Company B gains knowledge on IED lane patrol

Photo By Cpl. Crystal Druery | Company B recruits firemens carry simulated casualties to the safe zone during the Improvised Explosive Device lane May 1 aboard Edson Range, Weapons Field Training Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. This trail is one of many obstacles recruits have to overcome during the Crucible. IED lane teaches future Marines what IED's look like and how important it is to be careful at all times.  

SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES

05.01.2012

Story by Lance Cpl. Crystal Druery 

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego     

SAN DIEGO — A combat boot steps on a metal plate causing a large explosion of white smoke that fills the air. Recruits hit the deck and secure the perimeter while carrying fellow recruits that were hit with the white smoke to safety.

Recruits take on this course during the Crucible, a 54-hour test that while sleep and food deprived, they must overcome numerous team building obstacles. The Improvised Explosive Device Lane is an important test Company B completed, May 1, aboard Edson Range, Weapons and Field Training Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

“We’ve lost a lot of Marines from IED’s,” said Sgt. Matthew Harmon, senior drill instructor, Platoon 1029, Company B, 1st Recruit Training Battalion.

The IED lane simulates patrols Marines go on during deployments. Recruits learn by simply not paying attention to their every step, they can lose limbs or lives.

“It’s important to know what were looking for if we’re deployed,” said Pfc. Otis Orlando, Plt. 2029, Company B, 1st RTBn. “This showed us how careless people can be and what can happen if they are careless.”

Prior to reaching week 11, recruits are given a class on what IED’s are, the different types and how to detect them while on patrol. While on the lane, recruits encounter one obvious IED to throw them off of one of two simulated IED’s that hit the recruits with white smoke. Two field instructors walk along with the recruits, making sure they understand what’s going on during the trail.

“We teach them the latest types of IED’s they might run into in Afghanistan,” said Fernando Sotelo, field instructor, Edson Range, WFTBn., MCB Camp Pendleton.

The field instructors reiterate the basic knowledge about IED’s that the recruits had already been taught. They go into the three main components of IED’s: types of compacts and charges, power sources and activators.

“We’ve experienced IED’s first hand, so we volunteered to be here and pass on what we know to recruits,” said Sotelo.

At the end of the trail, recruits gather around the field instructors to go over everything they just experienced and ask questions. Orlando expressed how difficult it was to communicate during the patrol.

“This is a small step for the new Marines to understand what they need to know about IED’s,” said Harmon.

This is just one event on the Crucible. The drill instructors that have given them tough love during the prior 11-weeks, now guide the recruits and answer questions they might have.

“The Crucible transforms recruits into Marines,” said Harmon, “It’s an important part of recruit training, it’s a time where we can give them mentorship.”

Once they finish the Crucible, Company B will receive their Eagle, Globe and Anchor and graduate recruit training, May 11. They will then further their training at Marine Combat Training aboard MCB Pendleton.

• Date Taken: 05.01.2012
• Date Posted: 05.11.2012 11:34
• Story ID: 88311
• Location: SAN DIEGO, CA, US