CAMP FUJI, Japan -- Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 took to the hills this week in 20-degree weather in support of Exercise Foal Eagle at Camp Fuji.
The purpose of the training exercise was to split the squadron into three fully operational groups. One group deployed to Korea, one to Camp Fuji, and the rest of the squadron remained in Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan to practice operating under minimal staffing.
While the Marines trained in Korea, the group supporting Foal Eagle in Camp Fuji established communication with them. After communication was in place, the remainder of the exercise included combat training with the Marines enhancing their proficiency at defending a forward operating air base.
"It was good to go and realistic," said Sgt. Jeffrey M. Raggi, MWSS-171 motor transport operator. "In combat everyone is going to be moving in different directions and they have no clue what's going on. Then the directions change in the blink of an eye. You have to know how to adapt and overcome."
Marines deployed to Foal Eagle Fuji sharpened their skills with rifles, shotguns, automatic machine guns, hand grenades, and even had the opportunity to cross train with artillery batteries already in place at Camp Fuji. They had the opportunity to train with Army UH-60 Blackhawks from Camp Zama, Japan.
Raggi, a Kissimmee, Fla. native, added this cross-training is what made everything so realistic.
"Doing joint training during an exercise lets you know how it would be in an actual combat situation," he said. "Marines from a support squadron got to go out to a ground unit such as the 12th Marines and get some joint training and see how the regimental units actually do combat training."
Along with weapon skills, the Marines set up a base camp, conducted land navigation, conditioning hikes, and squad and fire team movements to keep up with their basic Marine training.