CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Marines from Company L, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment practiced searching houses May 28 at K2 Combat Town, Camp Pendleton, Calif. in preparation for their upcoming deployment to Afghanistan later this year.
The company’s mission was to search K2 for insurgents and collect intelligence.
Starting out at the 25 Area Combat Town, Marines checked their gear, loaded their weapons with simulated rounds, and reviewed individual assignments.
“As a squad, as a fire team, as an individual Marine, they should know what their responsibility is prior to stepping,” said Sgt. Shawn J. McAdams, an observer of the exercise. “Once they get setup, they have to know effectively what they’re doing.”
Platoons of Marines patrolled through the hills to K2. One platoon set up a cordon around the northern edge of the town, then another platoon moved inside the town to set up security.
As they entered the town, role playing insurgents began firing simulated rounds at them from inside the buildings. Marines returned fire, yelling out enemy positions as they advanced from building to building.
What was supposed to be a mission to knock on local residents’ houses and ask for information had escalated into a firefight.
Pushing through enemy fire, the assault platoon surrounded the house insurgents were shooting from. The assaulting squad then breached the house and began clearing rooms.
The assaulting squad cleared the first floor, but there were still insurgents shooting from the top floor. The Marines advanced upstairs, engaging insurgents and clearing rooms until all enemies were eliminated. They searched every room, and “dead” insurgents for intelligence.
“With the type of fighting that we’re doing in Afghanistan, intel is more important than ever,” said Sgt. Bradley Hewitt, squad leader of the assaulting squad.
The Marines photographed the dead insurgents and their weapons then withdrew from the house.
Co. L who completed the exercise for the first time, took few casualties. They plan to keep practicing to get more proficient before their deployment to Afghanistan.
“Everything in the Marine Corps is a skill, the more we practice it in peacetime, the safer we are during war,” said Todd Luginbuhl, an observer and instructor with Veteran Government Services.
Most of the Marines acknowledged that this was the best training they’ve had in years.
"I’ve been with this unit for six years and this is by far the most realistic and the best training we’ve ever had,” said McAdams.