MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 Marines conducted Exercise Thunder Horse at Penny Lake field here June 21-25.
The exercise focused on motor transport operation training and was done in preparation for exercise Haramura scheduled for July 16-23 in Haramura, Japan.
“What we are doing right now is going through a process we call the crawl, walk, run method, and right now we are doing the basics here (in Iwakuni),” said Master Sgt. Eldrich Richardson, MWSS-171 motor transport operations chief. “We’re putting them in a class environment (here) and teaching them the things that are expected of them.”
The training was important and needed to be done so the MWSS-171 Marines would not fall behind in their training and become unprepared for battle, Richardson said.
MWSS-171 Motor Transport Operations Company and Airfield Operations Company Marines were the two companies involved in the exercise.
Richardson said he hoped the training conducted during exercise Thunder Horse sparked the junior Marines’ curiosity, leading them to take the initiative and find out more about their jobs by asking questions and researching their responsibilities.
The participating service members first arrived on scene at Penny Lake Field on June 21 and secured the area before setting up their camp and establishing security.
Once camp was set up, the Marines received training, which familiarized them with the proper methods in mounting weapons to their vehicles, how to run a tactical convoy, how to assess casualties under fire and learn various other skills.
The Marines also received training in the fine points involved in operating their vehicles during numerous professional military education classes which were held throughout the exercise.
Sgt. Robinson Marmolejos, an MWSS-171 logistics vehicle systems operator, said he believed Exercise Thunder Horse was a good way to train the Marines and turn them from drivers into operators.
“Anyone can drive one of these things, but to actually know how to operate (the vehicles) you need training,” said Marmolejos.
Some of the training and periods of instruction the Marines participated in during the exercise showed the MWSS-171 Marines what vehicles worked best depending on the situation and mission at hand.
Many of the participating junior Marines felt the training they received during exercise Thunder Horse was extremely important.
“It was a good (opportunity) to learn a lot regardless of your rank,” said Lance Cpl. Cody Lewis, an MWSS-171 motor vehicle operator.
“This is the type of training that we’re going to need to know (in case we go to war). This is capability testing. We need to see how fast we can set up camp, how well we can operate inside a camp and how well we can tear down, push forth and move out.”
Although the training can seem like a hassle right now, who knows, later in the future if confronted in a war zone Marines can look back on this training, Lewis said.