1 00:00:02,300 --> 00:00:07,860 So right now we're in Tonga, working with the Tongans, the French, the Australians 2 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:10,260 and the New Zealanders. 3 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:14,720 So the Tafakula is done every two years and this 4 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:15,780 year, Tonga's hosting it. 5 00:00:18,140 --> 00:00:22,700 For the first week of training here we basically just did a lot of integration with all the 6 00:00:22,700 --> 00:00:27,160 different nations. We did a 100 meter range, we did CLS... 7 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:28,080 and... 8 00:00:29,060 --> 00:00:29,880 What was the third one? 9 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:30,940 MCMAP. 10 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:33,480 The Tongan boys were hyped! 11 00:00:34,340 --> 00:00:38,360 The boys were hyped up. For them to... that ice breaker 12 00:00:38,420 --> 00:00:41,600 between different nations, get to know each other better. 13 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:44,540 A little morale boost before the exercise the next week. 14 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:55,360 For the FTX, my platoon had two squads and then we had a squad of Australians 15 00:00:55,380 --> 00:00:59,600 attached to us. And then we were a platoon under the Tongan company commander. 16 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:04,020 Basically what would happen is the company commander would come down 17 00:01:04,020 --> 00:01:06,460 with the task and then my platoon would go execute. 18 00:01:06,460 --> 00:01:10,200 We would just report back to the battalion as we accomplish the task given to us. 19 00:01:12,420 --> 00:01:14,120 My platoon take part in the exercise 20 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:17,580 gave them an opportunity to actually see what it's like to 21 00:01:17,580 --> 00:01:20,680 integrate with other nations and to learn from others. 22 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:24,140 So it was really beneficial for myself and the team as well. 23 00:01:25,300 --> 00:01:26,920 We were reminded almost daily 24 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:31,440 that this isn't about the tactical... tactical way of taking down an objective 25 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:35,300 it's all about making friends interoperating. 26 00:01:42,860 --> 00:01:45,600 We came out here not really knowing what to expect, but uhm, 27 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:46,860 being able to work, like I said, with these 28 00:01:46,860 --> 00:01:49,580 different nations and coming out to an island that, really, 29 00:01:49,580 --> 00:01:53,547 I didn't know where it was, I had to look it up once they told me I was going to Tonga. 30 00:01:53,547 --> 00:01:58,800 But, it's a beautiful, beautiful island. They're doing good things over here as their military 31 00:01:58,980 --> 00:02:03,760 and definitely wouldn't have come at all if it weren't for the Marine Corps giving me that opportunity. 32 00:02:03,860 --> 00:02:05,240 So it's pretty, pretty awesome. 33 00:02:07,620 --> 00:02:08,800 It's been real! 34 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:09,780 REAL! 35 00:02:13,700 --> 00:02:15,500 Did the Kiwis raid your guys' barracks last night? 36 00:02:15,500 --> 00:02:16,820 Yeah, they did, they did!