Crunch Time: US Marines, Sailors, Senegalese hold basic skills competition

Photo By Sgt. Lucas Hopkins | Marine Cpl. Trevor Thompson, right, an infantryman with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, observes as a member of the Seneglaese Compagnie Fusilier de Marin Commandos moves towards a simulated casualty during a basic skills competition in St. Louis, Senegal, July 2, 2015. More than 15 U.S. Marines and Sailors with the unit held a weapons and combat medical skills competition for more than 30 members of the Fusilier Marins in an effort to build and sustain infantry fundamentals. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Lucas Hopkins/Released)  

ST. LOUIS, SENEGAL

07.11.2015

Story by Cpl. Lucas Hopkins 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa     

ST. LOUIS, Senegal – A pair of Senegalese Compagnie Fusilier de Marin Commandos assume ready positions at the starting line, a U.S. Marine shouts “Go!” and the race to finish a critical skills test is on, in St. Louis, Senegal, July 2, 2015.

Approximately 15 U.S. Marines, Sailors, and Coastguardsmen assigned to Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa are working with the Fusilier Marins for a six-week long engagement to enhance their partner-nation’s small-unit infantry tactics and small-boat operations.

The Fusilier Marins are a Marine equivalent unit in the Senegalese armed forces, who already have a solid understanding of infantry and boat techniques. During this specific competition, U.S. personnel wanted to stress the importance of a properly functioning weapon and medical care in an environment where time is paramount. The basic skills necessary to conduct these operations were tested in a competition with more than 30 Senegalese participants.
“The more you train yourself, the more proficient you become,” said Lance Cpl. Bobby Bustamante, an infantry skills instructor with the unit. “It might end up saving your buddy’s life.”

The Fusilier Marins paired up and prepared to race each other in a series of events. The exercise started with two members of the Fusilier Marins navigating their way to a simulated casualty, simultaneously conducting weapons drills. After stopping at two stations and quickly reloading, the pair would gain fire superiority and apply a tourniquet to a simulated casualty at the third station. The competition concluded with the team carrying the casualty back to the starting line.

Through competition, the Senegalese received a glimpse of how important time is when conducting medical care and proper weapons handling techniques in a combat environment.

“I don’t think you can train enough on combat lifesaver skills and [weapons] drills,” said Bustamante.

“We hit on the fact you only have about 90 seconds to two minutes to get the bleeding under control, and if you don’t, your buddy may or may not live,” said Jones. “We really emphasized this, and I think it’s something that will benefit the [Fusilier Marins] greatly moving forward.”

• Date Taken: 07.11.2015
• Date Posted: 07.11.2015 06:28
• Story ID: 169757
• Location: ST. LOUIS, SN
• Hometown: CHICAGO, IL, US
• Hometown: LANCASTER, PA, US