thedrifter
07-08-08, 10:10 AM
07/08/2008
Marines train at Fort Lee, too: Two branches training together since 1983
BY: F.M. WIGGINS
STAFF WRITER
FORT LEE - There are more than 3,000 soldiers at Fort Lee but there are also more than 300 Marines on post daily.
Marines have been a part of Fort Lee since Marine Corps Detachment Fort Lee was established in 1983.
Marine Lt. Col. Christopher Michelsen said the detachment was formed to leverage cost savings through the similar training between the two branches of the armed forces. He said the branches serve together in war and have been training together since 1983.
"We're creating relationships when we train together," Michelsen said. He added that everything soldiers on post learn Marines learn too, including bulk fuel handling, mortuary affairs, aerial delivery and food service.
In some cases Army soldiers and Marines may train side by side in what is called consolidated training.
"When more than one service has the same training where it's all taught the same way, that's consolidated training," Michelsen said. "For mortuary affairs, everything is the same between the Army and the Marines. If they decide to add a new training module, we'll sit down and look it over and see how it works with the Marines."
Michelsen said training for parachute riggers in the aerial delivery department is nearly 100 percent consolidated. He said the key difference is that the Marines have a different parachute system, the multi-mission parachute system, which is Marine exclusive. Marines learn that system separate from soldiers for about a week.
Bulk fuel and food service training start out consolidated but differences in equipment lead to separate, or collocated training, where training takes place on post but Marines learn about Marine exclusive equipment and soldiers learn about Army exclusive equipment.
Master Gunnery Sgt. Julius Huggins said that in food service training soldiers and Marines learn the basics of sanitation, cooking and baking together for the first two weeks of 41 days of training. After those initial two weeks there are some differences.
"We teach the Marines how to cook the Marine way, that entails some different equipment," Huggins said. While soldiers learn to cook on a stove-top, Huggins said Marines learn how to use what is essentially a deep vat for many cooking techniques that would be done on a stop top. "The science and the sanitation are the same though," he said.
Huggins said Marines also learn how to cook in the field differently.
"We use what's called a tray ration heater box," Huggins said. The equivalent piece of equipment in the Army is the assault kitchen. In both instances rations are heated in a thermal kit and immersed in water. "It's the same equipment, just different names."
"Overall, there are not a whole lot of differences," Michelsen said.
* F.M. Wiggins may be reached at 732-3456, ext. 254 or fwiggins@progress-index.com.
Ellie
Marines train at Fort Lee, too: Two branches training together since 1983
BY: F.M. WIGGINS
STAFF WRITER
FORT LEE - There are more than 3,000 soldiers at Fort Lee but there are also more than 300 Marines on post daily.
Marines have been a part of Fort Lee since Marine Corps Detachment Fort Lee was established in 1983.
Marine Lt. Col. Christopher Michelsen said the detachment was formed to leverage cost savings through the similar training between the two branches of the armed forces. He said the branches serve together in war and have been training together since 1983.
"We're creating relationships when we train together," Michelsen said. He added that everything soldiers on post learn Marines learn too, including bulk fuel handling, mortuary affairs, aerial delivery and food service.
In some cases Army soldiers and Marines may train side by side in what is called consolidated training.
"When more than one service has the same training where it's all taught the same way, that's consolidated training," Michelsen said. "For mortuary affairs, everything is the same between the Army and the Marines. If they decide to add a new training module, we'll sit down and look it over and see how it works with the Marines."
Michelsen said training for parachute riggers in the aerial delivery department is nearly 100 percent consolidated. He said the key difference is that the Marines have a different parachute system, the multi-mission parachute system, which is Marine exclusive. Marines learn that system separate from soldiers for about a week.
Bulk fuel and food service training start out consolidated but differences in equipment lead to separate, or collocated training, where training takes place on post but Marines learn about Marine exclusive equipment and soldiers learn about Army exclusive equipment.
Master Gunnery Sgt. Julius Huggins said that in food service training soldiers and Marines learn the basics of sanitation, cooking and baking together for the first two weeks of 41 days of training. After those initial two weeks there are some differences.
"We teach the Marines how to cook the Marine way, that entails some different equipment," Huggins said. While soldiers learn to cook on a stove-top, Huggins said Marines learn how to use what is essentially a deep vat for many cooking techniques that would be done on a stop top. "The science and the sanitation are the same though," he said.
Huggins said Marines also learn how to cook in the field differently.
"We use what's called a tray ration heater box," Huggins said. The equivalent piece of equipment in the Army is the assault kitchen. In both instances rations are heated in a thermal kit and immersed in water. "It's the same equipment, just different names."
"Overall, there are not a whole lot of differences," Michelsen said.
* F.M. Wiggins may be reached at 732-3456, ext. 254 or fwiggins@progress-index.com.
Ellie