Marine Corps Base Hawaii

MCB HAWAII,KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii -- Marines from Alpha Co., 1st Bn., 3rd Marine Regiment, climbed aboard CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopters to conduct a raid on Range 5 of the Range Training Facility at MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, June 11.Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Michael J. Williams; Brig. Gen. Jerry C. McAbee, commanding general of MCB Hawaii; and Col. Joseph V. Medina, commanding officer of the 3rd Marine Regiment, along with several other key figures were on hand to witness 1/3's training evolution.Three Sea Stallions provided by Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 landed in succession outside the front gate of the range area, dropping off Marines and quickly departing back out over the open ocean.The first team of Marines set up mortar positions to cover the assaulting squads. Fifty caliber machineguns were placed atop a berm, to provide supporting fire for the ground movement. The ground maneuver team, consisting of about 20 Marines, began making its way around the edge of the range where Marines set off smoke flares to conceal their movement.Targets covered with yellow balloons acted as the enemy during the training period. Marines were forced to move in and around the strategically placed targets before making it to the end of the range where they launched an AT-4 at a target in the impact area. Once the round was downrange, Marines turned and began making their way back to the front of the range, dropping incendiary grenades in empty ammunition cans along the way, to simulate the disabling of enemy mechanical assets or weapons. After it was all over, not one yellow balloon remained across the entire range - a testament to the marksmanship of 1/3's riflemen during the raid.The Marines then gathered in an open area in front of the range, where VIPs who attended the event, including the assistant commandant, greeted them with congratulations on a job well done."You guys are well trained and you know what you're doing," exclaimed Gen. Williams. "It's hard training, but it's been done well." Before the training was complete, the general took time to meet with several of the Marines and pose for pictures. The Marines of Alpha Co., 1/3, not only got a chance for some excellent training, using many assets available to them at MCB Hawaii, but they also got to do it in front of the assistant commandant - a fact that made the entire evolution something to remember.