JACKSONVILLE, N.C. -- Marines with Amphibious Assault Vehicle Platoon, Company B, Ground Combat Element Integrated Task Force, conducted a live-fire exercise at Range SR-10 aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Jan. 20, 2015.
The platoon focused on firing tables three and five of the AAV gunnery manual, with a particular emphasis on their competency with quickly reloading and firing their Mark 19 40 mm grenade and .50 caliber machine guns while moving.
“The biggest thing we want to prepare them for in regards to the evaluation is being able to conduct those reloads and quickly put rounds downrange,” said 1st Lt. Robert S. Dyer, AAV platoon commander, Co. B, GCEITF. “We have spent the last two weeks in the classroom preparing for this by starting with the basics, and in the turret trainer to prepare the Marines for the live-fire portion.”
Four lanes of AAVs engaged targets between approximately 700 and 1,500 meters away. In table three, crews are required to expend 96 Mark 19 40 mm grenade machine gun rounds; and in in table five, 48 Mark 19 rounds and 450 .50 caliber rounds. Crews worked in teams of three, with the driver, turret gunner and assistant gunner each having a hand in completing the tables.
The exercise left crews eager for their upcoming assessment at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California.
“Shooting has been a blast,” said Sgt. Zarina I. Flemming, crew chief, AAV Plt., Co. B, GCEITF. “This is the stuff you join the Marine Corps to do. It’s been humbling to be in this (military occupational specialty), and the learning that comes with it. I am excited for our assessment, and I feel this training has been preparing us for (it).”
Dyer made note of the progress that the platoon has made since their inception.
“The Marines have been doing an outstanding job,” Dyer said. “The ability for the vehicles to stand up is just a result of the hard work that the crews have been putting in. It’s a great reflection of them and how they have been progressing with this assessment.”
From October 2014 to July 2015, the GCEITF will conduct individual and collective level skills training in designated ground combat arms occupational specialties in order to facilitate the standards based assessment of the physical performance of Marines in a simulated operating environment performing specific ground combat arms tasks.