MARINE CORPS TRAINING AREA BELLOWS -- Combat engineers from engineers service platoon, Combat Logistics Battalion 3, completed a training cycle at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, March 13, 2013, to better prepare themselves for the first combat engineer training package at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, Calif.
The unit will arrive at Bridgeport in April where it will provide mobility and counter mobility support to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, which will undergo its own training package.
“We’re out here this week to train our Marines on the basics of offensive and defensive positions, military operations on urban terrain, as well as providing a quick refreshment on skills before we leave to Bridgeport,” said Sgt. Austin Tittle, a combat engineer with CLB-3 and a Los Angeles native. “Some of the Marines here haven’t been in a field environment for a while … some not at all. We want to make sure everyone is ready because we will be doing something pretty historic at Bridgeport and want to set the bar high for future engineers who will train there.”
The job of a combat engineer varies from constructing bridges and walkways, to setting up demolition and clearing paths for mobilized convoys. All are vital support tools for ground combat units such as 2nd Bn., 3rd Marines but not all aspects of the job can be practiced regularly — such as clearing a path with demolition.
Sgt. Coby Bendig, a combat engineer with CLB-3 and native of Fremont, Neb., said he was proud of what his unit was able to do at Bellows and he believed many Marines were able to become more familiar with different aspects of their job.
“They’ve worked hard the last couple of days by executing patrols, sweeps, and MOUT and I think they’re ready for what’s in store at Bridgeport. It’s really going to be the first time where we will be able to execute training made for combat engineers like igniting demolition in the snow and breaching ice with explosives. If weather permits, it’ll be a great training cycle with awesome opportunities and experiences.”
When asked how the training at Bellows will help his Marines in their upcoming training evolution, Cpl. Michael Franco, combat engineer with CLB-3 and native of Manteca, Calif., said,“This is the time to ask questions. We have a lot of experience here as well as a lot of new Marines who only know what they were taught at military occupational school. By coming out here for a couple of days we can brush up our skills … even though we’re not out here building bridges doesn’t mean we aren’t training and preparing ourselves for bigger things at Bridgeport.”