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Shoot and Maneuver

The 3/3 is facing a layered defense. That means the enemy's positions are set up to protect one other. Closest to the Marines are bunkers tucked on the upper slopes of hilltops. Guarding them are armored vehicles, some with antitank missiles, and T-72 battle tanks. Making matters even more dangerous, the enemy has a stockpile of antiaircraft missiles.



Marines attack a mixed force like this by matching the correct weapons to the correct targets, in the correct order. For example, long-range artillery takes out the antiaircraft missiles, which lets F/A-18s take out the tanks, which lets U.S. armored vehicles move forward. "There's an old saying: Shooting without maneuver is a waste of ammo. Maneuvering without shooting is suicide, " says Capt. Pat O'Shea, one of the instructors (called Coyotes) at Twentynine Palms, and an Afghanistan veteran.



Although the ground rules are simple, their application gets complicated quickly. The Marines don't have to kill an enemy force to set up favorable conditions for an advance. Artillery bursts can force targets to keep their heads down, rendering them unable to aim antitank weapons. That's why it's vital for an attacking force to get moving right after a bomb or an artillery shell drops. Live-fire training helps Marines get comfortable operating close to real weapons. On the command level, the battalion-wide exercise helps leadership form a complex plan and adapt to variables on the battlefield.



This video captures some of the flavor of Twentynine Palms—rolling through the Mojave Desert with the impact plumes from M777 howitzer rounds rising in the distance.