Quantico Bound
Picture an open field, about 200 yards square, surrounded by pine trees and brush - maybe an enemy patrol too. Not a soul in sight, though somewhere in the woods, a jeep engine idles. Nothing moving, only the wind rippling the tall grass in the field, kicking up little clouds of dust through the trees.
Suddenly the wind carries in the sound of roaring aircraft engines, accompanied by the unmistakable pock-pock-pock of rotor blades, slapping against the warm afternoon air. Two choppers, hugging the treetops, leap into view and waste no time setting down on the field.
The cargo? The legend "MARINES" on the fuselage tells the tale.
So begins the trial, not by combat, but against the clock and all the lessons of battle for top-notch squads of the 2nd Marine Division competing for the honor of representing their regiment in the annual Combat Rifle Squad competition to be held in Quantico, Virginia.
Competing squads are subject to nearly every test of their skills that a squad might be called upon to perform in combat, with a couple of twists thrown in for good measure. Airborne landing, approach march, proper employment of the five paragraph order, camouflage, fire discipline, night reconnaissance patrols, chemical warfare plus the constant physical strain of simulated combat conditions are just a few of the trials each squad must face.
Nothing escapes the watchful eyes of the judges, whose collective knowledge of infantry techniques binds them together as formidable critics indeed.
For the winning squad it's well worth the effort and a crack at the All Marine Squad Finals. The losing squads though perhaps disappointed by the loss, gains valuable experiences in the process and maybe a better chance at the same goal next year.
