2nd FAST trains with British Royal Marines.

[thedrifter]

2nd FAST trains with British Royal Marines.
Submitted by: 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism)
Story Identification #: 20048375120
Story by Cpl. Sharon E. Fox



NAVAL WEAPONS STATION YORKTOWN, Va. (Aug. 3, 2004) -- The Fleet Protection Group British Royal Marines and the 2nd Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team, Marine Corps Security Force Battalion, 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism) conducting training here as part of the ongoing joint exercise Tartan Eagle, a multi-location exercise with approximately three weeks in the U.S. and three weeks in the United Kingdom.

During the three-week evolution, the Marines go through various training phases including enhanced marksmanship trianing, endurance training and helicopter operations.

“This training is much different from what we are taught back home,” said Private Tom J. Wheelton, a rifleman in the Royal Marines. “The instructors really helped us with quick reaction and precision shooting skills. It’s pretty amazing how thorough they (USMC) are with their marksmanship.”

Sergeant Liborio Rivera, non-commissioned officer for the automated range, noticed how quickly the Brits learned the pistol skills.

“They said this was different shooting than what they were used to,” said Rivera, a Bronx, N.Y., native. “The pop-up targets really got them pumped to shoot because it was different from a regular pistol range.”

Besides marksmanship, the British and U.S. Marines conducted a physical training evolution with pistol shooting, water jug carry, casualty carry, log physical training, pugil-stick fighting, 240-golf assembly and convoy security. The teams had to run to each of the stations, which were two to three miles apart.

Private First Class Joshua K. Garret, sentry for 5th platoon, was one of the pugil-stick warriors to face off with the Brits.

“They get really loud and aggressive,” said Garret, a Galax, Va. native. “They have great intensity, but we still beat them during the face-off though.”

Even though the British Marines were more accustomed to different training, they all showed great enthusiasm for the course with 2nd FAST.

“It’s always a great opportunity to train with the USMC,” said Col. Ian P. Huntley, commanding officer, fleet protection group, BRM. “We’ve been doing this training for six years now and we learn something new every time.”

Fast roping and special patrol insertion/extraction (SPIE) rigging seemed to be one of the most exciting parts of training for the Brits.

“It’s such a rush sliding out of a helicopter and also very fun to just hang off a rope hundreds of feet in the air,” said 2nd Lieutenant Tristan Pengelly, troop commander for the British. “Both ourselves and the U.S. Marines have been going through the helicopter operations rather quickly. If we actually had to conduct a real-life operation right now, they’d be more than capable to pull it off successfully.”

Even with the long hours of training, the Marines kept their energy going to share and learn from their fellow AT warriors.

“It’s just exciting for our lads to go through training that they’re not used to,” added Huntley, a Faslane, Scotland, native. “The U.S. Marines have that ooh-rah, kill mentality and our lads feed off that and really exceed our expectations.”

Both the U.S. and British Marines will be moving into the second training evolution in the United Kingdom during the first three weeks of August.

“Our Marines are really thrilled to have the U.S. Marines in our homeland for the next training evolution,” said Huntley. “We’re looking forward to continuing this joint training and possibly doing even more advanced training in the future.”

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2004838528/$file/spie1_lowres.jpg

NAVAL WEAPONS STATION YORKTOWN, Va.-- A team of U.S. Marines from 2nd Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team, Marine Corps Security Forces Training Battalion, 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism), special patrol insertion/extraction (SPIE) rig from a CH-60S Naval helicopter during Tartan Eagle, a joint training exerice with the British Royal Marines. Photo by: Cpl. Sharon E. Fox

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2004839529/$file/brit-spie2_lowres.jpg

NAVAL WEAPONS STATION YORKTOWN, Va.-- Marines from 2nd Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team, Marine Corps Security Forces Training Battalion, 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism), gives the thumbs up before special patrol insertion/extraction (SPIE) rigging during Tartan Eagle. Photo by: Cpl. Sharon E. Fox

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/2C3AB67E2620487385256EE500412034?opendocument


Ellie

[thedrifter]

Royal Marines and Lejeune Marines train together
Submitted by: MCB Camp Lejeune
Story Identification #: 200481012454
Story by Lance Cpl. Matthew K. Hacker



MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (June 14, 2004) -- Royal Marines with 42 Commando hosted a capabilities exercise at the G3 Impact Area berm here June 10.

The Royal Marines spent the last two years planning for the event and got the order to move out only five weeks before the exercise commenced.

Before the exercise, a brief was given to dozens of viewers on what they would be seeing for the next 45 minutes. The brief was given by Maj. Simon Turner of Plymouth, England, the adjutant with 42 Commando. He talked about the types of vehicles and aircraft were being used and, specifically, where, when and what they would be doing.

Distinguished guests of various ranks and services witnessed the exercise from atop a tower approximately 500 yards from the berm. The main exercise seemed far away, but they had front row seats for the airdrops that went on for about 60 seconds.

Two British aircraft, comparable to the U.S. Marine Corp's CH-53s, swooped in and landed in seconds. Almost simultaneously, three smaller helicopters landed within 100 feet of each other, each dropping off dozens of men.

The men rushed the berm heavily armed with machineguns, sniper rifles and rocket launchers. They continued running until they safely took cover behind a barricade made of sandbags.

The Royal Marines commenced firing on simulated enemy tanks and targets that were staged at different distances throughout the field in front of them.

"Training here with [the U.S. Marines] is very good, because we get to see the different ways and methods [they] do the same job we do," said Marine Terry Nichols of Plymouth, England, a motors technician with 42 Commando.

Just two weeks before training in the hot, humid Camp Lejeune weather, the Royal Marines trained in Norway where it was approximately 22 Fahrenheit.

"It's good training to learn how to adapt to different climates," said Nichols.

Not only did the Royal Marines see a vast change in climate, they also saw a huge increase in training areas.

"Camp Lejeune is such an enormous facility," said Royal Lance Cpl. James Lucey of Bolton, England, a driver with 42 Commando. "We're not used to this much space to work in, but the more environments we train in the more skills we acquire."

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2004810142327/$file/COMDEM6.lowres.jpg

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Royal Marines with 42 Commando evacuate an aircraft and quickly rush toward the berm during a capabilities exercise at the G3 Impact Area here June 10.
The combat demonstration was put on to astonish onlookers with their combat abilities by enacting a simulated war-time environment using heavily armed troops, aircrafts and land vehicles. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Matthew K. Hacker

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/B446876FB9B5D17785256EEC005C0452?opendocument


Ellie