JUNGLE WARFARE TRAINING CENTER, Okinawa, Japan (December 8, 2017) – Forward-deployed Marines have concluded the 3rd Marine Division Annual Squad Competition here.
The competition is designed to compare each Marine division from across the Marine Corps to see which squad is the fittest for combat. The competition tested each Marine on their proficiency in military skills such as navigation, marksmanship and advanced infantry tactics
“In the Marine Corps every Marine is a rifleman, but every Marine isn’t an infantryman,” said Chief Warrant Officer 5 Craig Marshall, the 3rd Marine Division gunner. “So in this competition we wanted to push them beyond what they are used to.”
Participating in the competition were 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division from Camp Pendleton, California; 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii; and Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division from Okinawa, Japan.
The competition lasted four days with Marines from 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division coming out on top and earning the title best squad.
The California- based Marines are forward-deployed to the 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa, Japan as part of the Unit Deployment Program. They are tasked with maintaining regional security in the Indo-Asia-Pacific.
Members from the winning squad included:
LCpl Andrade, Anthony C., 20, Oceanside, California
LCpl Andrade, Jose D., 21, Murrieta, California
LCpl Boehm, Jamie J., 22, Black River Falls, Winconsin
Cpl Camberos, Santana E., 21, Los Angeles, California
LCpl Carrasco, Jorge L. Burbank, 20, Washington
LCpl Cartagena, Victor M., 22, Caimital Alto Agudilla, PR
LCpl Dillion, JC J., 20, San Diego, California
LCpl Mobley, William L., 21, Smith, Texas
Cpl Nash, Laramie O., 21, Liberty, Texas
PFC Prevost, Alec T., 22, Brazos, Texas
LCpl Redick, Tanner C., 21, Clackamas Oregon
HM3 Sagun, Darrell M., 22, San Diego, California
Cpl Weast, Hunter J., 21, Lane, Oregon
Cpl Wood, John D., 22, Marion, Illinois
