MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINEPALMS, Calif. -- Marines and sailors with Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, attacked range 220 during the Clear, Hold, Build exercise in their evolution of Enhanced Mojave Viper Jan. 23, 2012.
The platoons took turns clearing out sections of the Combined Arms Military Operations on Urban Terrain facility.
The company rolled in with some help from a couple of tanks from Company D, 1st Tank Battalion. Two tanks led the amphibious assault vehicles into CAMOUT.
The operation of CHB-1 has service members navigate and clear an area full of role players acting as insurgents, simulated improvise explosive devices and small arms fire.
It was Pfc. Avory Schanfelter’s first time out in EMV. He said he didn’t know what to expect.
“I knew it was going to be hectic and I was shocked at first,” said Schanfelter, infantryman, Co. C, 1/7. “It really gets your blood pumping. I just did what I was told, and I think the exercise went well.”
CHB-1 is a three-day exercise that kicks off the 30-day evolution of EMV. The exercise tests the units’ abilities to work together in an environment that will be similar to what they would encounter while deployed to Afghanistan.
“When the exercise started, it hit us hard,” said Lance Cpl. Jonathan Lambert, squad automatic weapon gunner, Co. C, 1/7. “But we adapted, and I think we did well to regroup.”
The Marines get their evaluation notes from the range personnel on their performance after each run of the course.
With this step of EMV behind them, Co. C, 1/7, will move onto the next step of EMV, live fire platoon exercise at Range 410.
“I just can’t wait to get over there to Afghanistan and put this training to good use,” Lambert said.