3/2 Marines Train for TRAP

Photo By Sgt. John Baker | Lieutenant Colonel Justin Knox, the operations officer for Marine Aircraft Group 31 and a Hayward, Calif., native, holds a de-brief after the Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel training mission during the Integrated Training Exercise aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Nov. 8, 2014. The purpose of the mission was to simulate recovering a downed pilot.  

TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, UNITED STATES

11.08.2014

Story by Lance Cpl. John Baker 

I Marine Expeditionary Force

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Marines with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, participated in a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel training mission aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, Nov. 8, 2014. The training was a part of Integrated Training Exercise 1-15.

As the night rolled in, the Marines of Weapons Company received a call that there was a downed pilot and they immediately started planning. Leading the Marines was Cpt. James Vega, the executive officer for Weapons Company.

“Tonight we had close-air support supporting us on the deck,” said Vega, from Kailua, Hawaii. ”They clear any enemy out of the area before we insert the TRAP force.”

In an isolated personnel scenario like the one they were given, it is important that they act fast to rescue the survivor.

“We plan and execute on a very short timeline,” said Vega. “From the time we got the call to the time we got in the air, it was less than two hours. Once we had the grid of the isolated personnel we were out the door, so there’s really not a whole lot of time to plan.”

Before the mission was executed, every Marine was briefed about the isolated personnel. They received information about the stranded individual that can be used to identify them so they can be sure that they have the right person.

“It’s not the ground force commander and it’s not the staff sergeant supporting him that’s going out and grabbing the isolated personnel,” said Vega. “It’s a lance corporal grabbing a pilot who’s been on the ground for probably several hours, so it’s important that they understand and know what’s going on.”

During missions like this it is crucial that Marines keep positive accountability of each other so that no one is left behind.

Lance Cpl. Khwamek Johnson, an M240 gunner with Weapons Company from Natchitoches Louisiana, explains simple methods they use to ensure accountability.

“We do what’s called a MACO (Marshaling Area Control Officer) gate,” said Johnson. “Our staff sergeant stands to one side and counts everybody as they pass him to make sure we have accountability.”

All Marine Expeditionary Units hold the capability to conduct TRAP missions. It is one of the many essential parts of the Marine Air Ground Task Force.

“Weapons platoons are known to do TRAP missions,” said Johnson. “It’s important for us to know how to do this because if we don’t, then we can’t find that person.”

Training missions like practicing for TRAP are part of what makes the MAGTF America’s fully scalable, continually ready response force.

• Date Taken: 11.08.2014
• Date Posted: 11.17.2014 18:44
• Story ID: 148085
• Location: TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, US
• Hometown: KAILUA, HI, US
• Hometown: NATCHITOCHES, LA, US