Marines TV

U.S. Marines and Sailors with the Maritime Raid Force (MRF), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) participate in a night raid during Combined Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), in Avon Park, FL, Nov. 29, 2017. The exercise allows all elements of the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) to join and train in realistic scenarios so the MEU as a whole can meet its Pre-Deployment Training Program (PTP) objectives prior to their upcoming deployment at sea. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Sylvia L. Tapia)

U.S. Marines and Sailors with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) recently completed Realistic Urban Training (RUT) at Marine Corps Outlying Field Camp Davis-South, N.C., Aug. 16-28, 2017. RUT allowed the 26th MEU to gain operational experience working as a unit in a simulated forward deployed environment as preparation for an upcoming deployment at sea. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Sylvia L. Tapia)

Marines with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Maritime Raid Force participate in a Close Quarters Tactics Course at Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 26-27, 2017. The CQT course is a four week course where Marines learn and rehearse breaching techniques, which enhances their combat marksmanship skills and tactics while maintaining unit readiness and preparing them for future operations.

U.S. Marines assigned to the Maritime Raid Force (MRF), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), participate in a Close Quarters Tactics Course at Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 19, 2017. The CQT course provides Marines an opportunity to enhance their combat marksmanship skills and tactics while maintaining unit readiness and preparing for future operations. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Jered T. Stone)

Marines with the Maritime Raid Force (MRF), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), rehearse clearing techniques during a Close Quarters Tactics Course aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 7, 2017. The MRF conducted the training in order to maintain unit readiness in close quarter combat situations.

Members of the Belize Defence Force and the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force conduct simulated raids as part of Exercise Tradewinds 2017, June 13, 2017, in Trinidad and Tobago. Tradewinds, an annual U.S. Southern Command-sponsored exercise, brings together 20 partner nations to increase Caribbean security and the combined ability to counter transnational terrorism and organized crime, and enhance humanitarian and disaster relief capabilities. (U.S. Marine Corps motion imagery by Cpl. Luke Hoogendam)

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California – Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit took part in an intensive combat-centric training course Jan. 9-27 that taught them the skills necessary to support the MEU’s Maritime Raid Force here at Camp Pendleton. The MRF is the Marine Corps’ elite clandestine force enabling precision raids, amphibious reconnaissance and a myriad of other mission sets. The Close Quarters Tactics Enablers course trains Marines to support the MRF in these mission sets. “This type of training is paramount to the operational capabilities of the MEU’s MRF,” said Staff Sgt. Presten Gabaldon, the 15th MEU’s operations training chief and MRF liaison. “In close-quarters combat operations, one must have the ability and knowledge to make life and death decisions – when to shoot and when not to shoot – and it’s essential to not only the 15th MEU but to the Marine Corps as a whole.” Enablers who participated in this training are subject matter experts who enhance and support the MRF mission by providing support such as law enforcement Marines handling military working dogs with the ability to find explosive ordnances, radio operators, and combat camera Marines who document the mission in the heat of battle. During the CQTE course the Marines went through a variety of close-quarters combat-oriented training exercises, to include blindfolded weapons malfunction drills, urban patrolling, advanced marksmanship, and weapons manipulations in low-light visibility. The skills taught at the course will help the 15th MEU effectively support the employment of the MRF in expeditionary operations while forward deployed. “The 15th MEU’s goal in this training exercise is to ensure our Marines are confident, combat effective and prepared for any situation,” said Gabaldon, “Every day of training brings us one step closer to reaching that goal.”