2/9 steps up IED awareness in northern Marjah

Photo By Cpl. Andrew Johnston | A Marine with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, simulates the emplacement of an improvised...... read more read more

Photo By Cpl. Andrew Johnston | A Marine with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, simulates the emplacement of an improvised explosive device, during 2/9’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal Support Company’s advanced IED training course Aug. 5, aboard Forward Operating Base Sher Wali, Afghanistan.  see less | View Image Page

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHER WALI, AFGHANISTAN

08.05.2010

Story by Pfc. Andrew Johnston 

I Marine Expeditionary Force

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FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHER WALI, Afghanistan - Step by step, a group of Marines moved slowly down the road, their eyes scanning delicately the ground that lay ahead.

A Marine shouts, ‘Hey I think I see something!’ Before he could finish his words a chest-pounding thud ripped through the air, rattling the Marines that stood there in shock.

Watching the dust from a simulated, improvised explosive device settle to the earth, the Marines high-fived each other and laughed, remembering it was only a training exercise.

For the past year, Marines and sailors with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, have been training for their deployment to Afghanistan. In order to stay one step ahead of the enemy and continue that training, 2/9’s direct-support explosive ordnance disposal team with1st EOD Company, 1st Marine Logistics Group, set up an advanced IED training course to make sure Marines are up-to-date on current enemy procedures and IED techniques.

Warrant Officer Ronnie K. Wilckens, officer in charge of 2/9 EOD, stressed the importance for the unit to continue training even though they are in country and explained how the course prepares them for the specific region they are fighting in.

“Basically we take recovered components from northern Marjah and put them in exactly the way we find them outside the wire,” said Wilckens. “We periodically update the lanes when the threat changes or we see a shift in enemy procedures along with the use of new IED's. We bring the new components back and set up our lanes to ensure our Marines are receiving the latest and greatest intelligence on what is being used out there as far as IED's go.”

One of the main obstacles Marines must overcome outside the wire is being able to distinguish an ordinary pile of dirt from an IED covered in dirt. the course not only trains their eyes to notice small details like this, but ultimately saves countless hours, said Staff Sgt. Spencer A. Meyer, an EOD technician with 2/9.

“The course familiarizes the Marines with the actual threats versus the false or perceived threats, so they know exactly what they are looking for,” said Meyer. “This avoids wasting hours for EOD to check every pile of disturbed earth they come across. It trains them to safely investigate the questioned area and locate key IED indicators.”

Lance Cpl. Lawrence E. Barnes, a food service specialist with 9th Engineer Support Battalion attached to 2/9, noticed that other courses lacked a certain authenticity that this one provided.
Barnes also said that he and other Marines were pulled from their original jobs to provide security on patrols and thanks to the course, he feels a lot more self-assured knowing what to look for when he goes out.

“This lane is way more advanced than any other one I’ve done, it’s a lot more realistic,” said Barnes. “It helps you focus on things you never thought to look for and the explosions really strike a nerve. It’s more frustrating out here because you hit more non IED objects with the metal detectors. It’s not cut-and-dry like others I’ve done. But because of that it betters you and it better prepares you for the realities outside the wire.”

Thanks to the advanced IED course Marines and sailors are learning the specifics to keep them in the fight and save countless lives. The demanding training, although frustrating and tiresome at times, is leaving participants with a sense of accomplishment and confidence that will carry over to the battlefield, said Wilckens.

“Once Marines run through the lanes and we get called out for an IED, they come up to me and say, ‘Hey remember that IED that was in the lane training you showed us? Well it’s right up there, I guarantee it,’ and it turns out to be that exact IED,” said Wilckens. “It builds faith, trust and confidence in what we are doing out here and that goes a long way.”