CAMP GONSALVES, OKINAWA, Japan --
An early October morning, rain pouring, Marines wait patiently under the protection of a steel-dome overhead. It's only for a short while; their final test in the thick of the jungle is about to begin.
"Challenge group," a Jungle Warfare Training Center instructor yells. "Let's go, get up there."
Immediately, the Marines from Battery B, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force climbed the hill, wet from top to bottom, from the heavy rain, and get in line for their turn to repel down the slippery, yellow mud obstacle.
First Marine takes off.
Seconds later. "Off repel."
The Marines became familiar with jungle survival skills by learning how to gather their own food, making fire from scratch, land navigation, combat patrolling, building an expedient shelter, and repelling. This culminated on the fourth day with a series of obstacles known as the endurance course.
"This is nothing like our regular training, but so far it's been a good experience," said Cpl. Juan C. Coello Bohorquez, a fire team leader with Headquarters Platoon, Battery B, 3/12, III MEF. "I think as a group will be able to go through anything."
Marines were broken up into three groups. Once the first group descended the obstacle using a hasty repel method, the other two would follow after waiting 15 minutes.
The Marines traversed the jungle and jumped in the river where they would travel in waist-deep water to their next checkpoint. There they stop for a quick water break and tend to minor injuries before moving on.
"Don't give up, keep pulling. We got you, just pull," Marines screamed to motivate others.
They shimmied across a wide ravine gripping tightly to a thick wire, each being cautious not to fall in the river beneath, as others cheered them on.
For safety purposes, the Marines were secured to the wire where an instructor could use a pulley and rope system.
Those who had already crossed the ravine would assist in pulling those who have not gone across.
"Get down, it's an ambush. Hurry up. Keep moving," an instructor yelled.
As simulated rounds fired, fatigued Marines tackled a course with dirty, foul-smelling water. Struggling in each step they took, keeping weapons above water, Marines charged on.
The Marines swam 15 feet underwater through a large pipe with the aid of a rope. Screaming and yelling, the instructors hurried each Marine as they surfaced to keep moving through the obstacle.
"Keep a low profile, come on, let's go," the instructors yelled as the Marines climbed out of the obstacle. "Get your face in the water, let's go Marines."
The Marines low crawled through muddy water until they came to an area strung with barbed wire. They slithered through the water on their backs, pushing the barbed wire away from their bodies with their weapons.
At the final obstacle, they used every bit of teamwork and determination to get passed it.
The objective was to carry a simulated injured Marine through the jungle's slippery and rough terrain, which included steep hills and narrow paths. In the already rough path, Marines found themselves in what the instructors call peanut-butter mud, given because of its resemblance to peanut butter.
"You're almost there, don't give up now. You got one more hill to go and your home," an instructor encouraged the Marines.
The Marines struggled through the thick, knee-high mud. Pushing, shoving and at times low crawling out of the thick mud, they pushed on with the simulated casualty.
"It wasn't the most effective, but determination got us through it," said Coello Bohorquez.
"I'm glad we did this because it means if anything happens in a jungle area, we're ready for it," said Coello Bohorquez. "The whole thing was really motivating; I'll definitely do it again."