CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. --
Approximately 100 Marines assigned to Battery R, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment conducted convoy operations training as part of their pre-deployment training Apr. 1-2.
The Marines participated in convoy operations, testing their abilities to detect improvised explosive devices in hidden places.
“What we put together here is a realistic environment using IED simulators that will prepare the Marines in identifying these devices in unusual areas,” said 1st Lt. Kyle C. Parton, 26, the executive officer for Battery R, from Kokomo, Ind.
“We’ve taken lessons learned from the insurgents and how they employ their IEDs, and that’s directly what we based this training off.”
Marines said that the training helps them be as prepared as possible when the time comes for them to deploy.
“We try to make this training as realistic as possible, and that’s why we train like we fight,” said Parton.
The training had many learning objectives for the Marines who have never experienced combat.
“This training helped us to better identify IEDs in cars parked on the side of the road, suicide bombers and roadside IEDs,” said Cpl. Joshua G. Zook, 24, a supply clerk with Battery R, from Arlington, Wash.
Most of the Marines agreed that the training was helping them.
“I personally learned the most on the roadside IEDs part, because it wasn’t visible like the vehicle or the suicide bombers,” said Zook.
The Marines said that they find this training more effective than many others they have gone through.
“We have conducted training like this for other batteries, and the feedback we received was that they learned a whole lot more from this training than in others, and that’s why we (have) decided that we are going to continue this training until we find something more effective,” said Parton.