MARINE CORPS TRAINING AREA BELLOWS, Hawaii -- Bellowing through the small security outpost, 1st Lt. Derek McVay, heavy machine gun platoon commander, 1st platoon, Company W, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, summons his trusted platoon sergeant and a salty squad leader to a dimly lit room in the back.
He begins the mission brief with another mission close on the horizon. The mission is part of 2/3’s second Defense Training Systems predeployment training evolution prior to their winter 2010 deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
The platoon will be conducting a dismounted patrol in the city of Kosrabad within MCTAB’s military operations in urban terrain training facility, the Springfield, Va., native said. The time on deck was approximately 9 a.m. on May 26.
During the patrol, the platoon will interdict enemy activity while providing security in the local area, develop greater intelligence, and engage key village elders and local nationals in order to improve their living conditions, McVay said.
McVay covers the scheme of maneuver into the city and procedures involving entering buildings, missing Marines, casualty evacuations, and sniper and indirect enemy fire.
The platoon sergeant and squad leaders were ready and took charge of the platoon. Within minutes, they stepped out on patrol.
For the Marines with Company W who have seen combat, they know the value of the predeployment training.
Executing this type of cultural training is very beneficial to all deploying Marines, said Lance Cpl. Steven Goforth, squad leader, 2nd squad, 1st platoon, Company W, 2/3.
“Going through this training prior to our deployment [with 2/3 in support of OEF, 2009] helped me out a lot,” said Goforth, a native of Tampa, Fla. “On my first patrol, I got bombarded [by questions] by local nationals, but I knew how to respond to them because of this type of training.”
Once the platoon has entered the town and established security, McVay greets and sits down with the key village elders. Between pleasantries and talk of improving the villagers’ standard of living, a peppery blast of small arms fire rings out in the street.
Amidst the commotion, a squad of Marines bound to the sounds of the fire — a building near the site of the key leader engagement. Tactically and proficiently, the Marines clear the house and neutralize two insurgent role players, an Afghan and a Pakistani.
“You can read about certain situations all you want but once you actually put boots on the ground, even in a training situation, it’s completely different,” said Lance Cpl. Joshua Habingmartinez, team leader, 2nd squad, 1st platoon, Company W, 2/3, and a native of West Windsor, N.J.
The excitement isn’t over. Another Marine spots a 10 pound improvised explosive device near the KLE. The platoon radio operator radios back to the forward operating base and requests the expertise of explosive ordnance disposal. In an instant, they’ve rolled in with a quick reaction force and neutralized the threat.
Unexpectedly, a white sports utility vehicle pulls into the village’s clearing. The Marines do all in their power to halt the driver but it’s too late — the suicide vehicle-borne IED explodes.
A nearby Afghan local national emerges from the dust, blood dripping down his left side. He stumbles to a nearby building and sits down, struggling to breathe. He’s “missing” an eye and has garnered simulated third-degree burns.
The platoon corpsman treats the man, gently reassuring him and squeezing his shoulder. He’s moved from the area as a casualty evacuation amidst a screen of yellow smoke.
Sharp screams and crying grab the attention of the Marines. The man’s brother is very upset and angry his only family in the world’s been taken from him, an interpreter explains.
McVay sits down with the key village leaders and the man, explaining the brother was casualty evacuated and is in stable condition. With noble tact and calming words, he discusses reparation for the injuries and vows to improve village security.
This training in a counterinsurgency environment will aid in developing the mentality and positive mindset of engaging local nationals in country, McVay said.
“The experience we’ve gained here through Afghan local nationals and assets is important to the missions we’ll be conducting in Afghanistan,” McVay said. “We’ve made mistakes but through the hardships we’ve become a stronger platoon — we’re training to become better when we fight.”
Following the patrol, salty Marines from the battalion training cadre, 2/3, debriefed McVay and his platoon’s leadership.
“The mission brief was awesome,” said Lance Cpl. Ricky Ames, battalion cadre, 2/3, and a native of Portland, Maine, as he evaluated the platoon’s performance. “You had great tactical patience when you heard the pop shots and reacted well to the small arms fire. Good on you for not getting sucked into the small arms fire — this allowed you to focus on the vehicle borne IED.”
For many of the cadre’s lance corporals and corporals, the feedback and knowledge they provided comes from personal experience gained on numerous deployments. All have been hand-selected for the cadre based on their experience and many have been through leadership courses such as infantry squad leader’s course or assault leader’s course, Ames said.
“With nearly all these situations, we’ve been there and done it,” said Lance Cpl. John Haines, battalion cadre, 2/3, and native of Crossbill, Ala. “We’ve had the time to evaluate the situations we’ve been in and see what works — and now we can pass that knowledge on here.”
This experience was acknowledged and appreciated from the top of the leadership down.
“The cadre was very professional and gave us great feedback,” McVay said. “They’ve provided insight based on the situations they’ve been in and have helped out a lot.”
Judging by the maturity, proficiency and cohesion of the 1st platoon Marines, they’re ready to face the realities of a combat environment, said Yousef Noor, Afghan foreign language specialist, Defense Training Systems, and a native of Kabul, Afghanistan.
“The Marines handled this situation very calmly and in a professional manner,” Noor said. “They went through a lot but stayed on top of things while maintaining security in the town.”
Between two very different cultures, the Marines’ being able to relate to the Afghans builds necessary trust and respect. “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail,” Noor said.