{"id":25072,"date":"2023-08-28T14:54:26","date_gmt":"2023-08-28T14:54:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=25072"},"modified":"2023-08-29T02:47:39","modified_gmt":"2023-08-29T02:47:39","slug":"3-7-prepares-to-fight-sustain-defend-urban-terrain-in-the-conflicts-of-tomorrow-during-slte-5-23","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=25072","title":{"rendered":"3\/7 prepares to fight, sustain, defend urban terrain in the conflicts of tomorrow during SLTE 5-23"},"content":{"rendered":"
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MARINE CORPS AIR-GROUND COMBAT CENTER, CALIF. — <\/span><\/p>\n

U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, conducted Adversary Force Exercise as part of Service Level Training Exercise 5-23, Aug. 6, 2023.<\/p>\n

During AFX 5-23, Marines, Sailors and allied forces trained in urban combat at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center\u2019s\u00a0range 220, the largest urban warfare facility the Marine Corps has to offer. This iteration of the exercise is designed to enhance a unit\u2019s proficiency of urban defense tactics and logistics in a contested environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cAFX started out with urban lane training and went all the way up to the company level for defense in an urban environment,\u201d said Gunnery Sgt. Neil Lipon, company gunnery sergeant for Kilo Company, 3\/7. \u201cWe\u2019re getting our unit ready for combat, getting ready to face any force.\u201d<\/p>\n

Force Design 2030 aims to make the Marine Corps a lighter, more agile fighting force, capable of conducting rapid amphibious insertions around the globe. The guidance is built to transition Marines from the mentality of previous wars to a modernized force in preparation to defend the United States of America and her partners and allies from potential peer adversaries.<\/p>\n

\u201cA large percentage of the world’s population lives in littoral regions,\u201d Lipon continued. \u201cA lot of those littoral regions we\u2019d find ourselves in are urbanized, and that\u2019s where we may fight in the near future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lipon added that Marines will be expected to operate in company-sized units in future conflicts. They can be tasked to seize and defend island and coastal territory on their own, while overcoming the friction of operating in urban environments.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s something that could be very near in the future, and it\u2019s something we need to be ready to operate in,\u201d Lipon added.<\/p>\n

Marine Air-Ground Task Force Training Command provided Marines to act as opposition against the Marines of 3\/7 so they could train against able-bodied, intelligent minded individuals who employed real-world tactics designed to mimic potential future adversaries. The Marines used blank ammunition to ensure the safety of their fellow service members, while the combat instructors, better known as Coyotes, with Tactical Training and Exercise Control Group, Marine Air-Ground Task Force Training Command, observed and controlled the simulated battlefield as the Marines advanced.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cIf the enemy was sitting right here in front of me, I\u2019d tell them it\u2019s not just our weapon systems we have, it\u2019s not the fancy gear we have. The mindset, adaptability and ingenuity of that young Marine out there. That\u2019s what\u2019s going to win.\u201d\u00a0Gunnery Sgt. Neil Lipon, company gunnery sergeant for Kilo Company, 3\/7<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cWe have lanes that we will train on with opposing forces and then we will have force-on-force exercises that we\u2019ll run, simulating fighting an actual thinking enemy,\u201d said 1st Lt. Thomas Nelson, executive officer with Kilo Company, 3\/7.<\/p>\n

The Marines of 3\/7 seized urban terrain using amphibious, mechanized tactics while they fought alongside Marines crewing P7 amphibious assault vehicles from 3rd Amphibious Assault Battalion, 1st Marine Division. Once 3\/7 seized the terrain, they built defensive positions with sandbags. Concertina wire was installed by the Marines of 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, who were also embedded with the 3\/7 Marines. The opposing force provided by TTECG was present for both, defending their own positions from 3\/7 and then counter-attacking.<\/p>\n

\u201cUrban warfare is one of the most challenging environments that we will find ourselves in,\u201d said Lipon. \u201cYou have that 360-environment encompassing everywhere from subterrain levels, street levels, rooftop levels and even into the air space. You basically have threats all around you, and your own fields of fire are very limited, units can get spread out, and communication becomes difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lipon explained that Marines gradually increase their unit level of training to slowly build their capabilities of working with each other. They work together focusing on moving properly in and around buildings in an urban environment to minimize casualties and maximize lethality.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust like anything we do, we start with the basics and work our way up,\u201d continued Lipon.<\/p>\n

The training allowed Marines to practice sustainment in a simulated combat environment, preparing for the defense of secured territory. The key to sustaining forces in an operational setting is logistics. Transported goods such as food, water, fuel and ammunition allow troops to continue the fight. Logistic support is needed to permit Marines to keep pressure on opposing forces. Force Design 2030 brings Marines closer than ever to the front line for major military operations. Therefore, the Marines must also prepare to move and protect logistics as it closes in on active combat zones.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnywhere, even if it wasn\u2019t an urban environment, will prove a challenge when defending logistics in a contested space,\u201d Lipon said. \u201cThey\u2019re always going to be contested.<\/p>\n

“We can only carry so much on our backs, so the logistical supplies are going to have to follow us soon after we get into combat.\u201d<\/p>\n

He stated that at the company level, it becomes more difficult for Marines to hold the supply lines as they rely on amphibious, air or mechanized support to deliver their supplies as the Marine\u2019s continue their mission. Training for logistics requires significant effort from not only the line elements, but the command elements to properly plan logistical needs to avoid being compromised in a real-world scenario.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhenever we go up against a peer adversary, they\u2019ll know to hit our supply lines, so planning logistics is equally as important as battle tactics when going into a combat environment,\u201d Lipon added.<\/p>\n

Marines from the Republic of Korea Marine Corps joined 3\/7 in AFX 5-23, allowing Marines to prepare to work side-by-side with their allies from the Korean peninsula. US and ROK forces trained to understand each other\u2019s tactics and learn from each other to maximize effectiveness and promote deterrence against aggression from any potential adversaries.<\/p>\n

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\n Building Defense<\/span>
\n Photo by Cpl. Jonathan Willcox<\/span><\/p>\n
U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Adama Anderson, a combat engineer with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, constructs defenses during Adversary Force Exercise 5-23 at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, Aug. 9, 2023. AFX 5-23 tested the skills of Marines in seizing and maintaining a combat presence in urban environments by training in offensive and defensive tactics, conducing logistics in a contested environment, and utilizing mechanized infantry.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cThe training with the ROK Marine Corps strengthens the bond between us by allowing them to come over and see how we operate,\u201d Nelson said. \u201cWe do the same, seeing how they do things, and then we both exchange tactics, techniques and procedures, understanding each other a little bit better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nelson explained that when U.S. and ROK Marines are deployed together in real world scenarios, they will need to work closely together. Therefore, they train today to make their combined capabilities in future battles as effective as possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor this training, we will integrate into each other’s platoons, so when combat comes, we can work seamlessly together.\u201d<\/p>\n

MCAGCC is the largest training base in the Marines Corps and can accommodate large scale operations that allow Marines to receive realistic combined arms training. From the Marine infantry taking cities, to commanders laying out battleplans and balancing logistical requirements, The Combat Center offers the perfect location for events such as AFX 5-23.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere at MCAGCC we have some of the best training environments I\u2019ve seen, with ranges such as Range 220 being a full-fledged city the Marines can train in,\u201d Lipon explained. \u201cGetting the opportunity to operate in that environment is very beneficial for the Marines.\u201d<\/p>\n

MCAGCC allows Marines, sister branches and foreign allies, from the higher echelons of command to the front-line units in the field, to train together so they will be ready for the wars of the future.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe support we get from units like TTECG to help us run these training events creates a lot more opportunities for the Marines to learn,\u201d Lipon said.<\/p>\n

AFX is one of many exercises that constantly tests Marines and those that will work with them. This training has allowed the participants to sharpen any skills necessary when it comes to operating in urban environments while using MCAGCC\u2019s Range 220. The Marines improved their skills while defending their positions and ensuring their capability to remain in the fight for however long they need to, against any enemy, foreign or domestic, in every clime and place.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the enemy was sitting right here in front of me,\u201d Lipon explained, \u201cI\u2019d tell them it\u2019s not just our weapon systems we have, it\u2019s not the fancy gear we have. The mindset, adaptability and ingenuity of that young Marine out there. That\u2019s what\u2019s going to win.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

MARINE CORPS AIR-GROUND COMBAT CENTER, CALIF. — U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, conducted Adversary Force Exercise as part of Service Level Training Exercise 5-23, Aug. 6, 2023. During AFX 5-23, Marines, Sailors and allied forces trained in urban combat at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center\u2019s\u00a0range 220, the largest urban […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":25074,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25072","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25072","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25072"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25072\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25075,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25072\/revisions\/25075"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/25074"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25072"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25072"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25072"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}