Fields of fire; 9th ESB Marines stay on target during live-fire marksmanship training in Korea
MONTANA FIRING RANGE, Republic of Korea (September 21, 2007) -- Just as the early morning fog started to lift over the Montana Firing Range, Republic of Korea, Sept. 11, Marines from 3rd Marine Logistics Group's 9th Engineer Support Battalion took aim in live fire exercises during the Korean Interoperability Training Program.
http://www.okinawa.usmc.mil/Public%20Affairs%20Info/Archive%20News%20Pages/2007/070921-esb.html
Lance Cpl. Bobby J. Yarbrough
The exercise was the first live-fire event of the program and allowed Marines the chance to get down in the trenches and perform fundamental marksmanship training with the M16-A2 service rifle, M-249 squad automatic weapon (SAW) and M-240 Gulf medium machine gun.
"We don't do a lot of live-fire training in Okinawa," said Gunnery Sgt. Michael P. Suskin, the training chief for 9th ESB. "This (program) allows us to provide safe, realistic training for Marines and helps Marines gain confidence behind their weapons system."
The Marines focused on establishing proper firing positions and establishing and planning fields of fire. Fields of fire are conventional in a defensive fighting position to ensure that all avenues an enemy can use to approach the Marines' positions are covered by one or more weapon system.
"It's important that we plan and control our fire," said Pfc. Matthew D. Smith, a basic water technician with 9th ESB. "It makes us more knowledgeable of the situation and more aware of our surroundings."
Marines engaged targets from 100-400 yards and reacted to different scenarios based on the situation reports they received during the exercise. After five hours and 6,000 rounds down range, little was left on the range but shell casings and ragged targets, although those too were gone after a thorough cleanup.
Although 9th ESB's primary mission is to provide engineering support to III Marine Expeditionary Force, it didn't stop the Marines from embracing basic infantry tactics.
"I love the grunt life," said Lance Cpl. Donald R. White, a Marine integrated maintenance management specialist with the unit. "Getting dirty makes you feel more Marine-like."