thedrifter
05-26-04, 06:36 AM
1st Stinger Battery takes a road trip down ‘Ambush Lane’
Submitted by: MCB Camp Butler
Story Identification #: 2004523102613
Story by Cpl. Ryan Walker
CENTRAL TRAINING AREA, Okinawa, Japan (May 11, 2004) -- “A vehicle moving down the road is your greatest weakness and greatest asset,” said 1st Lt. Michal Carlson, training and operations officer, 1st Stinger Battery, Marine Air Control Group-18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. “You’re a sitting duck if you’re stopped, but when you’re rolling, it’s pretty hard to hit a moving target.”
This is why Marines of 1st Stinger Battery conducted convoy training here May 11 developing the necessary skills they will use in a deployment to a combat environment.
“This training is important because most of these Marines are administration clerks, mechanics or avenger technicians and what we are seeing in Iraq is urban combat scenarios and a lot of convoys,” Carlson said. “They aren’t going to be experts after this, but this will expose them and get them prepared if they do go (to Iraq or Afghanistan).”
The Marines learned how to set up a convoy formation with large, heavily equipped vehicles in the front and rear, with the command element in the middle.
“In an ideal world, a seven ton would be the lead vehicle, with dispersion every 50 to 100 meters,” Carlson said. “The convoy commander is usually the second or third vehicle. It’s a lot like patrolling, but with trucks.”
Before a convoy can hit the hard ball, the vehicles must first be hardened with armor, or improvised armor to protect the Marines inside the vehicles from shrapnel and bullets.
After learning about various situations they may face during a convoy, the Marines had an opportunity to apply what they had learned by driving through the CTA and being ambushed by simulated enemy combatants.
If the enemy sets up a barrier, the Marines will drive through it if they can, Carlson explained.
“As a driver it’s my decision to drive through an ambush if I feel we can make it through or to pull off to the side of the road and let our react guys do their job,” said Cpl. Edmun C. Fore, motor vehicle operator.
Stopping is the last resort because there are variables, explained Carlson. If there is a need to stop, the Marines will dismount and push through the assault and secure the area. Once the area is secure you press on.
Unlike a walk through the park, Marines experienced how difficult and dangerous convoy training can be.
“I learned about what Marines in Iraq have to face every day,” said San Antonio native Lance Cpl. Adrian J. Lozano, logistics/embarkation and combat service support specialist. “It gave me a real taste of what my cousin and friends are going through.”
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2004523102831/$file/Release0235-2004-02low.jpg
CENTRAL TRAINING AREA, Okinawa, Japan - Jumping out of a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, Sgt. Steve C. Henderson, organizational automotive mechanic, 1st Stinger Battery, Marine Air Control Group-18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, scans the area for enemy combatants during an simulated convoy ambush in the Central Training Area May 11. Photo by: Cpl. Ryan Walker
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/B8A42720F3C988A185256E9D004F4DFB?opendocument
Ellie
Submitted by: MCB Camp Butler
Story Identification #: 2004523102613
Story by Cpl. Ryan Walker
CENTRAL TRAINING AREA, Okinawa, Japan (May 11, 2004) -- “A vehicle moving down the road is your greatest weakness and greatest asset,” said 1st Lt. Michal Carlson, training and operations officer, 1st Stinger Battery, Marine Air Control Group-18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. “You’re a sitting duck if you’re stopped, but when you’re rolling, it’s pretty hard to hit a moving target.”
This is why Marines of 1st Stinger Battery conducted convoy training here May 11 developing the necessary skills they will use in a deployment to a combat environment.
“This training is important because most of these Marines are administration clerks, mechanics or avenger technicians and what we are seeing in Iraq is urban combat scenarios and a lot of convoys,” Carlson said. “They aren’t going to be experts after this, but this will expose them and get them prepared if they do go (to Iraq or Afghanistan).”
The Marines learned how to set up a convoy formation with large, heavily equipped vehicles in the front and rear, with the command element in the middle.
“In an ideal world, a seven ton would be the lead vehicle, with dispersion every 50 to 100 meters,” Carlson said. “The convoy commander is usually the second or third vehicle. It’s a lot like patrolling, but with trucks.”
Before a convoy can hit the hard ball, the vehicles must first be hardened with armor, or improvised armor to protect the Marines inside the vehicles from shrapnel and bullets.
After learning about various situations they may face during a convoy, the Marines had an opportunity to apply what they had learned by driving through the CTA and being ambushed by simulated enemy combatants.
If the enemy sets up a barrier, the Marines will drive through it if they can, Carlson explained.
“As a driver it’s my decision to drive through an ambush if I feel we can make it through or to pull off to the side of the road and let our react guys do their job,” said Cpl. Edmun C. Fore, motor vehicle operator.
Stopping is the last resort because there are variables, explained Carlson. If there is a need to stop, the Marines will dismount and push through the assault and secure the area. Once the area is secure you press on.
Unlike a walk through the park, Marines experienced how difficult and dangerous convoy training can be.
“I learned about what Marines in Iraq have to face every day,” said San Antonio native Lance Cpl. Adrian J. Lozano, logistics/embarkation and combat service support specialist. “It gave me a real taste of what my cousin and friends are going through.”
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2004523102831/$file/Release0235-2004-02low.jpg
CENTRAL TRAINING AREA, Okinawa, Japan - Jumping out of a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, Sgt. Steve C. Henderson, organizational automotive mechanic, 1st Stinger Battery, Marine Air Control Group-18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, scans the area for enemy combatants during an simulated convoy ambush in the Central Training Area May 11. Photo by: Cpl. Ryan Walker
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/B8A42720F3C988A185256E9D004F4DFB?opendocument
Ellie