WWW.CAMPLEJEUNEGLOBE.COM
VOLUME 75, EDITION 15
The
GL BE SERVING CAMP LEJEUNE AND SURROUNDING AREAS SINCE 1944
Marines
team up with British Army Soldiers | 3A
Marines bring on the mud while learning retrieval systems|4A
THURSDAY APRIL 11, 2013
WWW.LEJEUNE.MARINES.MIL WW LEJEUNE E MA MARI MARI RINE NES NE S MI MILL YUMA, ARIZONA
SHARPENING TALONS
Photo by Lance Cpl. Scott W. Whiting
Lance Cpl. Jon Whitson, a Marine with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, participates in a drill at Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz., March 26. 1st Battalion participated in the Talon Exercise for approximately a week before participating in the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course supporting Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One.
Marines deploy in weapons, tactics warm up LANCE CPL. SCOTT WHITING 2nd Marine Division
C
ompany B left for the desert March 22 along with the rest of 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, for a rigorous, monthlong infantry training exercise. The Marines practiced firing drills during Talon Exercise. The training precedes the bi-annual Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, run by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One aboard Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. Talon Exercise is specific to the infantry Marines before supporting the instructor course. The battalion traveled from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune to Yuma, Ariz., then to Forward Operating Base Laguna, located
within the Army’s Yuma Proving Grounds. Company B left the forward base the evening of March 25 to set up camp at the first range. The next day they were up and firing in the early morning. The first day included the Marines firing on targets at different distances while moving and pivoting. Other variables included a nighttime shoot. They also executed live-fire buddy-rushing drills, which require communication between partners to rush the target while maintaining a steady rate of fire. The company moved to a different range the next morning where they spent the day engaging targets at a distance with different weapon systems, including the Shoulder-launched Multipurpose Assault Weapons, AT’s, the M16A4 with the M203 grenade launcher, M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle and the M240B machine gun. They also fired the weapons at night under a simulated high-stress environment to teach composure under duress. Leaders yelled orders to their Marines to get their adrenaline running in order to duplicate a stressful situation. The next two days were spent on a vast, hilly range, teaching the Marines to assault an area with a platoon-sized force. The scenario they were
2nd AA Battalion Marine receives Purple Heart Award CPL. AUSTIN LONG 2nd Marine Division
The Purple Heart Award was presented to Cpl. Kyle Sepeda, a motor transport operator with 2nd Amphibious Assault Battalion, April 1 at the 2nd AA Battalion maintenance bay. Brig. Gen. James Lukeman, commanding general of 2nd Marine Division, presented Sepeda with the award for injuries sustained from a roadside bomb during a convoy movement in Afghanistan. He was deployed with Regimental Combat Team 6 for a year in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Sepeda was standing in the turret of a mine-resistant, ambush protected all-terrain vehicle behind an M240 machine gun. He was filling the position of gunner for the three-man crew aboard. The convoy was traveling from Forward Operating Base Nolay to Sabit Qadam for resupply and to brief the following mission. As their vehicle turned onto a paved road, a roadside bomb exploded. Sepeda was knocked down into the vehicle. “As soon as we hit the hardball, the improvised explovisve device exploded,” said Sepeda, “I didn’t black out or get knocked
out, but it knocked me down into the vehicle from the turret.” Petty Officer 1st class Sean Reeves, was on the quick reaction force moved from the FOB to support Sepeda’s convoy. Once Reeves saw the blast, he moved toward the hit vehicle. Reeves’ first mission was to check the Marines to make sure no one was seriously injured and in need of immediate treatment. “After Doc Reeves checked me, I got back into the turret, I had to shoot a green flare to signal everyone was ok because our (radios) went out,” said Sepeda. “Once I shot the flare, I was back on the 240 helping to suppress the enemy’s small arms fire, while the rest of the convoy moved downhill to help suppress the enemy.” Sepeda’s vehicle had damage to the front but it could still operate. However the trailer attached was destroyed and unable to be moved. Under cover smallarms fire, the other Marines with Sepeda exited the vehicle to disconnect the trailer, so the convoy could move back up the hill to Nolay. “Once we were back at the top, I checked the Marines again,” said Reeves, “(I) noticed Sepeda had blood in his ear, he
SEE PREPARATION 6A
Inside
Kids Gone Fishin’ Derby 1B
Photo by Cpl. Austin Long
Brig. Gen. James Lukeman, 2nd Marine Division commanding officer, presents Cpl. Kyle Sepeda, a motor transport operator with 2nd AA Battalion, with the Purple Heart Award April 1. was nauseous, and had vomited three times since getting out of the vehicle. All signs of a possible concussion.” Reeves had Sepeda evacuated to Forward Operating Base
Sabit Qadam. After staying 24 hours for observation, Sepeda was cleared and able to return to FOB Nolay and finish the last two months of his deployment with RCT-6.
Pooches show talents during pet parade 1C