Young Marine enjoys impacting lives through non-lethal training

Photo By Sgt. William Hester | Cpl. Preston G. Thompson organizes a group of U.S. Marines and soldiers with the Papua New Guinea Defence Force to act as rioters for practical application during riot control training, June 19, 2016, at Taurama Barracks, as part of Exercise Koa Moana. Koa Moana is a multi-national, bilateral exercise designed to increase interoperability and relations by sharing infantry, engineering, law enforcement and medical skills. Thompson, from Wyoming, Michigan, is a military policeman and chief non-lethal weapons instructor with Task Force Koa Moana, originally assigned to Charlie Company, 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. William Hester/ Released)  

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

06.19.2016

Story by Cpl. William Hester 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

TAURAMA BARRACKS, Papua New Guinea — During his first deployment, Lance Cpl. Christopher M. Hettinger finds himself doing exactly what he signed up to do, travel and affect lives.
U.S. Marines and Sailors, with Task Force Koa Moana, partake in Exercise Koa Moana, June 17-23, 2016, with the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, at Taurama, Barracks, Papua New Guinea.
Hettinger, a military policeman, is part of a small attachment to the task force with the responsibility of conducting non-lethal weapons training throughout their deployment in the Asia-Pacific region. In Papua New Guinea, riot control drills were the main focus of their training.
“As non-lethal weapons instructors, we’re here to conduct less-than-lethal weapons training, demonstrate our abilities and what capabilities can be available to other militaries,” said Cpl. Zachary A. Barnett, a military policeman and non-lethal weapons instructor with Task Force Koa Moana, originally assigned to Bravo Company, 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force.
Part of the MP’s non-lethal training incorporates the use of the X-26E Human Electro-Muscular Incapacitation Taser, oleoresin capsicum spray and GG-20 stun grenades. Along with the less-than-lethal munitions, part of the riot control training incorporates shields, leg guards, face guards and batons. These munitions are used to disorient or aid in detaining aggressive subjects and to deescalate situations.
“If there’s a riot, you need to control the situation without lethal munitions,” said Hettinger, originally assigned to Bravo Company, 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “Riot control gives you the opportunity to apply those non-lethal munitions.”
On this deployment, Hettinger has had the opportunity to work with more senior MP’s, giving him the opportunity to learn from their experiences.
“It shows me other leaderships from different companies,” said Hettinger.
Hettinger has been taking up a lot of leadership roles and teaching courses, according to Barnett, from Yuba City, California. He has been teaching other nation’s militaries ideas he has learned from NCOs during deployment, which will allow him to go back and teach MPs in his company similar tactics.
“There’s no better feeling than learning something and teaching it to others,” said Hettinger. “It’s a humbling experience, and I’m in it for the adventure. This is why I joined.”

• Date Taken: 06.19.2016
• Date Posted: 06.27.2016 00:33
• Story ID: 202333
• Location: PG
• Hometown: STRAWBERRY POINT, IA, US
• Hometown: YUBA CITY, CA, US