MCB HAWAII -- Over the course of the Rim of the Pacific 2010 exercise, Marines and coalition partners worked together by air, land and sea to increase interoperability and regional security while bettering the Corps’ capabilities as “America’s 911 Force.”
Bringing the exercise to a close after five weeks, Marines with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, combined with Australian Army soldiers from Company B, 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment to execute a mechanized live-fire raid at Range Training Facility Kaneohe Bay here July 30.
Utilizing training the coalition forces practiced during the exercise, the raid was the “capstone event of the second phase of RIMPAC’s tactical scenarios,” said Maj. Paul Teachey, 2/3’s operations officer, a Clayton, N.C., native.
As amphibious assault vehicles arrived at the simulated enemy strong point, swarms of combat load-bearing Marines and Australian soldiers stormed out, putting boots on the ground and moving toward their designated objectives with weapons at the ready.
Despite being in an intense situation, the coalition forces looked primed. They worked together for only a short period of time but their collaboration during the exercise had prepared them well for the operation.
“This type of live-fire training builds the platoon up but also brings them back to the basics,” said Lt. Greg Green, a platoon commander with Company B, 2 RAR. “It’s a good re-hash on basic skill sets.”
A portion of the coalition force trudged up a nearby hill to cordon off and clear the objective, the range’s Modular Armored Tactical Combat House. Numerous Marines and soldiers had set up as security around the objective, peering through their rifle sights in the kneeling or prone positions. Within seconds, the mix of uniforms had expelled countless rounds and secured the house.
Moving downrange, the AAVs staged to provide a fire support platform for their fellow troops. Australian soldiers drenched in sweat and camouflage paint dotted the landscape, bounding forward amidst cover fire and the commands of their leaders. As they progressed, they closed in on a second live-fire shoot house and tactically and proficiently cleared the objective. The coalition forces could tuck another successful operation under their belt.
“Working with troops from different countries has been a good experience,” said Pasadena, Calif., native Capt. Chris Kim, commanding officer of Combat Assault Company, 3rd Marine Regiment. “It gets us on the same page and helps prepare us for future coalition environments.”
The mechanized raid wasn’t the first time the coalition forces had worked together. The 2/3 Marines and their international counterparts had strengthened force integration, conducting a machine gun and squad reinforced firing-movement range, unknown-distance rifle range, live-fire shoot house and a fire-support coordination exercise at Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii, July 17 to 20.
In addition to the ranges at PTA, the coalition forces honed their skills as a force in readiness to a broad spectrum of crises, executing noncombatant evacuation operations at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows July 26, and a helicopter raid at Kahuku Training Area July 27.
In providing valuable opportunities for integration, training and interoperability, the biennial RIMPAC exercise has strengthened the capabilities of both the Corps and coalition forces.
“We’re now steps ahead of the curve operationally and socially because of this training,” Green said. “The exercise has given us a better understanding of how Marines work and a larger scope of experience with different types of training. It was a wonderful opportunity for us to conduct operations on a large scale.”