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VOLUME 75, EDITION 48
The
GL BE SERVING CAMP LEJEUNE AND SURROUNDING AREAS SINCE 1944
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Marine i awarded d d Purple l Heartt Medal | 6A
builds camaraderie | 4A WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 27, 2013
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MAKING HISTORY First Female Marines Graduate Infantry School Photo by Sgt. Tyler Main
Pfc. Christina Fuentes Montenegro, and other Marines from Delta Company, Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry-East, receive final instructions prior to assaulting an objective during the Infantry Integrated Field Training Exercise aboard Camp Geiger, N.C., recently. Montenegro is one of three female Marines to be the first women to graduate infantry training with the battalion. LANCE CPL. JUSTIN RODRIGUEZ Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
T
hree Marines made history by becoming the first females to graduate from the School of Infantry East, Camp Geiger, N.C., Nov. 21. The graduating class of Delta Company, Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry East, included Pfc. Julia Carroll, Pfc. Cristina Fuentes Montenegro and Pfc. Katie Gorz, demonstrating women are capable of completing the same infantry training as their male counterparts. Despite the recent policy changes regarding women serv-
ing in combat roles, these three Marines will attend various primary military occupational specialty schools and not serve in an infantry unit. “I wish I was going to an infantry unit with my fellow Marines,” said Carroll. “We’re trained to take care of each other, and I wish I could help take care of them.” The integration of female Marines into SOI-East was a single phase of a research study to evaluate the plausibility of females serving in combat. The policy allows each service until Jan. 1, 2016, to evaluate combat-related job fields and determine which should be open to both male and female service members and which should remain for males only. Although these Marines will
not serve in an infantry unit, they are grateful for the opportunity to attend the training. “I volunteered to attend ITB because it was going to make me a better prepared Marine,” said Fuentes Montenegro. “I feel lucky to be given the opportunity, because there’s a lot of Marines who want to receive the training.” The 59-day course is designed to effectively prepare Marines for combat situations. Over the course of the training they learn various skills including weapons systems, land navigation, scouting, patrolling and more. “It was always training, day in and day out,” said Carroll. “But it’s very valuable, even if SEE HISTORY 7A
Photo by Lance Cpl. Justin A. Rodriguez
Pfc. Cristina Fuentes Montenegro, left, and Pfc. Julia Carroll, are two of the first three female Marine graduates from the School of Infantry-East’s infantry training, stand at the position of parade rest during the graduation of Delta Company, Infantry Training Battalion, School of InfantryEast at Camp Geiger, Nov. 21.
2nd Marine Division’s leaders take to the field for training
Inside
LANCE CPL. MICHAEL DYE 2nd Marine Division
Photo by Lance Cpl. Michael Dye
Marines and sailors with Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, train in a command post exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Nov. 21. The goal of the training is to prepare officers and staff noncommissioned officers for any military operation that may arise.
In an open field, next to the ocean, Marines and sailors turned a meadow into a fully functional command post capable of commanding thousands of Marines in any situation. However, this command post isn’t a normal field operation, it is a training exercise for leaders. More than 800 Marines and sailors trained in the field this week in order to better prepare the staff noncommissioned officers and officers for any situation that may arise during the command post exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. “This exercise is for the officers and staff (staff non-commissioned officers) to execute scenarios to work out standard operation and procedure problems and build their confidence in leading Marines,” said Lt. Col. Shane Tomko, the division operations officer, who organized and planned the CPX. SEE TRAINING 7A
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