MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJUENE N.C. -- As part of a team that considers every one of its Marines a rifleman, fitness is imperative. But aboard Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, N.C., Marines from Military Police Company, HQ Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, understand there are other things that are important when training for combat readiness.
Dressed in camouflage utilities and boots, approximately 20 Marines from the company completed a workout that included an approximately two-mile run, pull-ups, push-ups, core exercises, and monkey bars. During the entirety of the exercises the team moved as one.
After finishing their run, many of the Marines explained it’s important for them to practice things such as teamwork and fitness because while deployed, units like the Afghan National Army learn from them.
Cpl. Thomas J. Setnor, a team leader for the company, said that during his most recent deployment his team trained the Afghan police force in Marjah, Afghanistan.
“The way we work here is the way we train the foreign forces over there,” said Setnor. “We build it up in ourselves so that we can teach them that you need to work together and you need to be able to rely on the person in front, behind and to the left and right of you, so that when it comes down to a combat situation you got them having your back as much as you have theirs.”
Anyone watching the pack of Marines move through their workout routine could see the unity of the group. They stepped together – similar to gears in a finely tuned engine working together to move one car.
“We’re trying to build team camaraderie,” said Lance Cpl. Amber L. Borysewicz, a team member with the company. “I treat these guys like my brothers. I’m going to help them move along just like they would help me move along. We make sure none of our other team members are left behind. We work as one and we finish as one. Then we teach others to work as one.”
Although fatigued, drenched in sweat and slightly out of breath, the Marines showed high morale as they walked confidently back to their office. Full of pride, it was clear they fully exerted themselves.
“I think Marines hurt doing the workout. But at the end of it they say oh it was nothing, and I’m like, ‘yeah right! I see you breathing hard,’ said Setnor. “You feel good about the hard work afterwards. The attitude before the run was like, ‘damn’. But once we got on the road you could just hear one breath going and then toward the end we managed to get in one step. Everyone stuck together.”