MARINE CORPS MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER BRIDGEPORT, Calif. -- With today’s technology, most people can flip out a cell phone and find their position in a minute, but when the batteries die, Marines pull out the compasses and paper maps to complete their missions.
To refine their land navigation skills, the Marines and sailors with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, refreshed their basics’ of land navigation in a mountainous environment during Operation Javelin Thrust, the largest reserve training exercise in the Marine Corps.
The course focused on the basics of reading a map, plotting coordinates and two practical applications navigating the mountainous terrain, one during the day the other at night, said Staff Sgt. Christopher Lotz, a mountain unit training instructor with MWTC. Before the instructors sent the students into the woods, the Marines were given a class to refresh them on these skills.
“Some of the Marines were having a hard time with everything in the class while others quickly pick up on reading the map and discovering their position on it,” said Sgt. Brian Simpson, a platoon sergeant with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment.
As the platoons led their Marines into the woods toward their destination, the importance of the training started to show.
“This is a good opportunity for the Marines to practice skills they don’t use much and learn to combine their knowledge to reach the destination,” said Simpson, a native of Jackson, Tenn. “It also helps the Marines learn to not rely only on technology to do their job.”
After they completed their daytime practical application, the Marines were debriefed about what worked and what didn’t before preparing for the night trek.
“When they begin the night course it is going to be a little more difficult for the Marines because they won’t have [landmarks] to help keep track of their position,” Lotz said. “They are going to have to focus on their compass skills and night fundamentals to reach the destination.”
This proved difficult for the Marines, but also helped them improve and work as a unit.
It was a challenging course for everyone, but it gave fire team leaders a chance to lead their Marines through something without the help from senior leadership, said Lance Cpl. Patrick Temple, a machine gunner with Company K, 3/23.
The training proved to be a success and added to the overall focus in small unit leadership during five different courses from July 20 to 24.
“Our focus during the operation is on the squad leadership because the war we are fighting today takes place at the small unit level,” said Lt. Col. Mark Lamelza, the battalion commander for 3/23. “The training they doing is giving the leaders the tools they need to bring all their Marines home safe and sound,” Lamelza added.