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Train as they fight Marines attack 'enemy' in Korean exercise

Marine Corps News

12/17/2002

Story by Cpl. Ryan D. Libbert

CAMP GREAVES, Republic of Korea(Dec. 13, 2002) -- On a cold November morning off the horizon of the Korean Demilitarized Zone, the mist of the sky combines with smoke rising from the muzzles of numerous M16A2 service rifles and M249 Squad Automatic Weapons.

While training here for combat, Marines of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, participated in a live-fire range during the Korean Integrated Training Program at the North Carolina range near Camp Greaves-an Army installation safeguarding the peace between North and South Korea along the Demilitarized Zone.

"During this range, my company is practicing a squad reinforced attack," said Capt. Thomas E. Clinton, company commander, F Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment.

"The exercise is as follows: a Marine rifle squad, supported by machine-gun teams, is simulating taking out an enemy observation post, as well as trying to stop an enemy squad from improving its position. The enemy squad is acting as the lead element for a company attack."

Although different squads ran the range, each with their own way of attacking, Clinton explained that the basics remained the same.

"The squad initially makes contact with (observation post), and the machine guns come in to suppress it and give the squad time to move into position to seize the enemy position. The squad then makes their assault under the suppressing fire of the machine guns to seize and collapse the trench line where the enemy is."

Along with the basics, the Marines used all tools available to them during a combat situation as well, Clinton added. "All the weapons we're using are the different weapons assigned to an infantry rifle squad," the Swampscott, Mass., native said. "We have M240 machine guns, M249 'SAWs,' M16s, M203s and some hand-held smoke (grenades)."

Although infantry Marines train in these types of exercises on a regular basis, Clinton said it doesn't mean that the challenge has been taken away.

"It can take a squad anywhere between 10 to 30 minutes to complete this range, depending on how well the squad is doing," he said.

"If the squad isn't executing its battle drills correctly, then we'll stop the squad, back them up and explain to them what they've done wrong and then let them go back at it again."

As well as challenges, there is also an element of danger in running the range.

Near the range are old mines left over from the Korean War that the Marines must be cautious of as well, Clinton explained. The Marines were also training about two kilometers from the southern end of the Demilitarized Zone where old ordnance can be found from previous battles.

Another factor to consider during this range was the different climate and environmental conditions that the Marines were not used to training in.

"Training in Korea is a lot different than training back in the States," Clinton said. "In Twentynine Palms, it's a desert environment, so we're fighting the enemy at a greater distance because they can see us farther."

Along with the infantry companies, Marines attached to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment for the Korean Integrated Training Program exercise, as well as Headquarters and Service Company Marines, were given the chance to fire weapons alongside the "grunts" (infantrymen) during this range.