2nd CEB trains for obstacle demolition

Photo By Sgt. Michelle Reif | Marines with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion dig a hole to set an explosive charge in during an advanced demolition range on Engineer Training Area-7 aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 29, 2015, in order to gain confidence and proficiency in their demolition skills. The battalion conducted this training in preparation for an integrated training exercise taking place aboard Marine Corps Base 29 Palms, Calif., in July. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Michelle Reif/Released)  

CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, UNITED STATES

04.29.2015

Story by Cpl. Michelle Reif 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - “10 seconds!” called out the range officer-in-charge, in warning to the group of Marines gathered in the bunker. “10 seconds!” came their resounding reply. With each second that counted down, the Marines could feel the anticipation growing. They held their breath and counted the last few seconds from the beating of their own hearts, the only sound that still filled the crowded bunker.

Then, the blast came.

Second Combat Engineer Battalion conducted an advanced demolition range at Engineer Training Area-7, April 29, 2015, in order to gain confidence and proficiency in their demolition skills.

“We are going back to the basics,” said Gunnery Sgt. Miguel Cira, a platoon sergeant with 2nd CEB and native of Edinburg, Texas. ”We work with TNT and dynamite. We did some cratering charges and then we went into some more advanced demolition such as steel cutting charges, ribbon charges, saddle charges, diamond charges, and then we went into some shape charges.”

The battalion conducted this training in preparation for an integrated training exercise taking place aboard Marine Corps Base 29 Palms, California, in July. The battalion will be supporting an infantry unit by building and destroying obstacles.

“In a real life scenario we can use this to build obstacles,” said 2nd Lt. Ian Simpson, a platoon commander with 2nd CEB and native of Bear, Delaware. “For example, you use a cratering charge to make a hasty anti-tank ditch or you could do bridge demolition by blowing out the center span on a bridge. A lot of it ties into our obstacle plan for both offense and defense.”

While on the demolition range, the Marines practiced building and exploding many different types of explosives. They also learned the proper and most efficient way to set up a series of charges.

“The whole purpose of the training is so that they can gain confidence in their shot building abilities,” said Cira. “We don’t always know what kind of obstacles are going to come up there, so depending on the obstacle, they should have a specific shot that they can build to clear it.”

• Date Taken: 04.29.2015
• Date Posted: 05.01.2015 13:25
• Story ID: 161956
• Location: CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US
• Hometown: BEAR, DE, US
• Hometown: EDINBURG, TX, US