The regiment, part of 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, conducts four artillery relocation training sessions annually at five different locations in mainland Japan to maintain proficiency in its primary mission of providing artillery fire to maneuver units.

The first part of the exercise involves the planning, embarkation, reception, staging, onward movement and integration of personnel and equipment at the designated port of debarkation.

3rd Bn., 12th Marines, convoyed from Camp Hansen and loaded its vehicles and gear at Naha Port. The chartered ship, provided by the government of Japan, then traveled to Oita Port where it was met by 3rd Bn., 12th Marines, personnel to conduct reception, staging, onward movement and integration.

“The embarkation involves moving personnel, quadcons, vehicles, howitzers and other gear to the port and then loading it onto the ship,” said Staff Sgt. Erik R. Myers, the battalion logistics chief. “It involves motor transportation, embarkation specialists and pretty much every Marine and sailor in the battalion.”

Upon arriving at Oita Port, Marines and sailors with equipment and motor transport assets engaged in a 1.5-hour convoy to the Hijudai Training Area. The equipment ranged from cleaning supplies to M777A2 howitzers loaded onto flatbed trucks.

“The unit has one of the largest footprints out there,” said Gunnery Sgt. Raoul P. Sheridan, the battery gunnery sergeant for Hotel Battery. “There are more heavy weapons than a heavy weapons company, more seven tons, more Humvees and the six giant howitzers.”

Motor transport Marines conducted route reconnaissance and then provided a detailed convoy brief about the travels to the training area, said Myers.

RSOI is a lengthy process, but the Marines of 3rd Bn., 12th Marines, completed it without a hitch. They showed they were capable of moving their equipment from home station to port, ship to foreign port and then convoying the gear to a remote location in order to get the training underway.

Planning for RSOI is essential to the artillery relocation training program, said Myers.

The logistics planning and coordination on the front end of any training program is what enables the personnel and equipment to arrive on time. This allows the battalion to remain proficient and operationally ready to accomplish its primary mission of providing all-weather, artillery fire support to maneuver units.

The training will include 10 firing days between Feb. 10-22.