MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii -- Sergeants fast rope into history
Sergeant's Course learns urban warfare
Cpl. Charles E. Moore
Sergeant's Course 5-00 implemented new training as students came to the rescue of a downed pilot by fast roping into Schofield Barracks' military operations in urban terrain town July 13.
The exercise was the first time the Sergeant's Course has attempted fast-roping or urban training.
Twenty Marines fast-roped on to the Best West Motel before clearing the building and moving on to their tactical recovery of aircraft personnel mission.
"The Marine Corps is leaning towards MOUT," said Staff Sgt. Rogelio Cervantes, the tactics instructor. "The Sergeant's Course has never done something like this. It went well."
The Marines spent a lot of time preparing for the MOUT and TRAP exercises. The Sergeant's course started with about two and one half hours of classroom training before doing practical exercises in empty base houses. Cervantes said the MOUT exercise brought all their knowledge of MOUT together.
The Marines started the 36-hour field evolution that morning at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows. Two CH-53D Sea Stallions gave them a ride to Schofield.
Once at Schofield, the sergeants fast-roped onto the building and proceeded to clear it. The Marines applied the knowledge they had learned as they cleared the four floors of the building that contained a simulated enemy force.
After clearing the building, the Marines tactically moved through the rest of the town to rescue the pilot. Once the mission was complete, they evacuated the area on helicopters and flew back to Bellows to finish the field exercise.
"The main goal was to reinforce the knowledge these Marines got in the classroom," Cervantes said. "They learn about it when they get hands-on training."
The exercise had other benefits as well, he said.
"A lot of these Marines had never fast-roped or been on a helicopter, and were afraid of heights," Cervantes said. "That all went out the window."
Some of the students were glad they had to face those fears.
"I'm scared of heights, so it was a heck of a training evolution for me," said Sgt. Jamie L. Thompson, a student. "My platoon was doing it, so I had to. I'd do it again."
Forcing the Marines to overcome their fears is something they were trying to do.
"We wanted to do a confidence builder for the Marines," Cervantes said. "They're all leaders, they've got to lead from the front."