| Reserve Marines Test Their Limits In Exercise Nordic Frost 18 |
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by U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Samantha Schwoch |
| April 5, 2018 |
In the mountainous terrain of northern Vermont, where
temperatures drop below freezing and the snow covers the landscape,
Marines were pushed to their limits as they battled against the
extreme winter weather.
Marines with 1st Battalion, 24th
Marines, 4th Marine Division, pushed through frigid conditions as
they participated in the two-week exercise Nordic Frost on Camp
Ethan Allen during January 2018.
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January 19, 2018 - Marines with Company E, 4th Combat
Engineer Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine
Division, breach and clear a building during exercise Nordic
Frost at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho, VT. The
exercise allowed Marines to demonstrate their ability to
operate in a cold weather mountainous environment,
conducting land navigation, marksmanship training,
demolitions, call for fire training and other core
competencies. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Samantha
Schwoch)
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The goal was to improve the unit’s environmental capabilities by
testing their squad and fire team level of defensive tactics in a
winter environment.
“These Marines were in the deserts of
Morocco last year,” said Capt. John A. Faucette, the weapons company
commander of 1st Bn., 24th Marines, 4th MarDiv. “This year, up here
in northern Vermont, in very mountainous, snow covered terrain, they
have done very well. We exposed the Marines to the cold weather by
conducting live fire ranges, and various other exercises to include
small unit leadership. They took the training that was given to
them, wore gear properly, stayed warm, and were able to fight.”
This cold environment adds additional training to the operations
the Marines would otherwise not see in warmer weather conditions.
Leadership at all levels must ensure that all training was conducted
in a safe manner. The Marines conducted exercises such as land
navigation, marksmanship training, demolitions, call-for-fire
training and other core competencies.
“Ultimately, our
success was defined by safety,” said Maj. Husein N. Yaghnam, the
battalion operations officer with 1st Bn., 24th Marines, 4th MarDiv.
“Marines are only effective if they are safe and capable, and we
have the health in the field to complete the mission. So my
guidance, down to the company commanders, was to be taking care of
the Marines.”
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January 19, 2018 - Marines with Weapons Company, 1st
Battalion, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division, conduct
medical evacuation techniques during the final exercise of
Nordic Frost on Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho,
VT. The goal of Nordic Frost was to improve the unit’s
environmental capabilities by giving them an introduction to
cold weather training and testing their squad and fire team
level defensive proficiency in an austere environment. (U.S. Marine Corps
photo by Pfc. Samantha Schwoch)
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Safety is accomplished by knowing how to properly operate in the
weather. The Marines were able to safely train and stay warm after
instruction on how to properly employ their cold weather gear.
“It’s was down in the negatives some nights, and the Marines had
to stay out in the field,” said Faucette. “Utilizing the gear and
the training that was given to them shows that we can still function
and fight as a battalion, no matter what the conditions are. My
company spent a couple nights out in the field without issue. The
Marines continued to perform like they would if they were in a warm
environment, or something that may have been a little more
comfortable than the extreme cold.”
Experiencing the cold
weather training gave the Marines the confidence to trust that no
matter what the conditions are, their equipment and gear, from
weapons to warming layers, are effective in any clime and place.
by U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Samantha Schwoch
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2018
The U.S. Marines |
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