3rd LAAD tests battlefield skill in Djibouti

Submitted by:
MCB Camp Pendleton
Story by:
Computed Name: Sgt. Alec Kleinsmith
Story Identification #:
200814153743

DJIBOUTI, Africa(Jan. 4, 2008) -- The leathernecks of Battery A, 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion tested their mettle against the Djiboutian landscape during a fire and movement exercise Dec. 26.A classic staple in Marine Corps infantry training, fire and movement exercises encompass a variety of battlefield techniques, from proper rushing protocol to communication. "We wanted to refresh the Marines in their tactics and ensure they're proficient with all the weapons systems," said 2nd Lt. Sung C. Park, a platoon commander with Battery A, 3rd LAAD.

"Even though we're not an infantry unit, we want to stress that every Marine is a rifleman." In addition, the Marines familiarized themselves with insertion and extraction operations via air support, said Park, from Chantilly, Va. Riding in a CH-53 helicopter was a first for most of the Marines, many of whom joined the battalion as individual augments with varying occupational specialties."Overall we did well as a group, given the situation and the amount of time we had," said Cpl. David A. Claypool, a field radio operator with Battery A.

"Since a large number of the Marines are augments who don't do this kind of training often, I think we did a good job."Although impressed with the Marines' performance, Claypool knows that continuous practice will only strengthen their tactics and iron out minor kinks."We can improve more on our dispersion and communication," remarked Claypool, from New Plymouth, Idaho. "The enemy looks for big targets, so we don't want to give them one."

Source: Marine Crops News