CAMP WILSON, TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. -- As the fiery sun is making its descent over the desert expanses of Southern California, weary warriors trudge back to their hooches, exhausted from another day of some of the most serious training the Corps has to offer. The Marines may be tired, but they are bold and determined. From across the ranges of the Marine Corps’ infamously grueling Twentynine Palms Air Ground Combat Center, to a mock Middle Eastern village on a movie set in San Diego, the leathernecks of 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, “America’s Battalion,” are midway through a whirlwind pre-deployment package. Now moving on to the snow-covered hills of the Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, Calif., this unique training program was designed to get them prepared, both mentally and physically for an upcoming contingency deployment.“The purpose of the training exercise is to build ‘strategic corporals,’ to put our Marines in the middle of the three block war and ensure they know how to properly tailor their force so as to protect themselves and their fellow Marines and destroy anti-coalition forces without alienating the local populace,” said 3/3 commanding officer, Lt. Col. Norm Cooling. America’s Battalion has been moving like a well-oiled machine through live-fire exercises at the platoon and company levels on the grueling ranges at Twentynine Palms. The battalion is also rotating one company at a time through the Strategic Operations training facility located at Segall Studios in San Diego. Here, the Marines will get to experience up close and personal interaction with “locals”, played by Hollywood actors, while on patrol in a town realistically tailored to reflect the “real thing.” “Strategic Operations is a training facility that prides itself for being different than any other facility," said Stu Segall, owner of Segall Studios, in a recent interview with the Twentynine Palms base public affairs office. "We use the magic of Hollywood to simulate a real-world training environment for tomorrow's threat. We combine movie-making techniques with [the experience of desert warfare veterans to create] realism for training needs." At the studio, America’s Battalion experienced a mock town complete with costumed “insurgents” and improvised explosive devices. At an alternate site aboard Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, the Marines also conducted convoy ops and more Entry Control Point (ECP) and Vehicle Control Point (VCP) training. The Marines conducted these operations while receiving fire from Segall Studio’s professional actors and actresses – some of whom are former service members with combat experience. “I believe in what we’re doing here. If I could still suit up and be next to them I would,” said Screen Actor’s Guild member and former Navy Seabee Richard Blake, who is currently working for Segall Studios. “We try to make the Marines be as aware of what’s going on around them as we can, trying to put them in situations they may well face over there.” The realism of the village was astonishing for Marines during their patrol operations. “It was as close to the fight as I think could be simulated,” said Lance Cpl. Zach Zeid, tactical data network specialist, headquarters and service company, 3/3. “I had to guard a PUC [person under control] and I had everything we’d trained for running through my head, all of the rules of engagement and everything. I definitely had some adrenaline going through me,” added Zeid. While the companies were rotating through Segall studios and MCAS Miramar, others were involved in Small Wars training in the abandoned Marine Palms Housing Area aboard Twentynine Palms. There they participated in cordoning and searching, and learned the fine details of vehicle and entry control points with veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom I and II, Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. “It’s important to us to try and pass on the things we learned while over there,” said Cpl. Joshua Lipe, squad leader, Kilo Company, 3rd Bn, 4th Marine Regiment. “We’re teaching them things that we didn’t know before we went, so they can be as prepared for what they will face as possible,” added the Carbondale. Ill. native. Watching the Marines from Thundering Third with a little extra pride was a 3/3 squad leader, who previously served as a School of Infantry instructor. Many of the Marines from 3/4 were his former students, and they were now training him and his Marines.“I knew I’d get my chance,” said Sgt. Charles Bennett, a squad leader with 2nd platoon, Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines who was serving at SOI during the attacks of September 11. “It makes me feel proud. I’m glad I could do them that service so now they can teach me something. This shows what a brotherhood we are as Marines,” continued Bennett. The Kilo Company squad leader said his former pupils now had a confidence and fire he hadn’t seen in them before, and that the words and advice on tactics and techniques they passed, couldn’t have come at a better time.“This training is bringing it all together for us to go out on our deployment and get the job done right,” finished Bennett. Other Marines have wholeheartedly agreed. And while the days are long and only look to get longer during the pre-deployment package, everyone in America’s Battalion knows that what they learn here will ultimately improve their skills once it’s time to deploy.From the point men in the fire team, to the highest echelons of command, The Marines of Third Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, “America’s Battalion,” are gritty, determined and ready to roll.