Robin's son QM3 Glenn Hardy (second from right, below--we think) deployed with his fire team for training in California in late January, 2006. Their weapon of choice was the M-16, fortunately equipped with blanks. Glenn also reported training with the M-203, which is a grenade launcher used with the M-16--also shooting blanks, we hope.

On maneuvers at right.

It was very cold out on the field, requiring specialized gear: t-shirt over the face. Part of the training involved digging foxholes and decorating them (above) with brush and sandbags. The sailors also learned to be ecologically responsible and pick up their trash.

This structure, which Glenn described as "huge," is known as the elephant cage. It's actually a giant antenna (more on that here). The building inside is still used for training purposes.
Not only was it cold, no one got any sleep that week. The vegetation at right (and above) is the ice plant, a low-growing succulent orginally imported from South Africa to control erosion.

These guys are not, repeat, not having fun. More ice plant. Looks like it was everywhere. Foxholes in background.

Equipped for the day, departing the luxury accommodations.