thedrifter
07-27-04, 01:02 PM
August 02, 2004
Tougher than leather
They may not look like you, but British ‘Bootnecks’ fight and train just as hard — and maybe harder
By Laura Bailey
Times staff writer
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — On a warm June night near the North Carolina shore, a company of Marines in small boats pushes quietly up the New River, infiltrates the black, humid woods and takes out a mock terrorist outpost in a massive firefight.
With the mission wrapped up, the Marines sprawl out on the dewy ground, pull off their wet boots and socks and catch some sleep in the warm Carolina air.
It could have been any nighttime exercise with any U.S. Marine unit. That is, unless you were to look and listen closely.
That’s when you would see the scruffy non-regulation-length hair poking out of field caps, the lean figures and the green tiger-stripe camouflage uniforms. That’s when you might hear the accents of East London or Northern Scotland as the troops talk about their “kit” (battle gear) or “yomping” (marching for long distances) or about the “wet” they plan to down after the exercise.
That’s when you would know you are in the company of the British Royal Marines.
The Marines of 42 Commando (about the size of a U.S. Marine infantry battalion) were here as part of a 28,000-strong combined joint task force exercise, Operation Blinding Storm/Operation Rapid Alliance, held June 12-21.
Like U.S. Marines, the Brits have their own elite culture — and language — within the larger military. But while they say Marines are Marines no matter what country they’re from, many differences do exist.
The Brits might even be so bold to say they are hardier the their younger American brothers. But we’ll let you be the judge. Marine Corps Times caught up with this small pack of warriors at the tail end of their exercise to see just how tough the life of a British Royal Marine is.
While some of the lads had a hard time getting through the days without their standard spot of tea, the British troops swear they are absolutely “nails” about everything else.
Among Royal Marines, that’s damn tough.
Devil dogs and badgers
During this exercise, the British Bootnecks — nicknamed, as legend goes, for the shoe leather early troops placed under their stiff wool collars to prevent chafing — battled a U.S. Marine opposition force that did all it could to get under the Brits’ skin.
At Lejeune’s urban training center, the two forces had the chance to size each other up during a mock hostage rescue.
A day after the Brits’ night rescue mission, leathernecks with 10th Marines camping out in ramshackle buildings at the urban combat facility spoke about what they saw of the Brits during the raid and throughout the exercise.
“The way they went through doors, they were covering real well,” said Master Sgt. Michael Santivasci, describing the hostage rescue. Seven of the 10 hostages were “killed” in the attack, but Santivasci said the British techniques were excellent.
“The way they went about it was extremely professional,” he said. “They definitely knew what they were doing. I was very impressed.”
The word “professional” came up often in such discussions, but still, some Marines questioned tactical differences.
“They’re just sitting off to the side of the roads. We’d try to get more cover,” said Sgt. Jeoffry Zamjahn, 21, talking about earlier ambushes. “If it was us, we’d probably move off the side of the road.”
More than anything, the American Marines noted how “chilled out” the Royals appear.
“They’re just a little more relaxed. Some of them will walk around with no blouse and no cover. An American Marine would never be caught dead without his blouse. Someone would get on them right away,” Santivasci said.
It is true that the British Marine has a slightly less regimented life than his American counterpart. Royals tend to use more first names, fewer “sirs.” They are shouted at less, and more room for discussion is allowed between troops and superiors, according to Sgt. Stan Bloomer, a Royal Marine spokesman.
The day after the hostage rescue exercise, Col. Buster Howes, commander of 42 Commando, addressed the differences.
“The British soldier is more of a badger in the field. They don’t look very crisp, but there’s a lot of determination,” said Howes, a 22-year Royal Marine veteran, sweat and dirt showing through his camouflage face paint as he stood outside his command tent.
Pointing to the group of sweaty Royal Marines spread out nearby in the shade of poncho liners, Howes talked about how the Marines end up looking “disreputable” as they adapt to their environment.
The Brits find U.S. Marine uniformity remarkable, said Howes, who served as a cold weather warfare adviser to the yanks in the 1990s. With hair “risen to an inch of their lives,” they seem “like they’re assembled exactly the same,” he said.
Marines throughout 42 Commando repeatedly mentioned the structure and hierarchy of U.S. Marines.
“We find them very regimented. They’re fantastic, but they’re not gray about anything. They’re very straight,” said 2nd Lt. Jim Lewis, leader of 3 Troop, Juliet Company, 42 Commando.
Another Brit was less subtle.
“There’s a lot more onus put on our Marines when they finish basic training,” said Cpl. Andy Lister, 26. “They can think on their own rather than get a straight set of lines that they follow. They can think outside the box.”
Riflemen first
While they may be more relaxed, the credo “every Marine a rifleman” is especially true for the Brits.
continued............
Tougher than leather
They may not look like you, but British ‘Bootnecks’ fight and train just as hard — and maybe harder
By Laura Bailey
Times staff writer
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — On a warm June night near the North Carolina shore, a company of Marines in small boats pushes quietly up the New River, infiltrates the black, humid woods and takes out a mock terrorist outpost in a massive firefight.
With the mission wrapped up, the Marines sprawl out on the dewy ground, pull off their wet boots and socks and catch some sleep in the warm Carolina air.
It could have been any nighttime exercise with any U.S. Marine unit. That is, unless you were to look and listen closely.
That’s when you would see the scruffy non-regulation-length hair poking out of field caps, the lean figures and the green tiger-stripe camouflage uniforms. That’s when you might hear the accents of East London or Northern Scotland as the troops talk about their “kit” (battle gear) or “yomping” (marching for long distances) or about the “wet” they plan to down after the exercise.
That’s when you would know you are in the company of the British Royal Marines.
The Marines of 42 Commando (about the size of a U.S. Marine infantry battalion) were here as part of a 28,000-strong combined joint task force exercise, Operation Blinding Storm/Operation Rapid Alliance, held June 12-21.
Like U.S. Marines, the Brits have their own elite culture — and language — within the larger military. But while they say Marines are Marines no matter what country they’re from, many differences do exist.
The Brits might even be so bold to say they are hardier the their younger American brothers. But we’ll let you be the judge. Marine Corps Times caught up with this small pack of warriors at the tail end of their exercise to see just how tough the life of a British Royal Marine is.
While some of the lads had a hard time getting through the days without their standard spot of tea, the British troops swear they are absolutely “nails” about everything else.
Among Royal Marines, that’s damn tough.
Devil dogs and badgers
During this exercise, the British Bootnecks — nicknamed, as legend goes, for the shoe leather early troops placed under their stiff wool collars to prevent chafing — battled a U.S. Marine opposition force that did all it could to get under the Brits’ skin.
At Lejeune’s urban training center, the two forces had the chance to size each other up during a mock hostage rescue.
A day after the Brits’ night rescue mission, leathernecks with 10th Marines camping out in ramshackle buildings at the urban combat facility spoke about what they saw of the Brits during the raid and throughout the exercise.
“The way they went through doors, they were covering real well,” said Master Sgt. Michael Santivasci, describing the hostage rescue. Seven of the 10 hostages were “killed” in the attack, but Santivasci said the British techniques were excellent.
“The way they went about it was extremely professional,” he said. “They definitely knew what they were doing. I was very impressed.”
The word “professional” came up often in such discussions, but still, some Marines questioned tactical differences.
“They’re just sitting off to the side of the roads. We’d try to get more cover,” said Sgt. Jeoffry Zamjahn, 21, talking about earlier ambushes. “If it was us, we’d probably move off the side of the road.”
More than anything, the American Marines noted how “chilled out” the Royals appear.
“They’re just a little more relaxed. Some of them will walk around with no blouse and no cover. An American Marine would never be caught dead without his blouse. Someone would get on them right away,” Santivasci said.
It is true that the British Marine has a slightly less regimented life than his American counterpart. Royals tend to use more first names, fewer “sirs.” They are shouted at less, and more room for discussion is allowed between troops and superiors, according to Sgt. Stan Bloomer, a Royal Marine spokesman.
The day after the hostage rescue exercise, Col. Buster Howes, commander of 42 Commando, addressed the differences.
“The British soldier is more of a badger in the field. They don’t look very crisp, but there’s a lot of determination,” said Howes, a 22-year Royal Marine veteran, sweat and dirt showing through his camouflage face paint as he stood outside his command tent.
Pointing to the group of sweaty Royal Marines spread out nearby in the shade of poncho liners, Howes talked about how the Marines end up looking “disreputable” as they adapt to their environment.
The Brits find U.S. Marine uniformity remarkable, said Howes, who served as a cold weather warfare adviser to the yanks in the 1990s. With hair “risen to an inch of their lives,” they seem “like they’re assembled exactly the same,” he said.
Marines throughout 42 Commando repeatedly mentioned the structure and hierarchy of U.S. Marines.
“We find them very regimented. They’re fantastic, but they’re not gray about anything. They’re very straight,” said 2nd Lt. Jim Lewis, leader of 3 Troop, Juliet Company, 42 Commando.
Another Brit was less subtle.
“There’s a lot more onus put on our Marines when they finish basic training,” said Cpl. Andy Lister, 26. “They can think on their own rather than get a straight set of lines that they follow. They can think outside the box.”
Riflemen first
While they may be more relaxed, the credo “every Marine a rifleman” is especially true for the Brits.
continued............