St. George becomes good fit for Afghanistan-like training for Marines


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ST. GEORGE — A rather large group of Marines made quite a trip Thursday night, flying from El Centro, Calif., to St. George and back for a training exercise.

They're using the landscape down south to get ready for the real thing. Through the years, Marines have been given quite a few nicknames, but they all boil down to one message.

"The Marinesti are America's 911 force," said Maj. Chris Taylor from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Thursday, St. George played host to perhaps the most significant military action around the globe.


340 miles away there are Marines right now that are loading up in helicopters, that are going to come here and do a pretty high-end kinetic, specialized limited raid on an objective.

–Maj. Stuart Glenn from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit


"Three hundred forty miles away there are Marines right now that are loading up in helicopters, that are going to come here and do a pretty high-end kinetic, specialized limited raid on an objective," said Maj. Stuart Glenn from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit loaded up and headed out, and it's no small feat.

"Consists of approximately 2,200 to 2,500 Marines and sailors embarked on amphibious ships," Taylor said.

In a testament to organization and precise coordination, they were back in their bunks in California later that night.

The troops came to St. George on two training missions: to execute a long range helicopter raid and set up a refueling point. The terrain certainly matches what it's like overseas.

"A little bit like Afghanistan in parts," Glenn said.


Put you outside of your comfort zone, so, as Marines, we like to train outside of that comfort zone, and this is going to give us that opportunity to train outside of our comfort zone, new areas, keep our skills sharp.

–Maj. Chris Taylor, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit


This group trains all over the country, many times flying in and flying out in the same day.

"Put you outside of your comfort zone, so, as Marines, we like to train outside of that comfort zone," Taylor said. "This is going to give us that opportunity to train outside of our comfort zone, new areas, keep our skills sharp."

They're headed for a half-year deployment to the Middle East — nothing new to America's tip of the spear. The term regular work hours doesn't apply.

"Most of the Marines have families, but for about six months before we deploy, we're pretty much working six or seven days a week, traveling all over the country to get this high-quality training," Glenn said.

This group of Marines had never trained in southern Utah before. They were on the ground for about an hour and a half Thursday night before heading back to California.

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Andrew Wittenberg

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