Photo Information

Lance Cpl. Casey Miller (left) and Lance Cpl. Alex Winnecke, assaultmen with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment and natives of Lexington, Ky. and Blaine, Minn., respectively, return to their starting position during a gun drill at training area G-G aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 18, 2015. The assaultmen refined their skills with their primary weapon, the Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon, over three days of training.

Photo by Cpl. Kirstin Merrimarahajara

Marines sight in on core infantry skills

20 Feb 2015 | Cpl. Kirstin Merrimarahajara The Official United States Marine Corps Public Website

"We will hold ourselves accountable in execution and practice of the principles and regulations that have made the Marine Corps the premiere military in the world,” states the philosophy of the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment “Warlords”, signed by the unit’s commanding officer, Lt. Col. Joel F. Schmidt.

Marines from the unit returned in January and February from a six-month deployment to various countries, including Spain, Romania and Africa, but that did not stop them from upholding the highest of standards and getting right back into training.
Infantrymen with the unit participated in a three-day training evolution at training area G-G on base Feb. 17-19 2015.

“We’re coming out here for a few days to maintain those skills that are core to being an infantryman,” said Lance Cpl. Paul McKee, a machine gunner with the unit and a Trumbull, Connecticut native.

Each infantryman practiced gun drills that coincided with their particular weapon. The weapons used in the training included Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapons, M224 60 mm Lightweight Company Mortar Systems, M240B machine guns and M16 rifles.

Along with simulating firing upon the enemy, Marines also practiced weapons maintenance and disassembly and re-assembly of the weapons. Riflemen with the unit also went on mock patrols and set up simulated patrol bases.

The “Warlords” understand that the infantry is and integral part of the Corps and training helps them to maintain mission readiness for whenever the nation calls.

“The infantry is the heart of the Marine Corps. We’re a fighting organization and this is what we do,” said 1st Lt. Jon Sanko, a platoon commander with the unit, and Butler, Pennsylvania native. “Training is important because it’s the way we test the proficiency of the platoons.”

The training helped Marines with the unit to maintain their skills and demonstrate their abilities to one another. Marines were satisfied with what they saw from their peers.

“I’m confident in the guys I work with and the people around me,” McKee said.

The unit will continue training next week practicing defensive operations and adhere to their philosophy by “accepting nothing less than the full measure of service to each other, our families, our country, and Corps.”