Marines with 1/2 conducted a week-long field exercise for their unit deployment program geared towards their upcoming assignment in the Pacific aboard Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, March 2-6, 2015.
With just four months of their feet on home turf, 1st Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 2nd Marine Division gears up and prepares for their next mission.
Marines with 1/2 conducted a week-long field exercise for their unit deployment program geared towards their upcoming assignment in the Pacific aboard Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, March 2-6, 2015.
The entire battalion took to the ranges completing various training exercises from live-fire ranges and patrolling, to offensive and defensive tactics training.
“When the Marines get to UDP they will be prepared,” said Maj. Cole Clements, the 1/2 Operations Officer and native of Douglassville, Texas. “It’s our prepositioned force in readiness. Battalions are there to counteract any threats to national defense; in this case the Pacific.”
Skills a Marine does not use will easily perish claims Clements. That is why this offensive and defensive training is so important to continue to develop and master.
High demands are no issue for 1/2 as they conduct all this training, readying them for any task the country has for them.
With the pacific as one of the largest commands in the U.S. military, Capt. Gavin S. Henry, Alpha Company Commander with 1/2 and native of Miami, Florida, believes anything could be asked of his Marines. Whether humanitarian work, combat or training other foreign militaries, he is confident his Marines will get the job done.
This recent training built a solid foundation for the battalion to build upon as the lower levels of leadership were able to build confidence and familiarity between Marines.
“We have had some great opportunities to do some unique training, one being here at the battalion field exercise,” said Henry. “Getting our small unit leaders involved, at the fire team and most importantly squad level, that’s what really matters; that’s where it all happens. Without that small unit leader you can’t have good platoons or a solid company.”
Proficiency at every level was the goal of this round-robin event with the different companies. Some of the battalion personnel may be new since the last deployment but they will continue to work off this foundation until all the building blocks are in place.
“1/2 is a great battalion. We are going to make a name for ourselves and people will see that soon,” said Henry. “I think we are going to carve a path for the rest of the Marine Expeditionary Force. We are here; we are ready to go.”