'Train as you fight': 7th Engineer Support Battalion Marines enhance combat skills, prep for Afghanistan

Photo By Cpl. Jacob A. Singsank | Combat engineer Marines with Company B, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, posts security while on a foot-patrol exercise during the basic enhanced combat skills course at Camp Pendleton's Camp De Luz's Combat Skills Training Center, June 11. Roughly 100 Marines with 7th ESB conducted the BCS course that's required training for all non-infantry units prior to deploying. The course offers a variety of training that Marines will perform in a hostile country.  

CAMP PENDLETON, CA, UNITED STATES

06.12.2009

Story by Cpl. Jacob A. Singsank 

1st Marine Logistics Group

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Marines receive realistic training for Afghanistan by conducting exercises in a similar environment.

Marines with Company B, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, participated in the Basic Enhanced Combat Skills course to better prepare them for their upcoming deployment to Afghanistan at Camp De Luz's Combat Skills Training Center here June 8 — 12.

"We're here to prepare the Marines before they deploy to Afghanistan," said Sgt. David M. Scott, a CST instructor with CST School, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st MLG. "The course gives the Marines a basic idea of what to expect in country."

Approximately 100 Marines with 7th ESB conducted the BCS course that's required training for all non-infantry units prior to deploying. The course trains Marines in a variety of skills that prepare them to perform in hostile countries. They learned how to protect forward operation bases through routine patrols.

"We're out here training on the infantry side instead of our job specific," said Cpl. Jesus K. Penacuevas, a combat engineer with 7th ESB.

Service members are given instruction on how to perform mounted and dismounted patrols, conduct vehicle and entry control points and military operations in urban terrain.

"The [new] MOUT town is going to drastically improve the Marines' urban operations," said Scott, 28, from Sonora, Calif. "The design is structured for worst case scenarios."

Those worst case scenarios included a simulated improvised explosive device attack, followed by the enemy progressing on them.

Role players and simulated IEDs were used during the combat exercises to offer more realistic training for the Marines and Sailors. The instructors took service members on patrols through steep and rocky terrain to prepare them for the Afghanistan environment.

"The training here is hands-on and very realistic," said Lance Cpl. Jose J. Renteria, a combat engineer with 7th ESB. "You can't learn as well by reading from a text book."

Combat skills training instructors presented classes to 7th ESB Marines and Sailors, then had them conduct practical applications over the knowledge they had learned. Service members were tested on a variety of tasks to include six-kilometer foot patrols, FOB protection and full-scale offensives through the MOUT town. The instructors offered an abundance of knowledge from their own deployments to better prepare the Marines and Sailors. They shared their experiences with enemy contact and the courses of action they took to stay alive and continue with the mission.

"The course instructors shared their deployment experiences during the classes," said Renteria, 20, from Fontana, Calif. "It gives us a little scenario on what to expect."

Combat skills training instructors taught 7th ESB service members the information needed during the first couple of days of the course, then they stood back and observed throughout the last half. The course instructors provided the students the tools required to lead and conduct operations in Afghanistan.

"The non-commissioned officers have prepared the junior Marines and Sailors on how to conduct themselves outside the wire," said Penacuevas, 19, from Las Vegas.

The knowledge 7th ESB service members gained from the training exercise will be vital while performing missions in hostile environments. The better understanding of combat skills Marines and Sailors obtain will increase the proficiency while completing their tasks in Afghanistan.

• Date Taken: 06.12.2009
• Date Posted: 06.16.2009 11:42
• Story ID: 35153
• Location: CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US