MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER, BRIDGEPORT, Calif. -- Marines with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, made the transition from sand to snow and took to the slopes during ski tour training at Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport, Calif., April 3.
The “Island Warriors” conducted training at Bridgeport in preparation for operations in colder temperature, higher altitude environments. Each company in 2nd Bn., 3rd Marines, participated in various training exercises for approximately one month.
Staff Sgt. Mathew Black, an MWTC unit training instructor and native of Wellsville, N.Y., said the Marines need to be relaxed in the snow while conducting the exercises.
“They have been learning half-flat ground technique, which is basically cross-country skiing,” Black said. “We teach them diagonal strike, double pole, up and downhill kick turns, breaking, how to properly fall, and basic athletic stances. They also learn where to use these techniques on the appropriate terrain.”
Seaman Elias Sandoval, a platoon corpsman with Echo Company and native of Oceanside, Calif., said the training is important for the Marines so they know the consequences of their environment.
“They need to be aware of the symptoms of high altitude sickness,” Sandoval said. “In this setting, they have to understand the changes their bodies experience. Most of the time, it’s simple injuries that are easily preventable. If their feet get wet, they need to change their socks. Preventing easy injuries means there will be more people on the battlefield, which helps the corpsmen to focus on more serious injuries.”
Black said the training helps the Marines get in shape and get their “ski legs.”
“They are training for 10 days, day and night, and each day we focus on more techniques,” Black said. “After learning basic mobility, we want them to be comfortable with snow movement during attacks, patrolling and defense. All of this training is for future deployments in cold weather areas that incorporate snowy terrains and high elevations. The Marines will use this training effectively, and therefore be successful in such settings.”
Lance Cpl. Justin Hoppis, a machine gun squad leader with Echo Co., 2nd Bn., 3rd Marines and native of Tulsa, Okla., said the training was rough, but worth it.
“I noticed that if I refrained or held back in anyway, I would make a mistake,” Hoppis said. “But if I just went for it and committed to it, I was successful. This training has been a bonding experience for us, because we are all doing this for the first time and making mistakes together.”
Lance Cpl. Jonah Siedl, a team leader with Echo Co., 2nd Bn., 3rd Marines and native of Goshen, Ind., said the skiing exercises and maneuvers helps Marines be versatile.
“Learning how to ski is something new and different for us,” Siedl said. “Everything else we do like hiking and digging is second nature. This training makes us adaptable, able to fight in every clime and place.”