Bravo 1/3 gets a taste of PTA at its best
USMC News
Story Identification Number: 2003321143757
Story by Lance Cpl. Monroe F. Seigle
POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA, ISLAND OF HAWAII, Hawaii(March 21, 2003) -- POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA - The land is barren and desolate and fierce winds bite your face with waves of dry soil. The terrain is covered with a variety of rocks, making the ground almost impossible to negotiate.
And, when the blazing sun hides behind the massive boulders forming a mountain, freezing temperatures set in.
Believe it or not, this is part of Hawaii. Marines from 1st Bn., 3rd Marine Regiment, MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, deployed here Feb. 13, to conduct a melange of live-fire training with combined arms, in preparation for the annual Marine Corps Readiness Evaluation Exercise.
During the battalion exercise, the Marines used air support, artillery and mortars, along with a combined anti-armor team, to destroy enemy forces located in the area.
The exercises were highly demanding of the Marines, both physically and mentally.
Marching several miles through the difficult terrain with few hours of sleep was a daily occurrence for the hard-charging devil dogs in 1/3.
"PTA provides all the challenging elements like cold and hot weather, rugged terrain and elevation," said Capt. John P. Bobo, commanding officer for Bravo Co., 1/3. "It is the only place in Hawaii where we can practice combined arms and live-fire training."
In addition to the live-fire training, the Marines from 1/3 also performed several patrolling and defensive exercises, setting out on foot and searching for enemy forces in the area.
A defensive exercise is used in combat situations when a perimeter must be defended against enemy forces attempting to invade the territory.
"The Marines have performed well considering the elements," said Bobo. "They will come out of here a better company. "Tough training like this brings them closer together."
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