MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- As basic infantrymen, Marines are required to proficiently shoot, move and
communicate in a hostile environment. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine
Regiment, conducted lane training at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Oct. 20.
The lane
training consisted of four stations, where a group of Marines would enhance
their basic skills in communications, patrolling, grenade handling and emplacing
M18 Claymores.
“These are the basic skills that any infantryman needs to
know,” said 2nd Lt. Benjamin Hunter, a platoon commander with the company. “We
have to re-hit this training every three months as a refresher for the Marines.
If we can’t conduct these basic skills, then the mission won’t be
successful.”
Hunter said that the Marines didn’t get a lot of
opportunities to go on field operations while on deployment with the 24th Marine
Expeditionary Unit.
He added that the training is a good chance to get
out and enhance on their skills.
“A lot of our guys have left since we
got back from deployment,” Hunter said. “This is [our] first training operation
together so we’re getting it under our belt. We’re going to learn as we go so
later on we can continue to keep getting better and better.”
The company
stressed that starting out with the basics will create a better transition into
larger scale training exercises down the road.
“If you can master this,
you’re going to be sounder as a unit,” said Lance Cpl. Chris Ware, a machine
gunner with the company.
The training that the company conducts directly
correlates to the overall readiness of the battalion.
“We’re an asset for
the battalion commander because we have all this firepower that can come to the
fight quickly,” Hunter said. “We need to be constantly ready and always ahead of
the power curve.”