Photo Information

U.S. Marines and Sailors with 2nd Transportation Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (MLG), pose with a photo with their 1st place trophy after an awards ceremony at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, May 15, 2019. Brig. Gen. Kevin J. Stewart, commanding officer of 2nd MLG, presented awards to the first, second, and third place winners of 2nd MLG's annual squad competition. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Bethanie C. Sahms)

Photo by Sgt. Bethanie Sahms

Preparing to Fight Together

17 May 2019 | Lance Cpl. Fatima Villatoro The Official United States Marine Corps Public Website

Marines and Sailors with 2nd Marine Logistics Group held their annual squad competition at the Battle Skills Training School, May. 13 - 14 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Marines and Sailors formed squads from subordinate commands within 2nd MLG and toiled together to complete a rigorous two-day competition.

The squad competition was designed to simulate a combat environment, which tested the Marines' and Sailors' ability to operate tactically and complete the mission.

“The purpose of the squad competition is to get Marines [and Sailors] out of their comfort zones,” said Master Sgt. David Carrier, staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge of BSTS. “This allows them to use their basic combat and rifleman skills when it comes to combat-related situations.”

The squad competition included different training events such as a memorization game, land navigation, squad response to an ambush, a 3-mile endurance course and ground fighting.

“Taking part in this competition helps us stay ready by putting us in situations that we could encounter in combat,” said Cpl. Morgan Tracy, a motor transportation operator with 2nd Transportation Support Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 2. “The [chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear] event was tough for our squad, we had to try to think critically, take a test, and keep calm all while being in a simulated fog-of-war situation.”

Participants of the competition stated that characteristics such as courage, initiative, discipline, and the will-to-fight are what allowed their squads to overcome the challenges.

“All Marines have a warrior spirit, it is instilled in them since day one,” said Cpl. Joshua Roun, a machine gun instructor with BSTS. “The competition helps build that warrior ethos—it builds character, it helps us grow and learn from our past mistakes. That’s what a warrior ethos is about; changing and perfecting your tactics.”

The squad leaders for each unit were noncommissioned officers, who were charged with leading their squads, and providing them with guidance throughout the competition.

“As a squad leader you have to make sure you’re treating everyone as a team and that you’re constantly training,” said Sgt. Ramiro MartinezSalas, a squad leader with Bravo Company, 2nd TSB, CLR-2. “You have to train your Marines equally, and make sure they understand how to react because one day they have to take your spot, and you have to trust that they will know how to move forward.”

Although 12 squads competed for the trophy, 2nd Transportation Support Battalion came out on top and took the first place spot.

Brig. Gen. Kevin J. Stewart, commanding general of 2nd MLG, stated “you will never fight alone,” and he believes these Marines and Sailors demonstrated 2nd MLG’s commitment to that principle.


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