Alpha Company trains for first time as unit

CAMP SCHWAB, OKINAWA, JAPAN

04.02.2010

Story by Lance Cpl. Colby Brown 

Landing Force Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training

CENTRAL TRAINING AREA, Okinawa, Japan -- Almost 200 Marines and sailors from Alpha Company of the Marine Corps Landing Force, participating in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training 2010, trained as a unit for the first time here, March 22 to April 2.

The training event was part of a two-week evolution where half the company trained at the Jungle Warfare Training Center and the other at CTA for one week and then switched.

"We've got Marines coming from three different battalions that have never worked together before," said Capt. William McRae, company commander, Alpha Company. "My number one priority is unit cohesion -- let the unit get to know each other and learn to trust one another."

This was the first field exercise Alpha has completed as an independent unit since it's activation in early March. It included integration with the Assault Amphibious Vehicle platoon, small unit patrols, night operations and classes on basic infantry skills.

"We're doing this for our platoon commanders, platoon sergeants, squad leaders and fire team leaders to interface with their units, build unit cohesion and develop tactics, techniques and procedures," McRae said.

Each squad went out into the jungle and set up a patrol base or a forward operating base. From there, they would set up their own patrols and classes on basic infantry skills.

They practiced hand and arm signals, communication between patrols and bases, and detecting and setting up ambushes.

This being the units' first time conducting a field training operation, one of the main objectives was building standard operating procedures at the squad level. Allowing the Marines the opportunity to get to know each other in their fire team, squad and platoon was one advantage of the training

"There are 1,000 ways to skin a cat," said Cpl. Phil Cichy, 2nd squad leader, 1st platoon, Alpha. "It is interesting to see what everyone's SOP is. We are all from the same regiment but everyone works differently."

With more time in the field and more time working as a unit, the men of Alpha came together as a unit and will continue to do so throughout their upcoming deployment to the Southeast Asian Pacific.

"At first it was difficult, but things start to click and I enjoy it," said Lance Cpl. Cody Kummer, rifleman, 2nd Squad, 1st Platoon, Alpha.

The completion of this training signifies the first opportunity Alpha has had to learn how each other operate in the field.

"If we didn't have this training, we wouldn't be able to operate at all," said Sgt. Matt Renkas, 1st Platoon commander, Alpha. "A lot of the Marines in this unit are brand new, so working on the basics allows them to not only learn from their leaders but get to know them as well."

This training helped Alpha Company build unit camaraderie, unit cohesion and habitual working relationships from the fire team level to the platoon level.

"This is the first time I am able to allow the platoon commanders to train their Marines," McRae said. "They're not in a classroom; they are out in the field. This allows all the Marines the opportunity to get to know their leaders."

• Date Taken: 04.02.2010
• Date Posted: 04.04.2010 20:55
• Story ID: 47686
• Location: CAMP SCHWAB, OKINAWA, JP