SHOALWATER BAY TRAINING AREA, QUEENSLAND, Australia — -- As a part of Talisman Saber 2013, Marines and sailors with Company E, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Bn., 4th Marine Regiment, were inserted via aircraft to secure a key location July 21.
The scenario within the exercise involved the 31st MEU receiving the mission of executing a helicopter-borne operation to eliminate enemy forces and providing security for a civilian populace.
The service members with Co. E, BLT 2nd Bn., 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, trained with aircraft and crews of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st MEU.
“With a full scenario in place and having a detailed understanding of what we are against, we learn how to go from a kinetic environment to posting a local force in control,” said Capt. Kyle Wolfe, the Co. E commander with BLT 2nd Bn., 4th Marines. “We are able to do all the things that an infantry company would have to do in a situation like this. We patrol, ambush and fight the enemy, but at the same time we interact with civilians and help them out.”
Using the 31st MEU’s aviation combat element, VMM-265 (Rein.), the insertion required four MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft and two CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters to transport more than 100 Marines and sailors near their objective. Two AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters provided close-air support around the landing zone, ensuring the company had aerial protection from enemy counter-attack during their consolidation on the ground.
“The ACE helps transports us from the ship to the shore and can land us in hostile environments because of the security their aircraft provide,” said Sgt. Brock E. Callaway, a squad leader for the combat engineers with Co. E, BLT 2nd Bn., 4th Marines.
Patrolling through more than a kilometer of thick vegetation, the Marines cautiously moved forward, remaining vigilant for possible ambushes until the target building was in sight. Intelligence had warned that a sizeable enemy force was in the area.
Moving to the objective with overlapping security, the Marines and sailors found that the predicted force was nowhere to be seen. Modifications to the company’s strategy had to be made immediately.
“When we got into the compound and realized that there were no enemy forces, adjustments had to be made,” said Cpl. Brent S. Berven, a squad leader with Co. E, BLT 2nd Bn., 4th Marines. “As soon as boots hit the deck, everything changes. You can plan for everything in the world, but never be ready for every aspect of combat.”
Talisman Saber 2013, in its fifth iteration, is a monthlong biennial exercise designed to enhance multilateral collaboration in support of future combined operations, humanitarian assistance and natural disaster response.
The exercise has an integrated force of approximately 18,000 U.S. service members training alongside approximately 9,000 Australian service members.