Swift, silent, deadly: Force Recon breaks down doors

Photo By Cpl. Joshua Brown | Marines with Force Company, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division clear a room after conducting a mechanical breach during a breach and clear exercise aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 15, 2015. Marines with Force Company conducted explosive and mechanical breaches and limited force raids in preparation for future deployments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joshua W. Brown)  

CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, UNITED STATES

01.23.2015

Story by Cpl. Joshua Brown 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marines and sailors with Force Company, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, conducted limited scale raid exercises at a range aboard Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Jan. 16 in preparation for future deployments they might receive.

The limited scale raids tested the Marines by combining several areas of reconnaissance training including breaching, room clearing and enemy detainment.

According to Staff Sgt. Corey A. Gonzalez, a team leader with Force Company, limited scale raids are vital to reconnaissance units because they effectively allow Marines to enter a hostile area and overcome enemy combatants. Gonzalez said each raid is different and Recon Marines have to learn various techniques for breaching and clearing buildings.

During the exercise, Marines practiced breaching techniques by using explosive charges and mechanized tools to gain entrance into fortified buildings. Explosive charges are the primary method used by reconnaissance units to gain entrance into buildings; however, Marines carry secondary tools such as sledgehammers and Halligan bars in the event that an explosive charge fails to detonate.

For many of the Marines, this was their first time using these charges and techniques to gain entry and clear a building.

Sgt. Daniel Burnap, an assistant team leader with Force Company, said for a majority of the Marines this was a new experience. He said the training was great because the facility allowed them to practice breaching scenarios while firing simulated rounds, which is realistic to reconnaissance missions.

The skill levels within the group varied greatly, so the team leaders and assistant team leaders with more experience provided instruction to the inexperienced Marines within their teams. Gonzalez, who has deployed twice to Iraq, said his experiences on deployments have shown him the importance of training and constantly practicing the techniques.

“We train to high standards so we can attain mission success under any circumstance, “said Gonzalez.

Teamwork was stressed throughout the duration of the exercise and team members rotated tasks in an effort to learn the responsibilities associated with each position within the team. Gonzalez said the value of the training for the unit was ensuring each Marine understood the basics of limited scale raids.

“We established a foundation for the junior Marines and executed without hesitation,” said Gonzalez. “In a real scenario, we would gauge our success by mission success. But here, it was all about establishing ourselves as a detachment. We did that very well.”

• Date Taken: 01.23.2015
• Date Posted: 01.23.2015 16:02
• Story ID: 152611
• Location: CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US