thedrifter
12-29-07, 07:14 AM
Article published Dec 29, 2007Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Leading small squads is a big responsibility
Marines learn lessons of war in California
By Tony Perry
Los Angeles Times
Dec 29, 2007
Sgt. Mitchell Janicki, his face a picture of dirt and sweat, is explaining the rigors of the 45-day course meant to determine if an enlisted Marine has the makings of a squad leader.
Janicki, 22, of Grand Rapids, Mich., is determined to return to Iraq as the leader of an infantry squad of 12 enlisted Marines. On this day, students are being put through realistic scenarios in the parched hills of the sprawling base at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
"They run us ragged, but it's good," Janicki said.
Although generals and colonels can issue what are called "commander's intent" orders to their troops, the duty to carry out those orders and fit them into the reality of the cities and villages of Iraq falls to the junior enlisted ranks.
"Iraq is a small-unit leadership environment," said Lt. Col. Christopher Gideons, commander of the advanced infantry training battalion at the School of Infantry. "We're pushing greater and greater responsibility on younger Marines."
More than a quarter of the students will flunk out, some despite having had combat experience in Iraq.
The goal of the squad leader course is to teach leadership skills, including the ability to make decisions quickly and firmly in the throes of exhaustion.
In field exercises, each student gets an opportunity to play squad leader, with his decisions and leadership skills assessed by officers and senior enlisted personnel. The scenarios can provide a surprising level of similarity to real life.
In one, a squad leader had to make a quick decision: Marines elsewhere on the faux battlefield were calling for help, but he and his Marines were holding prisoners. The squad leader decided to "eliminate" the prisoners so he could rush to the aid of other Marines. The squad leader trainee was emphatically told that was not the proper way to handle the situation.
In another field exercise, the would-be squad leader was told to instruct his Marines on how to swoop down a hill toward a building where the occupants were thought to be firing at Marines.
The student's voice was strong, and his orders were direct. He would lead from the front.
Still, the instructor was not pleased.
"You do not use general terms out there because everybody has their own interpretation," Gunnery Sgt. Bernardino Moreno said. "Be specific; alleviate confusion."
Much of the course is fieldwork, but there are lectures as well, on tactics, use of weapons and leadership.
The final lecture is given by Gideons, who received a Bronze Star for valor in Iraq. The lecture includes what he calls his rules for being a successful leader, among them:
• "It all starts with you; you're the . . . squad leader. You're going to set the tone, day in, day out."
• "If you're concerned about whether your Marines like you or don't like you, you're going to fail."
• "You must be perceived as fearless, not reckless. There's a difference."
• "Beware of the charismatic malcontent."
• "Treat the locals with respect and dignity."
• "You will take casualties in combat - men will die. Accept that as a fact."
• "We're U.S. Marines. We're arrogant because, damn it, we are the best."
At the close of the lecture, there is a summary, Iraq specific.
"We're going to win this war," Gideons said. "But how long it's going to take and at what cost in life and limb is going to be determined by how gentlemen like you do your job."
For emphasis, Gideons showed his 30-plus students a clip from the film version of Shakespeare's Henry V starring Kenneth Branagh. On the eve of battle, the young king delivers his stirring "band of brothers" speech.
The students, who had begun to slump in their chairs, leaned forward and took notes. The king seemed to be talking their language. "If that doesn't get you motivated, nothing will," Gideons said.
Nearly all of the students have done at least one deployment in Iraq. Those who graduate will return to Iraq with extra responsibility, leading a squad usually consisting of three four-man fire teams. In coming weeks, more than 11,000 Marines and sailors from the Camp Pendleton-based 1st Marine Expeditionary Force will return to Iraq. Other units will deploy later.
There have been 330 troops from Camp Pendleton and 112 from the base at Twentynine Palms killed in Iraq, according to the independently run website icasualties.org.
Janicki was in Ramadi in 2005, when Marines were engaged in almost daily firefights with insurgents. During that deployment, he mostly took orders; now he will be giving them.
"To me, it's about keeping Marines alive," Janicki said during the field exercise. "A lot of families are counting on me."
Days later, Janicki graduated from the course and was assigned to Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines. The battalion is set to deploy early next year.
Ellie
Leading small squads is a big responsibility
Marines learn lessons of war in California
By Tony Perry
Los Angeles Times
Dec 29, 2007
Sgt. Mitchell Janicki, his face a picture of dirt and sweat, is explaining the rigors of the 45-day course meant to determine if an enlisted Marine has the makings of a squad leader.
Janicki, 22, of Grand Rapids, Mich., is determined to return to Iraq as the leader of an infantry squad of 12 enlisted Marines. On this day, students are being put through realistic scenarios in the parched hills of the sprawling base at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
"They run us ragged, but it's good," Janicki said.
Although generals and colonels can issue what are called "commander's intent" orders to their troops, the duty to carry out those orders and fit them into the reality of the cities and villages of Iraq falls to the junior enlisted ranks.
"Iraq is a small-unit leadership environment," said Lt. Col. Christopher Gideons, commander of the advanced infantry training battalion at the School of Infantry. "We're pushing greater and greater responsibility on younger Marines."
More than a quarter of the students will flunk out, some despite having had combat experience in Iraq.
The goal of the squad leader course is to teach leadership skills, including the ability to make decisions quickly and firmly in the throes of exhaustion.
In field exercises, each student gets an opportunity to play squad leader, with his decisions and leadership skills assessed by officers and senior enlisted personnel. The scenarios can provide a surprising level of similarity to real life.
In one, a squad leader had to make a quick decision: Marines elsewhere on the faux battlefield were calling for help, but he and his Marines were holding prisoners. The squad leader decided to "eliminate" the prisoners so he could rush to the aid of other Marines. The squad leader trainee was emphatically told that was not the proper way to handle the situation.
In another field exercise, the would-be squad leader was told to instruct his Marines on how to swoop down a hill toward a building where the occupants were thought to be firing at Marines.
The student's voice was strong, and his orders were direct. He would lead from the front.
Still, the instructor was not pleased.
"You do not use general terms out there because everybody has their own interpretation," Gunnery Sgt. Bernardino Moreno said. "Be specific; alleviate confusion."
Much of the course is fieldwork, but there are lectures as well, on tactics, use of weapons and leadership.
The final lecture is given by Gideons, who received a Bronze Star for valor in Iraq. The lecture includes what he calls his rules for being a successful leader, among them:
• "It all starts with you; you're the . . . squad leader. You're going to set the tone, day in, day out."
• "If you're concerned about whether your Marines like you or don't like you, you're going to fail."
• "You must be perceived as fearless, not reckless. There's a difference."
• "Beware of the charismatic malcontent."
• "Treat the locals with respect and dignity."
• "You will take casualties in combat - men will die. Accept that as a fact."
• "We're U.S. Marines. We're arrogant because, damn it, we are the best."
At the close of the lecture, there is a summary, Iraq specific.
"We're going to win this war," Gideons said. "But how long it's going to take and at what cost in life and limb is going to be determined by how gentlemen like you do your job."
For emphasis, Gideons showed his 30-plus students a clip from the film version of Shakespeare's Henry V starring Kenneth Branagh. On the eve of battle, the young king delivers his stirring "band of brothers" speech.
The students, who had begun to slump in their chairs, leaned forward and took notes. The king seemed to be talking their language. "If that doesn't get you motivated, nothing will," Gideons said.
Nearly all of the students have done at least one deployment in Iraq. Those who graduate will return to Iraq with extra responsibility, leading a squad usually consisting of three four-man fire teams. In coming weeks, more than 11,000 Marines and sailors from the Camp Pendleton-based 1st Marine Expeditionary Force will return to Iraq. Other units will deploy later.
There have been 330 troops from Camp Pendleton and 112 from the base at Twentynine Palms killed in Iraq, according to the independently run website icasualties.org.
Janicki was in Ramadi in 2005, when Marines were engaged in almost daily firefights with insurgents. During that deployment, he mostly took orders; now he will be giving them.
"To me, it's about keeping Marines alive," Janicki said during the field exercise. "A lot of families are counting on me."
Days later, Janicki graduated from the course and was assigned to Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines. The battalion is set to deploy early next year.
Ellie