Semper Fi Fall FEX

The Fall FEX this year was a culmination of what Semper Fi had been learning and preparing for in both the classroom and physical fitness settings. They started with a rigorous 9 mile hike up to Paradise Ridge in order to get to what they call work. From here the MIDN got a chance to quickly eat something and prepare themselves for the lessons, failures, and successes to come. They would then begin with the land navigation phase of training consisting of multiple different points at various distances that needed to be found up and down Paradise ridge. Most MIDN, having little to no experience with land navigation, quickly learned how valuable and necessary it is to excel in this skill as their mission and future platoons will depend on knowing where to go and how to get there. Having the OCS graduate Seniors and MECEP Marines guiding classes throughout the semester as well as pointing out things to change after the evolution was completed, gave many of the MIDN valuable lessons that they will take with them into the future and even pass on to others. Semper Fi then broke into their respective fireteams and set off to their assigned SULE lanes where the fireteam leader would get the opportunity to test their tactical leadership in a simulated situation. Upper classmen get the priority for being fireteam leaders as they are going to OCS this upcoming summer. This gives the underclassmen a chance to see what a proper SULE looks like and prepares them of future FEX trainings to come. All in all, the MIDN that attended this years fall FEX walked away with valuable knowledge and the confidence to complete any follow on training that they have ahead of them. - MIDN Ramirez