The Marines are from 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. ARTP is a regularly scheduled exercise which enhances the combat readiness of 3rd Bn., 12th Marines, while supporting the U.S.-Japan treaty commitments of cooperation and security.

“During the training the Marines practiced utilizing machine guns to suppress the enemy,” said 1st Lt. Richard C. Bussmann, assistant executive officer for Hotel Battery with the battalion. “They practiced suppression using ‘talking guns’.”

‘Talking guns’ is a technique where Marines utilize two machine guns to suppress the enemy, Bussmann said. This is achieved by alternating six to eight round bursts between the guns, maintaining constant suppression. This cycle repeats until the enemy threat is neutralized.

“This allows for each gun to not be firing constantly, which would cause the barrels to overheat,” Bussmann said. “The Marines practiced this technique with the M240 G and .50 Cal.”

While firing, Marines used the scanning technique of suppressing, Bussmann said. When utilizing this, the guns traverse back and forth, denying the enemy the ability to run and take cover.

“The most important part of the training was learning the weapons,” said Cpl. Jossie Roman, a field wireman with Hotel. “It’s important we learn the fundamentals so if the need to fire small arms comes up, we are ready.”

Each machine gun position requires three Marines, Bussmann said. The team or section leader is in charge of the barrel changes, reloading the gun and, most importantly, getting the gunner on target. He does this by observing the impacts of rounds and giving the gunner commands to change the direction of fire.

The gunner’s job is to fire at the targets and listen to the team leader’s directions on where to adjust fire. The third Marine on a machine gun team occupies the ammunition position. This Marine’s job is to run ammunition to the gun when it is running low.

Additionally, this Marine provides security for the machine gun. Since the team leader and gunner are focused on the machine gun, this is a very important job that ensures no enemy sneaks up on the position.

“The purpose of the machine gun teams’ suppression is to allow other Marines to maneuver towards the enemy using the machine gun rounds as cover fire,” Bussmann said.

Artillery Marines must maintain proficiency on machine guns out of necessity.

“We train on machine guns because we have to provide our own security,” Bussmann said. “We have to protect our own howitzers from the enemy during combat operations.”

According to Bussmann, when an artillery unit is deployed, they also have to send out their own patrols and establish their own quick reaction force.

“The Marines in the QRF are pre-designated so when the situation arises, they can pick up their weapons and neutralize the enemy, allowing the battery to displace quickly and away from the compromised position,” Bussmann said.

According to Roman, small-arms training is just as important as training on the howitzers.

“This training may someday save one of the artillery Marine’s lives while downrange,” Roman said.