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GLOBE Serving Camp Lejeune and surrounding areas since 1944
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 29, 2011
WWW.CAMPLEJEUNEGLOBE.COM
VOLUME 73 EDITION 39
CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN
FORT PICKETT, VA.
SGT. RICHARD BLUMENSTEIN 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit
As a door flings open, two Marines rush in with their weapons drawn and pointed forward. The second Marine through the door shoulderchecks it, to force it to remain open. They shout one after another: “Left side clear!” “Right side clear!” The training stops. Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Alvarez calls the two Marines out of the room. He critiques their techniques, gives them feedback and makes them do it again. The Marines of Company B, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, spent three days conducting Military Operations in Urban Terrain, at the Urban Assault Course at Fort Pickett, Va, recently. The training focused on enhancing the unit’s MOUT capabilities, the processes of tactically clearing rooms of enemy combatants, at the fireteam, squad and platoon levels, according to Alvarez, an infantry unit leader with first platoon.
Secretary of the Navy visits Afghan training center
“The purpose p of this training is to make sure we are pr proficient roficient in MOUT operations, and able to carry y them out anywhere the Marine Corps C needs,” he said. The Marines M focused on enhancing the ab abilities bilities of their junior Marines by forcing ngg them to perform numerous rehearsals under u the guidance of their senior leadership. ip p. “If their heeir technique is messed up, we’ll stop them and nd d have them reset,” said Sgt. Justin Orange, thee second platoon guide. “We will show them thee basic technique for it, and they will adw we show them.” just off what Sometimes, etiimes, the sergeants would be in the stacks, sometimes o ometimes they would be off to the sidee observing, but they always worked to o correct the junior Marines’ SEE URBAN 4A
CPL. DANIEL WULZ II Marine Expeditionary Forcre (Forward)
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus visited Joint Sustainment Academy Southwest aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Sept. 20, to witness first-hand the ongoing training of Afghan National Security Forces. Mabus walked through several classes with Maj. Gen. John A. Toolan, commanding general of Regional Command Southwest, and Maj. Andrew V. Martinez the academy’s director. “The literacy training, but also the specific schools that they go through, (have) very high standards and very high enthusiasm,” said Mabus. “I think that what it does is get us on a road as we draw down our combat capabilities, they're going to be there in place with the skills, with the training ready to do what they need to do to keep a stable Afghanistan.” The secretary also SEE SECRETARY 11A
Photos by Lance Cpl. Michael Petersheim
(Above) Marines with Company B, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, conduct Military Operations in Urban Terrain training at the Urban Assault Course on Fort Pickett, Va., recently. (Right) Marines and sailors with Company B, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment conduct Military Operations in Urban Terrain training at the Urban Assault Course on Fort Pickett, Va.
Tanks, infantry get back to their roots by working together PFC. PHILLIP R. CLARK 2nd Marine Division
Marines with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion and 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, participated in a six-day training exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, recently. The exercise consisted of numerous types of training for 2nd Tank Bn., such as offensive and defensive fundamentals, combat town, night defense lane and a nuclear, biological and chemical defense lane with M-1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks. While such training is conducted multiple times a year, at the battalion level, it occurs less often. “The training we conduct is great infantry-tank integration. As far as how beneficial this training is for us and the (infantry), I don’t think we can get enough training like it,” said Capt. Aaron C. Smithley, 2nd
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Tank Bn. “It also helps the units that are attached to us because once they learn our capabilities, they can use it to their advantage and increase their fire power and potential to attack the enemy by ten-fold.” The goal of the training and biggest challenge for the infantry unit is to learn what tanks can and cannot do and how use them to their advantage to better support attack and defensive maneuvers. “It sends the picture out that we can provide the security and we have the knowledge that we can also attack the enemy as well as providing protection,” said Smithley. “The platoon sergeants had to think about their decisions through this exercise as well as be able to formulate a plan of intent and apply it in a timely manner.” The culminating event was the combat town where in a simulated fire fight, insurgent-roleplayers fired at Marines as they infiltrated a town to eliminate the enemy threat. Included in the exercise were
Photo by Pfc. Phillip R. Clark
Marines with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion and 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, gather around Brig. Gen. Walter L. Miller Jr., the acting commanding general of the 2nd Marine Division, as he talks with them about what he liked and what needed improvement with the recently completed exercise. wounded Marine role-players, rocket propelled grenades and improvised explosive device detonations that simulated what to do if a tank was taken out or numerous Marines were injured at one time. “With infantry, I think training like this is the best any one of us can get because
we bring a lot to the fight, such as weaponry and optics that the (infantry) don’t have,” said Sgt. John A. Ramson, platoon sergeant, 2nd Tank Bn. “It’s a big deal to do exercises like this, so that (infantry SEE WORKING 4A
Company F, Anti-Terrorism Battalion trains to assault the enemy with support by fire LANCE CPL. JOSHUA J. HINES Photo by Lance Cpl. Joshua J. Hines
MARINES STRIVE TO COMPETE WITH INFANTRY BRETHREN PAGE 7A LEJEUNE SPORTS 1B INSIDE LEJEUNE 1C CLASSIFIEDS 4C CAROLINA LIVING 1D
Sgt. Jacob Lowe, a squad leader with first platoon, Company F, Anti-Terrorism Battalion, attached to 2nd Marine Division, watches his Marines’ performance during the squad-based support by fire assault course, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, recently. The course was part of a training exercise in which the platoons cycled through events such as the assault course, an offensive attack and holding a defensive position.
2nd Marine Division
A grenade ignites, spilling a cloud of smoke into the air as Marines with first platoon, Company F, Anti-Terrorism Battalion, attached to 2nd Marine Division, rush through the grass while supported by heavy machine gun fire. One by one, the Marines bound toward the enemy, continuing their relentless assault. A shot rings out and the last target falls thanks to the Marines’ quick thinking and experienced use of tactics. This scene repeated itself throughout the week, as each platoon with Company F, pushed through the squad-based fire assault course, conducted aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, recently. The course was part of a training exercise in which the platoons cycled through events, such as the assault course, an offensive attack and holding a defensive position. “It's important to train on all facets of the basics,” said Capt. Juan Cristales, inspector-trainer, Anti-Terrorism Battalion. “This range not only helped the Marines understand concepts such as fire and movement, but SEE ANTI-TERRORISM 11A