Photo By Cpl. Samuel Ellis | Sgt. Cordy Gaeta briefs Marines to use a simulator at the Reserve Support Unit aboard...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. - More than 50 Marines formed up outside the large white domes that house the Virtual Combat Convoy Trainer aboard the Reserve Support Unit on Marine Corps Base Quantico on Sept. 6, 2013.
These Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team Marines from Norfolk, Va., completed a three-day training exercise that prepared them to go into a qualification exercise before deploying oversees. VCCT was their final step.
“We came for a three-day training package,” said Capt. John Davis, platoon commander, 1st FAST, Marine Corps Security Force Regiment. “We had solid round-robin, around-the-clock training before we moved into a four-day mission rehearsal exercise that certifies us to go overseas.”
According to Davis, FAST Marines “deploy overseas in support of critical national security interests and have the ability to lock down embassies specifically. They also augment the security of Marine Security Guards with some added combat power.”
Their training included: night fire ranges, machine gun night optics testing, individual tactics, refining fundamentals, and familiarization with the M-27, Infantry Automatic Rifle. VCCT was important to complete prior to deploying.
“Unlike other Marines, these Marines don’t get a lot of time to do convoys and similar training,” said Sgt. Floyd Rude, 1st FAST squad leader, who has been with the platoon for six months. “Whenever we can get an opportunity to do convoy trainers in places like this, it’s very beneficial to us.”
Other Marines agreed that Marine Corps Base Quantico offers a great place to train.
“I think Quantico offers some of the best training areas you can hope to see in the Marine Corps,” said Davis. “And that goes for the whole base as well as the support staff.”
Lance Cpl. Stephen Marth, 1st FAST team leader, summed up the week and offers advice to other Marines coming through the training.
“These past three or four days are pretty crucial to what we do,” said Marth. “You need a lot of intensity and motivation to complete this course, but I’d encourage others to take it.”
Correspondent: samuel.l.ellis@usmc.mil
| Date Taken: | 09.09.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 09.09.2013 13:39 |
| Story ID: | 113338 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 404 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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