COMBINED ARMS TRAINING CENTER CAMP FUJI, Japan -- Combat Logistics Company 36 Marines, alongside Combat Logistics Regiments 35 and 37 fired live ammunition at the Small Arms Combat Range here March 5.
Marines were able to fire the M249 light machine gun, M240B machine gun and their issued M16A4 rifles to train and refresh their skills with these types of weapon systems during Exercise Forest Light.
Forest Light is a semi-annual training exercise normally taking place in Hokkaido but with weather restrictions, leaders decided to change course and travel to Camp Fuji, allowing live-fire training.
“We wouldn’t have been able to perform live-fire training while in Hokkaido,” said 2nd Lt. Sean A. Cunningham, CLR-37 SACR range officer-in-charge. “With the help from Camp Fuji, we were able to receive live ammunition and train on their range.”
Marines in the exercise were not infantry, but most were filling infantry billets.
"Many Marines went out to train their skills on the M240 and M249 LMG,” said Cunningham. “I feel like they did a very impressive job.”
Marines worked together to help fill billets and learn skills which many of them may have never come into contact with in their regular military occupational specialties.
“Most of these Marines primarily work in motor transportation, as mechanics or supply and they don’t know many of the advanced rifleman skills,” said Sgt. Nelson P. Chavez, 3rd squad leader, CLC- 36 1st platoon. “However, this was great training as it taught them some of the same skills infantrymen use on a day-to-day basis.”
Even though these Marines will not use these skills on a daily basis, this training allows them to stay prepared for any scenario.
“Many of these Marines haven’t had the opportunity to deploy to combat and haven’t received this type of training since Marine Combat Training,” said Chavez.
The possibility of deployment to a cold weather environment always exists, and this training allowed a glimpse into what it may be like when they deploy.
“With the cold weather, the Marines got a taste of what combat areas can be like and some of the factors which can affect the life of Marines while in deployed combat locations,” said Chavez.
“There was a constant wind and a large downpour which affected our ability to obtain targets and engage them effectively,” said Lance Cpl. Kimberly R. Everett, point man with 2nd fire team, 1st squad, CLC-36 1st platoon.
Marines learn early that mission accomplishment comes first no matter what the climate.
“No matter what happened with the weather, we pushed on and completed our mission to the best of our abilities,” said Everett.
Marines will complete their mission and will continue, as the Marine Corps Hymn states, to fight ‘in every clime and place where we could take a gun.’