thedrifter
08-04-04, 07:36 AM
2nd FAST trains with British Royal Marines.
Submitted by: 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism)
Story Identification #: 20048375120
Story by Cpl. Sharon E. Fox
NAVAL WEAPONS STATION YORKTOWN, Va. (Aug. 3, 2004) -- The Fleet Protection Group British Royal Marines and the 2nd Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team, Marine Corps Security Force Battalion, 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism) conducting training here as part of the ongoing joint exercise Tartan Eagle, a multi-location exercise with approximately three weeks in the U.S. and three weeks in the United Kingdom.
During the three-week evolution, the Marines go through various training phases including enhanced marksmanship trianing, endurance training and helicopter operations.
“This training is much different from what we are taught back home,” said Private Tom J. Wheelton, a rifleman in the Royal Marines. “The instructors really helped us with quick reaction and precision shooting skills. It’s pretty amazing how thorough they (USMC) are with their marksmanship.”
Sergeant Liborio Rivera, non-commissioned officer for the automated range, noticed how quickly the Brits learned the pistol skills.
“They said this was different shooting than what they were used to,” said Rivera, a Bronx, N.Y., native. “The pop-up targets really got them pumped to shoot because it was different from a regular pistol range.”
Besides marksmanship, the British and U.S. Marines conducted a physical training evolution with pistol shooting, water jug carry, casualty carry, log physical training, pugil-stick fighting, 240-golf assembly and convoy security. The teams had to run to each of the stations, which were two to three miles apart.
Private First Class Joshua K. Garret, sentry for 5th platoon, was one of the pugil-stick warriors to face off with the Brits.
“They get really loud and aggressive,” said Garret, a Galax, Va. native. “They have great intensity, but we still beat them during the face-off though.”
Even though the British Marines were more accustomed to different training, they all showed great enthusiasm for the course with 2nd FAST.
“It’s always a great opportunity to train with the USMC,” said Col. Ian P. Huntley, commanding officer, fleet protection group, BRM. “We’ve been doing this training for six years now and we learn something new every time.”
Fast roping and special patrol insertion/extraction (SPIE) rigging seemed to be one of the most exciting parts of training for the Brits.
“It’s such a rush sliding out of a helicopter and also very fun to just hang off a rope hundreds of feet in the air,” said 2nd Lieutenant Tristan Pengelly, troop commander for the British. “Both ourselves and the U.S. Marines have been going through the helicopter operations rather quickly. If we actually had to conduct a real-life operation right now, they’d be more than capable to pull it off successfully.”
Even with the long hours of training, the Marines kept their energy going to share and learn from their fellow AT warriors.
“It’s just exciting for our lads to go through training that they’re not used to,” added Huntley, a Faslane, Scotland, native. “The U.S. Marines have that ooh-rah, kill mentality and our lads feed off that and really exceed our expectations.”
Both the U.S. and British Marines will be moving into the second training evolution in the United Kingdom during the first three weeks of August.
“Our Marines are really thrilled to have the U.S. Marines in our homeland for the next training evolution,” said Huntley. “We’re looking forward to continuing this joint training and possibly doing even more advanced training in the future.”
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2004838528/$file/spie1_lowres.jpg
NAVAL WEAPONS STATION YORKTOWN, Va.-- A team of U.S. Marines from 2nd Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team, Marine Corps Security Forces Training Battalion, 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism), special patrol insertion/extraction (SPIE) rig from a CH-60S Naval helicopter during Tartan Eagle, a joint training exerice with the British Royal Marines. Photo by: Cpl. Sharon E. Fox
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2004839529/$file/brit-spie2_lowres.jpg
NAVAL WEAPONS STATION YORKTOWN, Va.-- Marines from 2nd Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team, Marine Corps Security Forces Training Battalion, 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism), gives the thumbs up before special patrol insertion/extraction (SPIE) rigging during Tartan Eagle. Photo by: Cpl. Sharon E. Fox
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/2C3AB67E2620487385256EE500412034?opendocument
Ellie
Submitted by: 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism)
Story Identification #: 20048375120
Story by Cpl. Sharon E. Fox
NAVAL WEAPONS STATION YORKTOWN, Va. (Aug. 3, 2004) -- The Fleet Protection Group British Royal Marines and the 2nd Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team, Marine Corps Security Force Battalion, 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism) conducting training here as part of the ongoing joint exercise Tartan Eagle, a multi-location exercise with approximately three weeks in the U.S. and three weeks in the United Kingdom.
During the three-week evolution, the Marines go through various training phases including enhanced marksmanship trianing, endurance training and helicopter operations.
“This training is much different from what we are taught back home,” said Private Tom J. Wheelton, a rifleman in the Royal Marines. “The instructors really helped us with quick reaction and precision shooting skills. It’s pretty amazing how thorough they (USMC) are with their marksmanship.”
Sergeant Liborio Rivera, non-commissioned officer for the automated range, noticed how quickly the Brits learned the pistol skills.
“They said this was different shooting than what they were used to,” said Rivera, a Bronx, N.Y., native. “The pop-up targets really got them pumped to shoot because it was different from a regular pistol range.”
Besides marksmanship, the British and U.S. Marines conducted a physical training evolution with pistol shooting, water jug carry, casualty carry, log physical training, pugil-stick fighting, 240-golf assembly and convoy security. The teams had to run to each of the stations, which were two to three miles apart.
Private First Class Joshua K. Garret, sentry for 5th platoon, was one of the pugil-stick warriors to face off with the Brits.
“They get really loud and aggressive,” said Garret, a Galax, Va. native. “They have great intensity, but we still beat them during the face-off though.”
Even though the British Marines were more accustomed to different training, they all showed great enthusiasm for the course with 2nd FAST.
“It’s always a great opportunity to train with the USMC,” said Col. Ian P. Huntley, commanding officer, fleet protection group, BRM. “We’ve been doing this training for six years now and we learn something new every time.”
Fast roping and special patrol insertion/extraction (SPIE) rigging seemed to be one of the most exciting parts of training for the Brits.
“It’s such a rush sliding out of a helicopter and also very fun to just hang off a rope hundreds of feet in the air,” said 2nd Lieutenant Tristan Pengelly, troop commander for the British. “Both ourselves and the U.S. Marines have been going through the helicopter operations rather quickly. If we actually had to conduct a real-life operation right now, they’d be more than capable to pull it off successfully.”
Even with the long hours of training, the Marines kept their energy going to share and learn from their fellow AT warriors.
“It’s just exciting for our lads to go through training that they’re not used to,” added Huntley, a Faslane, Scotland, native. “The U.S. Marines have that ooh-rah, kill mentality and our lads feed off that and really exceed our expectations.”
Both the U.S. and British Marines will be moving into the second training evolution in the United Kingdom during the first three weeks of August.
“Our Marines are really thrilled to have the U.S. Marines in our homeland for the next training evolution,” said Huntley. “We’re looking forward to continuing this joint training and possibly doing even more advanced training in the future.”
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2004838528/$file/spie1_lowres.jpg
NAVAL WEAPONS STATION YORKTOWN, Va.-- A team of U.S. Marines from 2nd Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team, Marine Corps Security Forces Training Battalion, 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism), special patrol insertion/extraction (SPIE) rig from a CH-60S Naval helicopter during Tartan Eagle, a joint training exerice with the British Royal Marines. Photo by: Cpl. Sharon E. Fox
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2004839529/$file/brit-spie2_lowres.jpg
NAVAL WEAPONS STATION YORKTOWN, Va.-- Marines from 2nd Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team, Marine Corps Security Forces Training Battalion, 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism), gives the thumbs up before special patrol insertion/extraction (SPIE) rigging during Tartan Eagle. Photo by: Cpl. Sharon E. Fox
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/2C3AB67E2620487385256EE500412034?opendocument
Ellie