1 00:00:01,234 --> 00:00:04,317 (soft trumpet music) 2 00:00:08,797 --> 00:00:10,417 - [Narrator] With frigid falling temperatures going 3 00:00:10,417 --> 00:00:12,071 from single digits to negatives, 4 00:00:12,071 --> 00:00:14,645 the Reserve Marines of Fox Company 4th Tank Battalion 5 00:00:14,645 --> 00:00:17,153 4th Marine Division are braving a new environment 6 00:00:17,153 --> 00:00:17,986 (marine chopping wood) 7 00:00:17,986 --> 00:00:20,295 as they participate in exercise Winter Break '18 8 00:00:20,295 --> 00:00:24,337 near Camp Grayling, Michigan from February 6th to the 13th. 9 00:00:24,337 --> 00:00:26,743 This was the first time the Camp Lejeune, North Carolina 10 00:00:26,743 --> 00:00:29,494 base tank company conducted training specifically designed 11 00:00:29,494 --> 00:00:31,990 to improve their ability to operate in austere, 12 00:00:31,990 --> 00:00:34,149 cold weather environments. 13 00:00:34,149 --> 00:00:37,275 - Winter Break is really an operation designed to test 14 00:00:37,275 --> 00:00:39,108 the tanks in cold weather, 15 00:00:39,108 --> 00:00:41,824 ^as well as the Marines' tanks have not operated 16 00:00:41,824 --> 00:00:44,215 ^in this environment in some time. 17 00:00:44,215 --> 00:00:46,681 ^Never in my career have I operated in this type 18 00:00:46,681 --> 00:00:49,473 of environment, so really it's validation for some things 19 00:00:49,473 --> 00:00:51,883 that we've always supposed to be the way it would be. 20 00:00:51,883 --> 00:00:53,742 We're just kinda reaffirming those things, 21 00:00:53,742 --> 00:00:55,112 and learning new things as we go. 22 00:00:55,112 --> 00:00:56,778 - [Narrator] The Marines began the week with land 23 00:00:56,778 --> 00:00:59,236 navigation formations, night driving and a class 24 00:00:59,236 --> 00:01:01,278 on concealment in camouflage, 25 00:01:01,278 --> 00:01:03,602 which is more challenging in a snowy environment, 26 00:01:03,602 --> 00:01:05,623 particularly for an armored vehicle as large 27 00:01:05,623 --> 00:01:08,504 as the Abrams M1A1 Main Battle Tank. 28 00:01:08,504 --> 00:01:10,887 Throughout the week, the Marines advanced from platoon 29 00:01:10,887 --> 00:01:12,328 offensive and defensive operations 30 00:01:12,328 --> 00:01:14,661 to company level operations. 31 00:01:14,891 --> 00:01:16,766 With the expansive benefits of this training 32 00:01:16,766 --> 00:01:19,315 at a company level, 4th Tank Battalion has their sights 33 00:01:19,315 --> 00:01:22,528 set on expanding these experiences to the rest of the units 34 00:01:22,528 --> 00:01:23,487 in it's battalion. 35 00:01:23,487 --> 00:01:24,320 ^(tank engine running) - Well, at the battalion 36 00:01:24,320 --> 00:01:26,347 ^level, you know, our basic unit 37 00:01:26,347 --> 00:01:27,680 ^of deployment is the tank company. 38 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:32,097 ^So, getting the tank company out here to sort of look 39 00:01:32,165 --> 00:01:35,493 at our T&R for cold weather training is a building block 40 00:01:35,493 --> 00:01:37,865 to the overall battalion maneuver. 41 00:01:37,865 --> 00:01:39,683 So, it's a critical piece. 42 00:01:39,683 --> 00:01:41,906 The center of gravity within the battalion 43 00:01:41,906 --> 00:01:44,018 is gonna be the tank company. 44 00:01:44,018 --> 00:01:46,548 - [Narrator] The maneuverability and decisive action M1A1 45 00:01:46,548 --> 00:01:49,320 tank can brings to the Marine Air Ground Task Force 46 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:50,419 is invaluable. 47 00:01:50,419 --> 00:01:52,368 Even more significant is the crew of well-trained 48 00:01:52,368 --> 00:01:53,868 Marines behind it. 49 00:01:54,419 --> 00:01:56,906 Marines must be ready 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 50 00:01:56,906 --> 00:01:58,905 for when the nation calls. 51 00:01:58,905 --> 00:01:59,738 (tanks maneuvering) As it's often stated, 52 00:01:59,738 --> 00:02:02,988 the Marine Corp is America's 911 force. 53 00:02:03,167 --> 00:02:05,656 With all the challenges and experiences gained from 54 00:02:05,656 --> 00:02:08,126 this annual training, the Reserve Marines of Fox Company 55 00:02:08,126 --> 00:02:12,709 are going to be reaping the benefits for years to come.