MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER, TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. -- Cpl. Joshua B. Johnson is turning up the volume when it comes to training his Marines with another deployment right around the corner.Johnson, a squad leader for Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, and about 1,000 others from his battalion based in North Carolina are halfway through their month long pre-deployment capstone training exercise. The exercise, known as Mojave Viper, consists of conventional combined-arms training and stability and support operations training. “We’re going to take away from this training as much as possible… everything we learn here is going to be used on the streets over there,” said Johnson, a 20-year-old from Caddo, La. “The training is very important especially because a lot of the junior Marines have never done this stuff before.”“It also gives the battalion the opportunity to deploy over 1,000 men across the United States, deploy them in realistic combat training and then redeploy back to Camp Lejeune, hence maintaining our expeditionary warfare,” said Lt. Col. Stephen M. Neary, battalion commander, 3rd Bn., 8th Marines.This is the battalion’s second deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. More than half of the battalion deployed last year from January 2005 to August 2005, and now they are headed back after six and a half months home.“With the short duration between deployments, coupled with the fact that over 60 percent of the battalion is returning, including the majority of the primary staff, this battalion is eager, confident and extremely prepared,” said 1st Lt. Donnie L. Hotchkiss, the battalion’s logistics officer. Mojave Viper covers a multitude of aspects in preparing the battalion for war. Early on, the Marines and Sailors receive classes including desert survival, high-risk capture procedures, and how to identify and avoid improvised explosive devices.Johnson, an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran, knows how important these classes are for his Marines. “Our biggest concern is IEDs,” Johnson said. “The Marines are learning what IEDs can and cannot do to you, they’re being spun up on the basics.”The battalion experienced an onslaught of realistic training, such as live-fire movement/maneuver at the reinforced platoon and company sized level. Finally, the battalion will be involved in scenarios in an artificial Iraqi town housing over 300 role players. The battalion will get the benefit of training in an urban environment against an opposing force whose methods are based on current enemy tactics, techniques and procedures. The new town adds to the realism of the battalion’s SASO training. “There are more Middle Eastern role players that bring the training to life. Last year at March Air Force Reserve Base [in California], the neighborhood was small and most of the role players were our Marines,” said Cpl. Jeffery S. Stockton, machinegun squad leader for 2nd Platoon, Company I, 3rd Bn., 8th Marines. “It didn’t feel too realistic when I would take down someone that was in my same company.”In preparing for its mission in Iraq, the unit believes Mojave Viper is a great opportunity to really test the “new team” of 3rd Bn., 8th Marine’s, Truck and Engineer Platoons, and the transition teams. The battalion fell under Regimental Combat Team 8 the last time at Twentynine Palms. This year it has become the senior unit for the exercise.“Our focus was strictly battalion level training and operations,” said Hotchkiss, a 28-year-old from Huntsville, Ala. “The battalion is acting as a Regimental Command Element and is responsible, not only for ourselves, but also for all other units participating in the exercise during this period.”The military transition teams and border transition teams are some of the newest elements to the training.“The MTTs and BTTs are the next step in the military’s role in Iraq,” said Hotchkiss. “These teams are pieced together with experts in a myriad of military occupational specialties with the intent to train and guide the Iraqi military.”Capt. Mark R. Liston, company commander for Weapons Co, 3rd Bn., 8th Marines, believes this training is very relevant for the unit. “It gives us the opportunity to conduct a well-structured training package that focuses on realities of Iraq today,” said Liston the 34-year-old from Warwick, R.I. “It’s proven to be an excellent reinforcement for Marines returning from Iraq and provides a realistic environment for the new Marines.” The training is not all about firing weapons and learning the newest tactics. The young unit leaders are paying special attention to another important aspect as well. Stockton, a squad leader in charge of 12 men in his platoon says, “It allows the Marines to get comfortable with the new fire teams.” Mojave Viper will assist the battalion in bringing well-trained Marines and Sailors to the fight. “Every unit who takes advantage of the training opportunities provided during Mojave Viper will be better trained, more prepared and ultimately successful in combat,” said Hotchkiss.Email Joseph DiGirolamo at joseph.digirolamo@usmc.mil