MARINE CORPS MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER, Calif. -- The final training event of exercise Javelin Thrust 2010 ended June 24, bringing the largest Marine Corps Reserve exercise of the year to a close.
Javelin Thrust brought various reserve units into one exercise, working under the scenario of a Marine Air Ground Task Force operating in Afghanistan.
“The goal was to prepare the infantry battalions for Afghanistan, as well as bringing units in Marine Forces Reserve together as a MAGTF,” said Brig. Gen. James M. Lariviere, commanding general of 4th Marine Division, while explaining the concept of the exercise.
The main focus of the training was on the units training at Hawthorne Army Depot, Nev., Hilton Ranch, Nev., and the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, Calif.
At these sites, Marines assembled into ground combat, aviation and logistic elements, with a command element established at Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, to form the MAGTF.
Each of the three elements completed various training objectives and missions during the exercise.
Infantry units with the ground combat element, particularly 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, and 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, spent their time during the exercise practicing raids, day and night patrols, ambushes, operating in urban terrain, undergoing counter-improvised explosive device training and conducting counter-insurgency operations in order to prepare themselves for possible future deployments to Afghanistan. Additionally, 49 second lieutenants from The Basic School, in Quantico, Va., who are awaiting further orders to their military occupational schools, joined the battalions during the training.
Aviation units kept as busy during the training. Marine Air Group 49, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772, and Marine Wing Support Squadron 473 devoted their time to transporting troops and equipment and conducting combat training, such as air-to-ground .50 caliber heavy machine gun shoots. Additionally, the aviation units came equipped with engineer units that assisted with building and repairing roads and equipment.
Supporting the ground and air elements were a myriad of combat service support units from the 4th Marine Logistics Group. Participating units brought their expertise in the areas of medical, dental, engineering, transportation, maintenance and supply to bear. During the exercise, the logistic units kept the aviation and ground units supplied with enough food and material to function during the exercise, as well as running a field mess hall that fed Marines in the lower camp and made food deliveries to grunts in the field, giving the logistics Marines valuable training running convoys.
Although not every participating unit is destined for a deployment to the Central Command Area of Responsibility, the training events of the exercise were designed to mirror current operations in Afghanistan.
“The exercise went great,” Lariviere said. “The Marines received great training and accomplished all of their objectives. I talked to the grunts, the cooks, guys in the fuel pit…everyone said they got something out of it.”
Javelin Thrust is an annual exercise conducted by MARFORRES in several different locations in the Southwest. This year, more than 4,500 Marines from ground combat, logistical and air wing units participated in the training, which resembled a Marine Air Ground Task Force operating in Afghanistan, in terms of both terrain and mission objectives.