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VOLUME 75, EDITION 9
The
GL BE SERVING CAMP LEJEUNE AND SURROUNDING AREAS SINCE 1944
26th MEU readies for what may come | 5A WWW.LEJEUNE.MARINES.MIL
African Lion 2013
Service members train for Morocco | 9A THURSDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2013
Photo by Lance Cpl. Austin Long
A Marine with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment refuses to allow a puddle of water from keeping him complete his part of the job. Marines used a strategy known as buddy rushing while taking an enemy machine-gun nest at Shooting Range 6 Feb. 11. Buddy rushing is when one Marine fires at enemy targets while another Marine runs ahead a few yards before stopping and telling the first Marine to move forward while he fires at targets. LANCE CPL. AUSTIN LONG 2nd Marine Division
“We are a force in readiness,” said Sgt. Joshua Washington, a squad leader with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. “Although we are training to prepare for our deployment to Okinawa, we still need to be ready to go anywhere in the world.” Washington’s squad conducted a live-fire exercise Feb. 11 at Shooting Range - 6 as part of a seven-day battalion field operation in preparation for the battalion’s upcoming scheduled deployment. During the field op,
the squad practiced establishing a squad defensive position, patrolling, military operations on urban terrain, and counter improvised explosive device training. As a squad leader, Washington issued a five paragraph order, an order telling his Marines how to complete the mission objective. It allows him to see an estimate of how many men and what types of equipment the enemy has. Once all the information is collected, Washington then tells his squad in detail what their job will be during the mission and what to do in case of friendly casualties.
After the prep-phase the Marines check their sights and conduct practice runs before conducting the livefire range where they use real ammunition to fire on targets while moving through an open field using various tactics. “Training was outstanding so far,” he said. “I have well qualified team leaders training the new Marines to accomplish the mission and then to go above what is asked of them for mission success. As long as the Marines below me are learning something, I accomplished my job.” During the exercise, Marine riflemen move from their wooded cover
position out to the open field. Then they move down range performing buddy rushes, a fire and maneuver technique allowing one Marine to move in a leap frog fashion while another Marine fires on targets ahead of the squad. While the squad is moving, a machine gun crew provides suppressive fire on a machine gun nest, shifting its fire ahead of the platoon once the squad leader tells them to. Once the squad fired all ammunition, a Marine who is monitoring the exercise will select a Marine in the squad to have a simulated casualty, which allows the
corpsman to practice his job and the squad to practice what to do if a Marine is injured while attacking an objective. “Whenever I hear,” ‘corpsman up’ or ‘Marine hit,’ I go straight to the area the call is coming from,” said seaman Michael Bryson, a corpsman with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines. “Usually by the time I arrive on scene the Marine is already telling me what’s wrong and where he is hit.” “Before I begin assessing the injury, I have a Marine post security for me,” said the corpsman. “Once the security is posted, I immediately
COMBAT OUTPOST PASSERLAY, AFGHANISTAN
ANA coordinates, leads operation through Trek Nawa SGT. BOBBY YARBROUGH
Regional Command Southwest
Using an oversized sand table as a terrain model, Afghan National Army Col. Mohammad Sarwar points to a spot within the sand where soldiers will construct a patrol base for the Afghan Uniform Police. As the executive officer of the 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, Sarwar is presenting a plan for conducting a clearing operation Feb. 10-12 within Trek Nawa, a sparsely populated area within Helmand province known for sheltering insurgents. The 1st Brigade completed clearing operations within the area before however, this time the unit will establish three permanent patrol bases for local police units. The bases will be used to provide security to the local communities and prevent the insurgents from gaining a stronger foothold in the province. To accomplish this,
Photo by Sgt. Bobby J. Yarbrough
Looking through the back glass of a Mine-Resistant, Ambush Protected vehicle, members of the Afghan National Army secure a landing zone at Combat Outpost Passerlay Feb. 11. Sarwar gathered military and police officials from throughout the region to coordinate and finalize an assault plan.
The meeting room is full an assembly of brigade officers and noncommissioned officers, as well as the ANA Kandak
commanders who will lead the mission. The Marjah, Nad’ Ali and Nawa district police chiefs are also in attendance. One by one, the leaders present the details of the three-day operation. The brigade operations officer, intelligence officer and medical officer voice their mission responsibilities to the group. Kandak commanders brief their unit’s battle plan, emphasizing their capabilities and tasks when small aspects of the operation become muddled Sarwar reemphasizes every detail, eliminating any doubts amongst the commanders. In the corner, a small team of Marines sits quietly, listening to the specifics of the operation. The Marines are part of the 1st Brigade Security Force Assistance Advisor Team tasked with mentoring and training the Afghans. Today, their assistance isn’t SEE OPERATION 11A
check for bright red blood spurting from the wound. If there isn’t any I don’t apply a tourniquet, but if there is then I will according to the wound.” “The training is a great refresher. I’m able to refresh my knowledge of woodland warfare and get in the mindset of a cold, wet climate,” said Bryson. “I love being out here with the Marines. Taking care of these guys, and making sure the junior corpsman know their job and what’s expected of them.” Not only is the battalion focused on preparing for a deployment, they also SEE OKINAWA 11A
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