- Marines with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division continued training at Twentynine Palms in California in mid-July.
- In addition to their goals, the squads were challenged by the training area's rugged terrain and blistering heat.
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Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California — Accompanied by nothing but sand, rocks and the desert sun, Marines with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division continue to prepare for the unrelenting forces ahead by training at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., July 15-July 19, 2019.
US Marines of Invictus participated in a five-day field operation where they were evaluated as squads, based on how well they shoot, move and communicate toward their objective.
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When asked what the purpose of the evaluation was, Cpl. Zorenehf L. Yabao, a squad leader said, "To see where their performance is at and what they need to improve on for the duration of the pre-deployment training. From here on out, it is not going to be easy."
With temperatures reaching more than 110 degrees, the constant running, yelling and shooting takes its toll.
Yabao added, "At the end of the day, you are taking control of your squad. You should not freak out or worry about anything else. You have to focus on the mission, what your commander's task and purpose is and what you need to do. Just focus on caring about your squad, controlling them and getting the mission done."
1st Lt. Michael Mursuli, a platoon commander with the company said, "Morgan's Well is one of the most difficult terrains to navigate being that there are so many hills and crevices. The terrain here is unlike anything else."
The company trained with a variety of weapons systems varying from rifles and grenade launchers to machine guns and anti-armor launchers.
While speaking to the company, Capt. Richard Benning, the company commander, asked what the difference between the tiger, the lion and the wolf is.
After being met with faces of confusion he stated, " The wolf is not in the circus. The wolf cares about the wolf pack and the wolf pack alone. Invictus is the wolf pack."
When asked about the training area, Mursuli said, "Twentynine Palms is the varsity league. There are more areas and opportunities to train here. Negotiating the terrain is very difficult and there are more ranges, bigger ranges and the ranges themselves are a beast to tackle."
"You are doing what the whole Marine Corps is doing but you are doing it on more difficult terrain," Mursuli said.
