MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII -- Marines with Golf Company, call sign “Grizzly,” 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment and Combat Assault Company conducted amphibious raids at Boondocker Training Area aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Sept. 16, 2014.
Service members assigned to units stationed abroad Marine Corps Base Hawaii are participating in exercise Island Viper. Its essential tasks are amphibious operations and sustainment training. Island Viper started on Monday and is scheduled to continue until Sept. 25.
During day two of Island Viper, participants conducted a simulated mission to capture a high value individual and gather information on the “People’s Democratic Republic of North Shela.” The Marines operation started with a “splash” coming in from the shore using amphibious assault vehicles at Fort Hase Beach.
The Marines then advanced to Boondocker Training Area where they conducted Military Operations on Urban Terrain training, raiding the compounds in search for HVIs withholding key information.
As stated in the United States Marine Corps MOUT Doctrine, MOUT training prepares Marines for the complexities of planning, preparing for, and executing small-unit combat operations on urbanized terrain.
“Grizzly is comprised of Marines from all of the Marine Corps, new and old,” said Gunnery Sgt. Ronald Sampson, the company gunnery sergeant. “All of the Marines are eager and want to train.”
Sampson said he sees huge growth potential in his Marines and that their training has started on the right foot.
During Island Viper, enlisted Marines at the squad leader level are taking charge of the operations. The aim of the exercise is to empower the units’ noncommissioned officers. The NCOs are evaluated by staff noncommissioned officers on their aptitude to lead.
Cpl. Roberto Gaytan, 19, is a squad leader for Golf Co., 2nd Bn., 3rd Marines, and native of San Diego. His job is to control his fire teams during fire and maneuver to ensure the mission goes smoothly.
He’s been a squad leader for only one month, but has a good feeling about his Marines, he said. Despite his squad having some of the youngest Marines, they are beginning to click and work well together.
Combat Assault Company is responsible for operating amphibious assault vehicles. Capable of holding three crewmen and up to 21 troops, the 29-ton AAV still manages to stay afloat, and is used for ship to shore transportation.
Cpl. Christopher Hoover, 20, a crew chief, and Downey, Calif. native is responsible for the movement of troops and his crewmen operating the AAVs.
“We are here to support the infantry in mission accomplishment,” Hoover said. “I hope to pass on my knowledge to my junior Marines so they can one day replace me.”
Hoover and his crewmen are responsible for the movement of troops and the operation of the AAVs.
He said he thinks the training went well; all of the vehicles stayed afloat and there weren’t any complications.
Golf Company will continue Island Viper at Schofield Barracks today, where Marines will conduct squad live-fire attacks, live-fire defense training and complete a live-fire point man course, and will be training there for the next three days.
The United States Marine Corps serves as the expeditionary force-in-readiness.
“We need to be proficient in case our number gets called,” Sampson said. “This is helping us maintain that proficiency.”