thedrifter
01-23-06, 05:58 PM
2nd Supply Battalion trains its Marines for the inevitable
2nd Marine Logistics Group
Story by: Cpl. Matthew K. Hacker
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.(Jan. 23, 2006) -- If you entered or exited the base via the Piney Green gate between the hours of 7 a.m. and noon Jan. 19, the sounds of dozens of gunshots might have shaken your vehicle as you drove passed Range F11A.
You may not have taken it seriously, because the sounds of gunfire is something Camp Lejeune inhabitants are accustomed to, but the handler’s of the M-16A2 service rifles that fired those rounds were taking it very seriously.
Marines with Headquarters and Support Company, 2nd Supply Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, were participating in an Enhanced Marksmanship Program course – arguably the most important pre-deployment training a Marine can receive before going to Iraq, according to Cpl. Gregory S. Canevari of Redford, Va., a primary marksmanship instructor with the company.
“This training is one of the more crucial pieces of training a Marine can receive before entering the theater,” said Canevari. “This course teaches a Marine everything he needs to know to survive a hostile encounter with the enemy.”
The course teaches Marines the three steps to successfully tending to a hostile, according to Canevari. In order, the three steps are as follows: locate the enemy, close with the enemy and destroy the enemy through fire and maneuvering.
To achieve these steps, the instructors teach target discernment, muzzle discipline and how to attain the confidence to engage a target if and when it becomes necessary.
Since most firefights in country primarily occur within an urban environment, the EMP course stresses close quarter combat skills with quick and precise actions.
This is how it is accomplished …
After completing a battle site zero and running a few drills without ammunition, each Marine is given 200 rounds to load into 5 magazines.
Then, they approach the line and begin walking toward their specified target until the coach directs them when and where to fire.
The coach may tell them to conduct a failure drill, which is two shots to the body and one shot to the head. Then again, he may instruct the line to fire after executing a pivot exercise. This is where the Marine either pivots from his strong side, his weak side, or with his back to the target before engaging it.
The course of fire also focuses on reloading drills.
When reloading, Marines are instructed to yell, “Down!” before taking a knee and grabbing his magazine. This tells the man next to him to cover his line of fire as well. Then, without taking his firing hand off of the pistol grip, the Marine must reload his weapon and yell, “Standing!” to let everyone know he’s back on line.
“Quick reloads can mean life or death in a hostile situation,” said Canevari. “Reloading as quickly and as efficiently as possible is extremely important, and is something we stress highly during the course.”
Overall, the course utilizes presentation, engagement, and pivot drills to teach Marines the importance of situational awareness and enemy discernment to ensure they get the most out of the course, according to Canevari.
“Every Marine should utilize every aspect of their chain of command to ensure they get on an EMP range before they deploy,” said Canevari. “It will give them confidence, a chance to learn their weapon and the opportunity to become a better shooter.”
Ellie
2nd Marine Logistics Group
Story by: Cpl. Matthew K. Hacker
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.(Jan. 23, 2006) -- If you entered or exited the base via the Piney Green gate between the hours of 7 a.m. and noon Jan. 19, the sounds of dozens of gunshots might have shaken your vehicle as you drove passed Range F11A.
You may not have taken it seriously, because the sounds of gunfire is something Camp Lejeune inhabitants are accustomed to, but the handler’s of the M-16A2 service rifles that fired those rounds were taking it very seriously.
Marines with Headquarters and Support Company, 2nd Supply Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, were participating in an Enhanced Marksmanship Program course – arguably the most important pre-deployment training a Marine can receive before going to Iraq, according to Cpl. Gregory S. Canevari of Redford, Va., a primary marksmanship instructor with the company.
“This training is one of the more crucial pieces of training a Marine can receive before entering the theater,” said Canevari. “This course teaches a Marine everything he needs to know to survive a hostile encounter with the enemy.”
The course teaches Marines the three steps to successfully tending to a hostile, according to Canevari. In order, the three steps are as follows: locate the enemy, close with the enemy and destroy the enemy through fire and maneuvering.
To achieve these steps, the instructors teach target discernment, muzzle discipline and how to attain the confidence to engage a target if and when it becomes necessary.
Since most firefights in country primarily occur within an urban environment, the EMP course stresses close quarter combat skills with quick and precise actions.
This is how it is accomplished …
After completing a battle site zero and running a few drills without ammunition, each Marine is given 200 rounds to load into 5 magazines.
Then, they approach the line and begin walking toward their specified target until the coach directs them when and where to fire.
The coach may tell them to conduct a failure drill, which is two shots to the body and one shot to the head. Then again, he may instruct the line to fire after executing a pivot exercise. This is where the Marine either pivots from his strong side, his weak side, or with his back to the target before engaging it.
The course of fire also focuses on reloading drills.
When reloading, Marines are instructed to yell, “Down!” before taking a knee and grabbing his magazine. This tells the man next to him to cover his line of fire as well. Then, without taking his firing hand off of the pistol grip, the Marine must reload his weapon and yell, “Standing!” to let everyone know he’s back on line.
“Quick reloads can mean life or death in a hostile situation,” said Canevari. “Reloading as quickly and as efficiently as possible is extremely important, and is something we stress highly during the course.”
Overall, the course utilizes presentation, engagement, and pivot drills to teach Marines the importance of situational awareness and enemy discernment to ensure they get the most out of the course, according to Canevari.
“Every Marine should utilize every aspect of their chain of command to ensure they get on an EMP range before they deploy,” said Canevari. “It will give them confidence, a chance to learn their weapon and the opportunity to become a better shooter.”
Ellie