MARINE CORPS TRAINING AREA BELLOWS, Hawaii -- Marines assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, participated in predeployment training requirements at MCTAB, May 20 to 27.
In coordination with contractor Defense Training Systems, the Island Warriors executed the weeklong training evolution for the second time in recent months. They are slated to support I Marine Expeditionary Force on an Operation Enduring Freedom deployment in winter 2010.
“The mission of the training evolution is to allow the platoon commanders to tactically exercise their platoons in a COIN [counterinsurgency operations] environment in preparation for our upcoming OEF deployment,” said Lt. Col. John Evans, battalion commanding officer, 2/3, and a native of Tupelo, Miss. “It’s our last major training event for COIN prior to being evaluated at Enhanced Mojave Viper.”
During the evolution, 2/3 Marines practiced quick reaction forces, vehicle control points and entry control points and executed mounted and dismounted patrols. On the patrols, they employed Humvees and Oshkosh M-ATVs, the Marine Corps’ new mine resistant ambush protected armored fighting vehicles.
“The training evolution is part of a building block process,” said Sgt. Maj. Chet Houston, battalion sergeant major, 2/3, and a native of Ark City, Kan. “It’s set up so the Marines who’ve been on one or two deployments can pass their knowledge on to the brand new Marines.”
Before each patrol, these squad leaders and assistant patrol leaders sat down with their Marines for mission briefings. They outlined the patrol’s mission, described the area of operations, identified personnel of interest and covered rules of engagement.
“Having experience within the platoons helps out the younger Marines,” said Sgt. Patrick Kennedy, platoon sergeant, Company F, 2nd platoon, 2/3 and a native of Portage, Ind. “The senior Marines are open with their combat experiences and help make the training as realistic as possible. We [the senior Marines] already know how to do things, so it’s up to us to ensure the younger Marines know how.”
In the middle of the dismounted patrols, each squad had the opportunity to partake in a “Cultural Lane” class taught by Afghan DTS employees.
“This is the second refresher class for the junior Marines before they go on their first pump [deployment],” said Lance Cpl. Jordan Christman, squad leader, 2/3, Company F, 2nd platoon, 1st squad, and a native of Houston. “In the class, you learn some Pashto, customs and courtesies, and eat some Afghan food. It’s pretty interesting.”
During the class, an interpreter taught the Marines common Pashto words and phrases, while another gave an in-depth explanation of Afghan culture, history, ethnic composition and languages.
“DTS #2 is an excellent [counterinsurgency operations] training tool,” Houston said. “It puts Marines in the warrior mindset. Killing the enemy isn’t hard — finding them is. This training helps us find them.”
He stressed the importance of practicing COIN procedures, which he said would enable the Marines to effectively deal with injury, security and taking care of the populace. “It’s all about total absorption and realistic training,” Houston said.
An experienced training cadre of 2/3 Marines worked with DTS to set up the COIN operations scenarios and evaluate squad response and performance, Kennedy said.
Though the scenarios varied in mission, many included executing key leader engagements, meeting with tribal elders and building rapport within the villages. At times, peaceful situations developed into hostile ones and the Marines were forced to deal with improvised explosive device blasts.
The squads of infantryman weren’t the only Marines preparing for combat.
Sniper teams from 2/3 aided in the training by continuously conducting reconnaissance, collecting information and developing intelligence pictures out of the urban town, said 1st Lt. Joseph D. McNamara, executive officer, 2/3, Company G.
Between patrols, Marine Corps Base Hawaii explosive ordnance disposal gave classes to familiarize the infantry Marines with IEDs. They showed examples of IEDs insurgents have employed in theater, discussed how to detect them and explained the characteristics of those used in Afghanistan.
In addition, EOD responded to threats of possible IEDs, IED calls and blasts, allowing them to practice link-up procedures with on-scene commanders when integrating into infantry quick reaction forces.
Engineers assigned to 3rd Marine Regiment held generator mechanics classes, teaching Marines how to assess and address generator problems in a mechanic’s absence.
The DTS #2 evolution further prepares the 2/3 Marines for their involvement as the ground combat element in the upcoming Rim of the Pacific Exercise.
Following RIMPAC, the battalion will complete predeployment training requirements with their evaluation at Enhanced Mojave Viper, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif.