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Lance Cpl. Cody McMillian, Team Leader, 3rd Squad, 3rd Platoon, Lima Company,3rd Battalion 25th Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve shoots down range during the 2015 Integrated Training Exercise at Twentynine Palms, Calif., June 12, 2015. ITX allows Reserve Marines the opportunity to train in realistic environments and conditions, ensuring the highest levels of proficiency and readiness for worldwide deployment.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Phillip Patten

Marines participate in live fire exercise

15 Jun 2015 | Cpl. Ian Ferro The Official United States Marine Corps Public Website

Marines with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, began Integrated Training Exercise 2015 with a live-fire platoon attack exercise during the second day of ITX at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, June 12, 2015.

The exercise consisted of a series of combined shooting, fire maneuvers and movement in which the Marines simulated an encounter and fire suppression against a hostile enemy.

“The infantry battalion is here to develop their combined arms skills, so they can effectively fight and win against a hybrid opponent,” said Col. Morgan Mann, deputy commander of the 25th Marine Regiment. “This is about getting that individual proficiency and those small unit skills that they need to do their job and this is actually getting them ready.”

The unique terrain and weather conditions present at the 410A platoon attack range provide Marines the most realistic experience of what they would go through during a deployment to the Middle East.

“Up and down that hill you actually had to dig deep and find something, otherwise you won’t make it up the hill,” said Sgt. Andrew Gosink, section leader for the company. “It is the same thing as overseas.”

At the culmination of the final platoon attack, the Marines had implemented both their individual skills and those of their team’s. Mistakes were made and noted to be improved upon next time, but this was only day one for these Marines. As the days go by, there will be much work to be done and lessons to be learned at ITX, which can be applied to future deployments.

“We have prepared for this pretty well for the past couple months,” said Lance Cpl. Andrew Morris, rifleman for 2nd platoon, Lima company. “I think we definitely did well, but there is always room for improvement.”
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