MAKUA MILITARY RESERVATION, ISLAND OF OAHU, Hawaii -- In more ways than one, it has been difficult for military services to conduct training in Makua Valley.
Though the region is described as boasting the most rugged terrain on Oahu - which makes it highly desirable for military training, it has also been the center of a debate over endangered Hawaiian habitats and sensitive cultural sites.
Controversy has oftentimes caused the military to cease training on the range. According to EarthJustice (a nonprofit public interest law firm) and Malama Makua (a Hawaiian-based cultural preservation group), the military's live-fire training destroys endangered Hawaiian habitats, plants and animals in the valley. However, just last week, a judge allowed the Marine Corps to resume training here for the first time in more than five years.
Approval to use the area took almost three months, explained Capt. James G. Sweeney, company commander of India Co., 3rd Battalion 3rd Marine Regiment, but he said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Army provided outstanding support in helping to make training here a reality.
Approval time frames should decrease as training becomes much more frequent, he added, since these first steps have established a better repertoire with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and local residents.
India Co., 3/3, Marines, known as "America's Battalion," were eager to use the reservation, and after a few days of maneuvering through the harsh hills, deep valleys and thick brush, they began to understand why the area is so coveted.
"There aren't many ranges out there that are as challenging as this one," said Cpl. Jeff G. Lazar, team leader for Weapons Platoon, India Co., 3/3. "This is one of the best ranges besides Pohakuloa Training Area."
Hawaii's Pohakuloa Training Area is the only other range in the state that can provide service members with the same level of challenge as Makua Valley. The difficulty with training at PTA, however, is the availability of transportation associated with deployment to the Big Island. Makua Valley is a much more realistic training exercise location for these Marines.
Marines conducted various training, from firing mortars to maneuvering through trenches with live M67 fragmentation grenades, at last week's training. As a precaution against fires that have occurred in the past, a special platoon of 20 Marines received a short class on fire fighting and equipped themselves with the necessary gear in case a blaze happened to break out.
Also, in accordance with an agreement with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, for training here, two specially equipped fire fighting, High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles, together with a team of state fire fighters remained on the scene.
Further, if a blaze had ignited, two CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopters that were outfitted with 660-gallon water carriers known as "Bambi Buckets" were also standing by as an added precaution.
The objective ... was not only to provide Marines with necessary training, but to also prove that we can conduct training while safely maintaining the valley," Sweeney explained.
Indeed, Makua Valley remained unscathed throughout the training, which means the odds of the Marine Corps returning here are more positive than they've been in years, according to military officials.