CAMP GRAYLING, Mich. -- Cpl. Michael Collins is a Grimesland, North Carolina, native and an M88A2 Recovery Vehicle rigger with Company F, 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division.
The Reserve Marine is currently participating in exercise Winter Break 2018, at Camp Grayling, Michigan.
“Being here is building resiliency,” said Collins. “Having to deal with the cold here is a little different than dealing with the cold back in North Carolina. It definitely hurts more.”
Reserve Marines spend two weeks each year building their capabilities at an Annual Training exercise. This year, the Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, based tank company is taking advantage of Camp Grayling’s rugged training areas to test their offensive, defensive and maneuver capabilities in a cold weather environment.
The Reserve force regularly augments active duty operations across the globe. Last year, Fox Co., 4th Tank Bn. sent detachments to South Korea in support of the Korea Marine Exchange Program, Norway in support of the Personnel Temporary Augmentee Program and Georgia in support of exercise Agile Spirit.
For now, Collins is focused on getting the most out of his training at Winter Break 18. He knows the nation’s call to activate could come any day. When it does, he’ll be ready.
“Everyone here truly wants to learn how to be more efficient at our jobs to make everything smoother and faster,” Collins said. “Being out here is fun, but it's definitely difficult. As they say 'just embrace the suck.' You have to take it one day at a time here with it being so cold. With our newer Marines, this is definitely taking them out of their comfort zone, which is absolutely making them better at their job.”