle he is riding in after completing a mechanized raid on Catalina Island July 23. The raid was the second of three Company G will conduct from USS Rushmore before deploying with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year., Cpl. Jeffrey Belovarac, 7/23/2009 10:50 PM
Cpl. Hubert Gonzales, 23, from the Philippines, drinks water after finishing a mechanized raid on Catalina Island July 23. Marines waited inside amphibious assault vehicles for over three hours prior to assaulting their objective. The Marines of Company G who conducted the raid, departed USS Rushmore in the AAV's as their second of three raids from ship before deploying with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year., Cpl. Jeffrey Belovarac, 7/23/2009 10:50 PM
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