thedrifter
12-23-08, 07:27 AM
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Marines with 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, recently conducted a small unit leaders’ course here as part of their annual predeployment training.
The three-week course consisted of a variety of live-fire ranges, an assault course and a land navigation course. The Marines learned about various equipment and leadership principles in their challenging curriculum.
Instilling proper leadership at every level is an important part of ensuring a unit’s capabilities.
“We were taught the basic fundamentals of being a team leader,” said Cpl. Jarrod Scott, a fire team leader with Company L. “Fire and movement, land navigation and being able to control a fire team are basic things a Marine should know.”
Early in the training the men were taught about communication gear early in the training.
“They learned the ins and outs of using radios such as the PRC-117 and the PRC-152,” said 2nd Lt.Robert Murray, a platoon commander with Company L.
“They learned about Very High Frequency (VHF) and Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radio as well as field expedient antennas. The Marines were able to employ the communications gear and had a better understanding of capabilities and limitations.”
The course also covered various weapons systems including the M-16A4 service rifle, the M-4 carbine, the M-249 Squad Automatic Weapon, the M-240B medium machinegun, the M18A1 Claymore mine and smoke and fragmentation grenades.
“Brilliance in the basics is essential,” said Gunnery Sgt. Michael Hussey, company gunnery sergeant, Headquarters and Service Company. “If you want to be a successful leader you have to get back to the basics. That’s what the purpose of this course was.”
The course taught effective combined arms use and effective use of suppression during fire and movement, both important skills for infantry Marines.
The course will be used by the Marines as they return to their platoons to help them better understand the role of small unit leaders and their responsibilities. The battalion is scheduled to deploy next spring.
The three-week course consisted of a variety of live-fire ranges, an assault course and a land navigation course. The Marines learned about various equipment and leadership principles in their challenging curriculum.
Instilling proper leadership at every level is an important part of ensuring a unit’s capabilities.
“We were taught the basic fundamentals of being a team leader,” said Cpl. Jarrod Scott, a fire team leader with Company L. “Fire and movement, land navigation and being able to control a fire team are basic things a Marine should know.”
Early in the training the men were taught about communication gear early in the training.
“They learned the ins and outs of using radios such as the PRC-117 and the PRC-152,” said 2nd Lt.Robert Murray, a platoon commander with Company L.
“They learned about Very High Frequency (VHF) and Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radio as well as field expedient antennas. The Marines were able to employ the communications gear and had a better understanding of capabilities and limitations.”
The course also covered various weapons systems including the M-16A4 service rifle, the M-4 carbine, the M-249 Squad Automatic Weapon, the M-240B medium machinegun, the M18A1 Claymore mine and smoke and fragmentation grenades.
“Brilliance in the basics is essential,” said Gunnery Sgt. Michael Hussey, company gunnery sergeant, Headquarters and Service Company. “If you want to be a successful leader you have to get back to the basics. That’s what the purpose of this course was.”
The course taught effective combined arms use and effective use of suppression during fire and movement, both important skills for infantry Marines.
The course will be used by the Marines as they return to their platoons to help them better understand the role of small unit leaders and their responsibilities. The battalion is scheduled to deploy next spring.