Marine Corps Base Hawaii -- MARINE CORPS TRAINING AREA BELLOWS — Combat Logistics Battalion 3 conducted a battalion field exercise Jan. 24 through 29, 2015. The training was the third iteration in combat skills enhancement that CLB-3 has executed.
“The end goal of this training is to ensure that all our logisticians are combat prepared so they can conduct logistic functions in a combat environment,” said Lt. Col. Patrick Tucker, battalion commander of CLB-3.
The training consisted of maneuvering in an urban environment, combatting small arms fire and responding to mass casualties, should that ever occur, Tucker said.
“(The training) went very well and they’ve done a great job making sure the scenarios are realistic,” said Tucker, an Arlington, Texas, native. “We’re looking for a world-class reaction out of them.”
During the mass casualty drill, roleplayers were given realistic looking wounds to add to the drama of an explosion in the middle of the forward operating base.
“The first thing I thought was ‘Wow, that was really good,’” said Lance Cpl. Eugene Haynes, a Forks, Wash., native. “It really makes you think that anything is possible out here.”
Tucker said the training was very realistic and they’ve gone deeper with the set up, by ensuring that every logistical function is out there to better combat functionality.
The CLB-3 Marines also conducted convoy operations through urban environments.
“The first (convoy) was really slow and sluggish, but after that, we pulled together and things ran a lot smoother,” said Cpl. Jimmy Felix, a motor vehicle operator.
Felix said that the convoy also ran into a few surprises that they weren’t used to, such as improvised explosive devices and snipers, but regardless they handled it well.
“Compared to the usual training we do, this was up close and personal,” Felix said. “We actually got out of the vehicles and responded to the threats in the town.”
Felix also said the enemy roleplayers were great and added a level of realism to the whole scene.
“The only problem with this training is that it isn’t long enough,” Tucker said.
The battalion has been doing this training in one-week intervals but, come the summer, they hope to increase that to six weeks or maybe even two-month stretches.
“The thing I’m happiest about with this training is that the Marines have to juggle providing logistical support, receiving reports from the field and responding to whatever happened here (on the FOB) as well,” he said.
The battalion commander said practicing all these different capabilities allows CLB-3 to become more multifunctional, allowing them to handle any situation and better the Marine Corps as a whole.