31st MEU infantrymen attack point man course on Okinawa

Photo By Lance Cpl. Robert Frenke | Lance Cpl. Aaronn Hulett, a grenadier with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, navigates the harsh jungle terrain during a point man course in the Central Training Area to hone the battalion landing team's skills and familiarize themselves with a jungle environment March 27.  

04.04.2008

Story by Lance Cpl. Corey Blodgett 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

By Lance Cpl. Corey Blodgett
III Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affairs

CENTRAL TRAINING AREA, OKINAWA, Japan — Charged with one of the most dangerous positions in a Marine Corps fire team, point men are the first in harm's way when moving into hostile territory. They are responsible for spotting traps, enemies and any factors that may affect their mission.

Infantrymen from E Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, which is serving as the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit's battalion landing team, completed a four-day point man course in the Central Training Area to hone their skills and familiarize themselves with a jungle environment March 27.

The course focused specifically on improving observation and quick reaction skills in the jungle.

"The point man is in front. He's the first Marine going in," said Sgt. Erik Triplett, a squad leader and point man with the company. "He has to know what he is doing."

Given the MEU's mission in the Pacific, the course is particularly relevant for the BLT Marines, according to Staff Sgt. Patrick Cochrane, a platoon sergeant with the company and instructor during the training.

"We're pretty much the 911 force in the Pacific," he said. "And if there were a crisis we would have to be there to handle any situation. That's why these guys need to learn these skills– because if that occasion were to arrive, we'd be able to go in there effectively and not make a mess of ourselves before we get to the enemy."

The course focused on skills such as negotiating the jungle terrain, observing and reporting enemy indicators, engaging and eliminating targets, assessing danger areas and determining how to deal with those dangers. Instructors also taught the Marines some jungle survival skills such as how to trap animals.

The course culminated with a live-fire exercise in the jungle, in which teams of two Marines – a point man and a navigation man – patrolled through a harsh segment of the jungle, working their way across rocks and small waterfalls while identifying and engaging targets with live rounds along the way.

"The navigation man is there to help the point man and assist him," Triplett said. "If there's an obstacle, he'll lay down suppressive fire while the point man goes around so they can move forward."

Cochrane said although the course was set in the jungle, the Marines can use the skills learned in other battlefield environments as well.

"The Marines need to always be in the mindset that something could happen anywhere," Cochrane said. "There are terrorists all over the globe, and you're most likely going to be in an urban, desert or jungle environment because those areas help them hide and sustain their operations."

• Date Taken: 04.04.2008
• Date Posted: 04.03.2008 04:46
• Story ID: 18020