thedrifter
08-16-07, 07:33 PM
The first group of Marines from the 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, to go through the walking lane planned on spotting all the simulated improvised explosive devices on the course at Landing Zone Tern here. They didn’t even see the first one.
“You’re all dead,” said Sgt. Roberto Martinez, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician with EOD Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, as the Marines walked by the first IED buried in the bushes to their right.
After the first “miss,” the Marines paid more attention to the training — a simulated IED scavenger hunt, so to speak, in an area designed to resemble potential situations in combat zones found in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The training at the IED course started with a brief given by 9th ESB EOD technicians during which the Marines learned about the different types of IEDs an enemy might use, how to properly identify and avoid them, and how to call in EOD to dispose of the threat.
After the brief, the Marines were taken to the walking IED lane to test the knowledge they had just received.
The IED course includes a walking and driving lane where the Marines were required to identify various types of IEDs, ranging from cell-phone triggered explosives hidden in trash piles to pressure-triggered bombs laid out on roads that could be detonated when stepped on.
The Marines were quick to learn from the first miss and with increased scrutiny of their surroundings went on to spot and avoid all of the IEDs in the course.
After the Marines completed the walking portion of the IED course, they put on flack jackets and Kevlar helmets and boarded humvees to complete the course’s driving lane. The Marines successfully spotted all of the hidden IEDs.
“The course is designed to resemble Iraq as close as possible,” said Sgt. Brian Diaz, an EOD technician.
In some areas in Iraq there is trash everywhere, Diaz explained, with IEDs possibly hidden inside, so the training simulates that environment here.
“In Iraq, IEDs are used commonly by the enemy who are seeking to kill as many service members as possible without receiving fire themselves,” said Diaz. “It’s important for the Marines here to learn everything they can about IEDs.“
The Marines were very attentive today, they asked a lot of questions and learned from what we taught them,” he said.
The Marines who participated in the training were enthusiastic about what they learned.
“The training was really informative and I feel a lot more confident about dealing with IEDs,” said Pfc. Eric Dinello, a counter-battery radar operator with the 12th Marines. “I learned about the components of an IED, the different types of IEDs and how to respond to them,” he said.
Cpl. Alfonso Hernandez, a field artillery fire control man with the 12th Marines, also felt more confident about his ability to deal with IEDs.
“This training gave me great insight into what the enemy will (potentially) try to do to harm us,” he said. “With training events like this, no matter what the enemy will throw at us, we will be able to respond properly and take them out.”
“You’re all dead,” said Sgt. Roberto Martinez, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician with EOD Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, as the Marines walked by the first IED buried in the bushes to their right.
After the first “miss,” the Marines paid more attention to the training — a simulated IED scavenger hunt, so to speak, in an area designed to resemble potential situations in combat zones found in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The training at the IED course started with a brief given by 9th ESB EOD technicians during which the Marines learned about the different types of IEDs an enemy might use, how to properly identify and avoid them, and how to call in EOD to dispose of the threat.
After the brief, the Marines were taken to the walking IED lane to test the knowledge they had just received.
The IED course includes a walking and driving lane where the Marines were required to identify various types of IEDs, ranging from cell-phone triggered explosives hidden in trash piles to pressure-triggered bombs laid out on roads that could be detonated when stepped on.
The Marines were quick to learn from the first miss and with increased scrutiny of their surroundings went on to spot and avoid all of the IEDs in the course.
After the Marines completed the walking portion of the IED course, they put on flack jackets and Kevlar helmets and boarded humvees to complete the course’s driving lane. The Marines successfully spotted all of the hidden IEDs.
“The course is designed to resemble Iraq as close as possible,” said Sgt. Brian Diaz, an EOD technician.
In some areas in Iraq there is trash everywhere, Diaz explained, with IEDs possibly hidden inside, so the training simulates that environment here.
“In Iraq, IEDs are used commonly by the enemy who are seeking to kill as many service members as possible without receiving fire themselves,” said Diaz. “It’s important for the Marines here to learn everything they can about IEDs.“
The Marines were very attentive today, they asked a lot of questions and learned from what we taught them,” he said.
The Marines who participated in the training were enthusiastic about what they learned.
“The training was really informative and I feel a lot more confident about dealing with IEDs,” said Pfc. Eric Dinello, a counter-battery radar operator with the 12th Marines. “I learned about the components of an IED, the different types of IEDs and how to respond to them,” he said.
Cpl. Alfonso Hernandez, a field artillery fire control man with the 12th Marines, also felt more confident about his ability to deal with IEDs.
“This training gave me great insight into what the enemy will (potentially) try to do to harm us,” he said. “With training events like this, no matter what the enemy will throw at us, we will be able to respond properly and take them out.”