MARINE CORPS TRAINING AREA BELLOWS -- Marine Corps Base Hawaii Marines and sailors participated in a tactical site exploitation exercise at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows during the Combat Hunter Trainer Course, April 23, 2014.
The course is conducted by the School of Infantry West, based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., but supports Detachment Hawaii and is located aboard MCB Hawaii.
Students searched different military operations on urban terrain towns for evidence left by simulated terrorists.
They collected data, photographs and suspicious items that may indicate a possible terrorist attack. They also cleared improvised explosive devices throughout the towns.
Students also learned how to properly gather information without contaminating it, which could mean the difference between an innocent or guilty verdict in court.
Capt. John Dick, officer in charge, Combat Hunter Course, said tactical site exploitation knowledge is important, not only in a combat zone but in any crime scene situation.
“Just because we (are drawing down in Afghanistan) does not mean we won’t have to gather evidence anymore,” Dick said. “The better we are at collecting information, the more we can help the government of whatever nation we find ourselves in.”
The tactical site exploitation training was part of the course’s 15-day curriculum. The course certifies the students as combat hunters and trainers to instruct the Marines and sailors under their charge, at their units.
“(The course is) extremely valuable,” said Cpl. Scott Boyles, student in the course. “This would help my Marines sharpen their skills. Once you learn a little, you want to keep going.”
Beyond tactical site exploitation, the course teaches Marines and sailors physical and environmental surveillance skills such as tracking, enhanced observation and basic profiling.
Through tracking, students can potentially identify features like the weight, direction and sense of urgency of their target. Students can also determine potentially dangerous situations by using basic profiling skills to better gauge individuals.
“Combat Hunter isn’t just about combat, it’s about enhanced situational awareness wherever you are,” said Dick, a native of Livingston, Scotland. “The course uses different schools of thought to enhance their education. We teach them to identify things like workplace violence before it happens, pre-event indicators of a sexual assault. We teach them behavioral techniques to identify drug and alcohol abusers to better police their Marines.”
In addition to basic combat hunting skills, students also hone their military leadership skills as service members.
“We create a more mature noncommissioned officer, giving them more experience,” Dick said. “We teach them enhanced situational awareness and being proactive vice reactive.”