CAMP PENDLETON -- The Marine Corps takes pride in being a rapid response force, capable of completing any task assigned. From combat operations and logistical support to humanitarian assistance mission Marines are always ready to execute the mission. In order to live up to their prestigious reputation, Marines, and their sailor counterparts, have to maintain readiness through high level training evolutions conducted on a frequent basis.
On Aug. 3-7, 2015, Marines and sailors with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, put their training to the test by taking part the Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.
The MCCRE measures a unit’s performance in all operational tasks. Personnel of all ranks within the unit participate in the evaluation and are put in a simulated combat setting to test their required skill sets. Capt. Brandon Currie, the company commander of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Mar. Div., who evaluates as part of the MCCRE, said if executed in the correct way, units can use the MCCRE not only measure their capabilities, but as a way to plan for future training events and missions.
During the MCCRE, Marines and sailors with 3/5 conducted weeklong combat operations training for the purpose of the evaluation. Cpl. David Krehbiel, a platoon sergeant with 3/5, said this event forced Marines and Sailors to revert back to all the numerous rehearsals and training evolutions they have executed throughout their time with 3/5 in order to succeed.
“This isn’t new for us honestly,” said Krehbiel. “We go out to the field almost on a weekly basis and do raids and assaults on the objective ... , so when they say, ‘Hey, this time it’s for real,’ we aren’t wondering what we are going to do, we just repeat the same standard operational procedures over again.”
While 3/5 implemented their duties, Marines from adjacent units observed every aspect of the exercise and evaluated the unit’s mission readiness. Using the combined notes taken for each criteria judged an overall evaluation is made.
“My job right now is to observe their tactics, how cleanly they execute them, how quick they do it, there are so many things to take into consideration, which is why there are so many of us,” said Currie. “Hopefully when all is said and done, we can have a good idea of what they did well and some things to fine tune.”
Third Battaion, 5th Marine Regiment will conduct other training evolutions and maintain overall unit readiness prior to taking part in a unit deployment program later this year.