UDAIRI RANGE, Kuwait -- As the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit enters their third month of deployment, the Marines embarked on the amphibious transport dock ship USS New York made their way back to the ship after completing sustainment training in Kuwait during the month of February 2015.
Marines from the Ground and Logistics Combat Elements conducted tables 3 and 4 of the combat rifle marksmanship training, along with more specific training evolutions including live-fire grenade ranges, AT-4 Anti-Tank Weapons live-fire and squad attacks.
“We worked mainly on the squad level, doing live-fire, and working with mortars and machine guns,” said Gunnery Sgt. John Porter, Company Gunnery Sergeant, India Company, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. “We were also able to use our assaultmen, utilizing breaching techniques during squad attacks, which were our main focus.”
The training gave the Marines a chance to maintain their proficiency and conduct training they could not do while aboard ship.
The success of a real world scenario hinges on the elements of the MEU working together to ensure the success of the mission. While this training is essential for the individual Marine to maintain his or her combat readiness, integrating the capabilities of the LCE and GCE was also important training.
“There was a lot of integration amongst the companies,” said Maj. Tyler Holland, 24th MEU assistant operations officer. “The training we conducted allowed us to build on that, and maintained a level of proficiency in all the training and readiness skills required for the missions we are out here to perform.”
A lot of detailed planning and coordination took place before the Marines arrived in Kuwait to ensure this training was a success.
“We conducted a sight survey in September and they were able to lay the groundwork and figure out the process of coordinating all the training and logistics required to do this. The key to making this successful is getting people in early to figure out the processes so as the training events get closer, we’re putting the right effort into the right lane and making sure we’re not doing extra work outside the scope of what we need to get done,” said Holland.
The planning paid off as Marines reflected on the success of the training, commenting that they saw improvements both tactically and professionally in their Marines.
“When we have the opportunity to come out here and actually perform the practical application of what we’ve learned in a classroom, it prevents us from becoming stagnant as leaders,” said Sgt. Zachary Poe, a section leader with India Company, BLT 3/6. “The biggest area of growth I’ve seen in my Marines is that they’ve grown up a lot, and they’ve matured as mentors.”
The 24th MEU is embarked on the ships of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and deployed to maintain regional security in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.