Edson Range

Edson Range, named for Marine "Red" Mike Edson, is located on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.

While located on Camp Pendleton, the range is actually an annex of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, which is home to four of the largest firing ranges on the base. It became operational on August 21, 1964. Camp Calvin B. Matthews closed on the very same day. It was used for Marine marksmanship training before Edson Range became operational.

It is the rifle qualification range where Marine recruits receive their four weeks of field and rifle training during boot camp. Two weeks of marksmanship training followed by two weeks of infantry field skills take place at Edson Range, which is known as "up north" by recruits and drill instructors alike (the Recruit Depot in San Diego being "down south"). The Crucible, a three to four day combat simulation with little food or sleep also takes place here.

Edson Range is also home to the "Swift Intruders", the U.S. Navy's Assault Craft Unit 5 who operate the Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) and train on the Edson Range beaches and the adjacent Pacific Ocean.

ee also

*Camp Calvin B. Matthews
*List of United States Marine Corps installations

External links

* [http://www.militarynewcomers.com/CAMPPENDLETON04/Resources/History.html Camp Pendleton History]
* [http://www.ndc.cpen.med.navy.mil/Clinics/edsonran.htm Edson Range Dental Clinic]
*cite news|accessdate=
url=http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/DDDFE7D53206BE2A8525708400529F63?opendocument
archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060301201804/http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/DDDFE7D53206BE2A8525708400529F63?opendocument
archivedate=20060301
title=Pendleton Marines aim for new range starting Oct. 1
author=Kleinsmith, LCpl Alec
date=September 22, 2005
work=Marine Corps News
publisher=United States Marine Corps