Local marines get 'live fire' exercise

Local US Marines are gearing up for the possibility of war.<br><br>Saturday they participated in a live firing exercise at Camp Gruber near Muskogee. News on Six Reporter Patrina Adger got a behind the

Sunday, September 22nd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Local US Marines are gearing up for the possibility of war.

Saturday they participated in a live firing exercise at Camp Gruber near Muskogee. News on Six Reporter Patrina Adger got a behind the scenes look at how some local Junior Marines are getting a lesson on what it's like in the battlefield.

The Marines conducted a live fire exercise using a TOW 2 missile system. A heavy assault, anti-tank system used to defeat armored vehicles and other material targets.

The the missile has a range of more than a mile and are guided by a wire which connects the operator to the projectile.

For the exercise the missles did not have live warheads.

Staff Sergeant Henry Moore says the simulated exercise not only prepares these men and women for war, "it gains confidence in the marines to neutralize a target and to acquire a target. It also gives our small unit leaders the opportunity to lead their marines with a live missile in the tube. It prepares us as far as combat training environment. What to look for as far as tanks and be able to tell before enemy and friendly tanks. It also prepares us tactically how we move tow here we don't get in a situation we don't want to be in."

This was the third live exercise the Marines have had this year.