thedrifter
02-02-07, 08:43 AM
CENTRAL TRAINING AREA, Okinawa (February 2, 2007) -- The Marines listening to their instructor during Iraq pre-deployment training are low altitude air defense gunners; motor transporters; supply, legal and administrative clerks, but most importantly - riflemen.
1st Marine Aircraft Wing's 1st Stinger Battery Marines usually provide close-in, low-altitude, surface-to-air weapons support in defense of Marine assets. But since an aerial threat is nearly non-existent in (the Central Command area of responsibility), the Marines focused their training Jan. 5-26 on combat skills outside of their primary specialty in preparation for their upcoming deployment.
"Business is not good for a LAAD gunner right now in (CENTCOM)," said Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Fultz, the platoon sergeant for 3rd platoon. "But the essence of the Marine Corps is, if business is not good in your primary (military occupational specialty) you can always revolve back to ready, team, fire and assist, because every Marine is a rifleman. So we're training for what we will need to do."
The Marines were guided through the exercise by 3rd Marine Logistics Group's Tactical Readiness and Training instructors, who constantly train Marines and sailors using the most up-to-date knowledge from the front lines, said Gunnery Sgt. Kevin J. Tierney, TRT's tactics chief.
"We have a great responsibility," Tierney said. "It's our responsibility to make sure if we're sending someone into harms way, they are as trained as they can be."
The training covered a multitude of areas, including convoy operations, immediate action drills, improvised explosive device training, enemy tactics, technique and procedure classes, cultural classes, and marksmanship and urban patrolling, Tierney said.
During the training, the Marines conducted live-fire combat scenarios with SESAMS, or special-effect small arms marking system rounds, against aggressors from TRT. While running through mock convoy operations, the aggressors also used IED simulators that emitted large blasts of smoke, adding necessary realism to the training, Tierney said.
"We're trying to make (the training) as realistic as possible; that's why we use the simulation rounds, for example, because they hurt," he said. "That's going to encourage them to seek cover, and they'll learn how to do so because you're going to fight the way you train."
The realism of the course makes it an invaluable part of pre-deployment training, said Sgt. Jesus A. Perez, a squad leader with 3rd platoon.
"The training has been more than worth it," said Perez, an augment to the unit from Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. "The more training the better; you can never have enough. And for me, being augmented, this is night and day compared to what I'm used to."
Perez is one of more than 28 augments to the battery from units throughout the Pacific who have occupational specialties ranging from legal clerks to motor transporters.
"They augmented from different units and MOSs and basically volunteered to go with us. They're the best America has to offer," said 1st Lt. Steve U. Morales, 3rd platoon commander
The Stinger Marines were always ready to deploy, Fultz said. However, with this training, they now have the assets and the mind-set to be more successful, he said.
"For the Marines it's about what's over their left-breast pocket-the Eagle, Globe and Anchor," Fultz said. "This means whether you're a cook, baker or candlestick maker, you can pick up a weapon, go on patrol, run a convoy and complete the mission."
Ellie
1st Marine Aircraft Wing's 1st Stinger Battery Marines usually provide close-in, low-altitude, surface-to-air weapons support in defense of Marine assets. But since an aerial threat is nearly non-existent in (the Central Command area of responsibility), the Marines focused their training Jan. 5-26 on combat skills outside of their primary specialty in preparation for their upcoming deployment.
"Business is not good for a LAAD gunner right now in (CENTCOM)," said Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Fultz, the platoon sergeant for 3rd platoon. "But the essence of the Marine Corps is, if business is not good in your primary (military occupational specialty) you can always revolve back to ready, team, fire and assist, because every Marine is a rifleman. So we're training for what we will need to do."
The Marines were guided through the exercise by 3rd Marine Logistics Group's Tactical Readiness and Training instructors, who constantly train Marines and sailors using the most up-to-date knowledge from the front lines, said Gunnery Sgt. Kevin J. Tierney, TRT's tactics chief.
"We have a great responsibility," Tierney said. "It's our responsibility to make sure if we're sending someone into harms way, they are as trained as they can be."
The training covered a multitude of areas, including convoy operations, immediate action drills, improvised explosive device training, enemy tactics, technique and procedure classes, cultural classes, and marksmanship and urban patrolling, Tierney said.
During the training, the Marines conducted live-fire combat scenarios with SESAMS, or special-effect small arms marking system rounds, against aggressors from TRT. While running through mock convoy operations, the aggressors also used IED simulators that emitted large blasts of smoke, adding necessary realism to the training, Tierney said.
"We're trying to make (the training) as realistic as possible; that's why we use the simulation rounds, for example, because they hurt," he said. "That's going to encourage them to seek cover, and they'll learn how to do so because you're going to fight the way you train."
The realism of the course makes it an invaluable part of pre-deployment training, said Sgt. Jesus A. Perez, a squad leader with 3rd platoon.
"The training has been more than worth it," said Perez, an augment to the unit from Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. "The more training the better; you can never have enough. And for me, being augmented, this is night and day compared to what I'm used to."
Perez is one of more than 28 augments to the battery from units throughout the Pacific who have occupational specialties ranging from legal clerks to motor transporters.
"They augmented from different units and MOSs and basically volunteered to go with us. They're the best America has to offer," said 1st Lt. Steve U. Morales, 3rd platoon commander
The Stinger Marines were always ready to deploy, Fultz said. However, with this training, they now have the assets and the mind-set to be more successful, he said.
"For the Marines it's about what's over their left-breast pocket-the Eagle, Globe and Anchor," Fultz said. "This means whether you're a cook, baker or candlestick maker, you can pick up a weapon, go on patrol, run a convoy and complete the mission."
Ellie