16 July 2009
United States Marines clear the way
Part of the Blue Force - United States Marines make their way inland after completing an amphibious assault on Freshwater Beach, in the Shoal Water Bay Training Area. Moving up the road from the beach, the Marines are constantly encountering obstacles. Fallen trees block the road and improvised explosive devices – both being simulated with marker cards describing what the specific encounter is, slow Blue Force progress.
One of two - A United States Marine Corps (USMC) AH-1Z Super Cobra scouts ahead of land forces seeking possible targets as the amphibious assault goes ahead at Freshwater Beach.
(Date taken: 15 July 2009)
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United States Marines, Engineer specialists - part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31MEU), move along a road to clear an improvised obstacle blocking their advance.
(Date taken: 15 July 2009)
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United States Marine Corps Corporal (CPL) Kaleey Brown, with the Combat Engineer Platoon, waits for orders. CPL Brown, part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31MEU), will be called up to sweep for simulated improvised mines on the road that Blue Force will advance along.
(Date taken: 15 July 2009)
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Sitrep: United States Marine, Combat Engineer Platoon Sergeant Angel Fuentes, notifies his commanders of the current status of progression, while as his engineers move up the road.
(Date taken: 15 July 2009)
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United States Marines, Sergeant Joseph Bovia, directs Corporal Kaleey Brown to sweep an area of road around a simulated mine.
(Date taken: 15 July 2009)
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United States Marine Corporal Kaleey Brown, instructs one of his Marines on where the improvised mine is and what to do when he finds it.
(Date taken: 15 July 2009)
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Earth probing: A United States Marine carefully prods into the soil where the improvised mine lays in the middle of a dirt track.
(Date taken: 15 July 2009)
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Waiting out: United States Marines, driver and crew commander of an Armoured Amphibious Vehicle (AAV), peer out of their hatches as Marine Combat Engineer Platoon clear improvised obstacles along the road from Freshwater Beach.
(Date taken: 15 July 2009)
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Ready to roll: A line of United States Marine Corps (USMC), Armored Amphibious Vehicles (AAV), wait for orders to move as improvised obstacles are being removed by USMC Combat Engineer Platoon.
(Date taken: 15 July 2009)
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United States Marine Corps (USMC), Armoured Amphibious Vehicle (AAV) Driver and gunner, soak up the afternoon sun while they wait for USMC Combat Engineer Platoon to clear the road ahead.
(Date taken: 15 July 2009)
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Ready to move: Australian Army Rifleman, Private Max Munday, 23 with the 1st Battalion of The Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR), leans on a Uni Mog as he waits for the word to mount up.
(Date taken: 15 July 2009)
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Taking aim over the sights of an M249 Squad Automatic weapon, United States Marine Corps (USMC) Lance Corporal (LCPL) Christopher Olsen, 22 from Morrisonville, Wisconsin, with Lima Company, 3/5 3rd Platoon - is part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31MEU). LCPL Olsen provides fire support as USMC Combat Engineer Platoon moves to disable an improvised mine.
(Date taken: 15 July 2009)
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Taking aim over the sights of an M249 Squad Automatic weapon, United States Marine Corps (USMC) Lance Corporal (LCPL) Christopher Olsen, 22 from Morrisonville, Wisconsin, with Lima Company, 3/5 3rd Platoon - is part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31MEU). LCPL Olsen provides fire support as USMC Combat Engineer Platoon moves to disable an improvised mine.
(Date taken: 15 July 2009)
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Taking a knee, United States Marine Corps Corporal (CPL) Kaleey Brown, with the Combat Engineer Platoon, waits for orders to move up the road to sweep for improvised mines.
(Date taken: 15 July 2009)
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Quick orders: Members of the United States Marine Corps Combat Engineer Platoon - Squad Sergeant Joseph Bovia (right), directs Corporal Kaleey Brown (left), to sweep the target area of interest with his mine dection gear. Platoon Sergeant Angel Fueintes (center), listens in as orders are given.
(Date taken: 15 July 2009)
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United States Marine Corps Corporal (CPL) Chuck Haberman, 25 from Greenfield, Indiana is a Combat Engineer with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. CPL Haberman moves along the road from Freshwater Beach to the improvised mine area.
(Date taken: 15 July 2009)
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Tucker trade: (Left to Right) Corporal Michael Correia, 28 and Lance Corporal Scott Salbas 20 - both from the United States Marine Corps, swap their meals with Private (PTE) Ross Armstrong and PTE Max Munday from 1st Battalion of The Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR). The United States Marine Corps Meals Ready to Eat (MRE's), offer different flavours compared to Australian Combat Ration Packs (CRPs).
