Photo By Sgt. Ashley Phillips | A Marine engages a target with a Benelli M1014 semi-automatic shotgun during a...... read more read more
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“These Marines needed the
M1014 qualification prior to the
ITX to perform their security
duties,”said retired Gunnery Sgt.
Frederick Kalawor, the training
chief with the Provost Marshal’s
Office. “It’s a part of their responsi-
bilities just like with any weapon.
They need to know how to func-
tion it and engage with it.”
The select Marines signed out
shotguns from the armory aboard
Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort
and learned how to break down,
clean and perform a functions
check on the weapons before head-
ing to MCRD Parris Island to train
on the range.
“Most of these Marines, myself
included, have never worked with
these shotguns,” said Lance Cpl.
Charles Duncan, an electronics
counter-measures technician withMALS-31. “It’s definetly not something
you get to do everyday. It’s like getting
to be part of a select team. Very few Ma-
rines get to use these weapons. It’s vey
cool and a lot of fun”
The qualification for the M1014 is a two
part evaluation. First, the Marines went
through a full safety brief on the noman-
clature, how to load and unload, and the
safety features. After a familiarization
exercise, the Marines went through the
qualification shoot movement.
“They don’t have the same range that
a rifle does,” said Kalawor. “It has more
penetration power. It’s a more volatile
weapon. That’s why they need to know
how to handle it properly.”
During the upcoming ITX, the selected
Marines will be standing security detail
for ordnance. Shotguns are used at fixed
security posts for their stopping power.
The ITX is a biennial training event
aboard Twentynine Palms. The mission
is for Marines to train in realistic con-
ditions comprised of five ranges, which
will increase the proficiency as a Ma-
rine Air Ground Task Force and prepare
them for world wide deployment.
“This training is to prepare Marines
for deployment in hostile environments,”
said Flores. “The Marines will be per-
forming their job functions in a secluded
environment. This training will better
help them understand what is most im-
portant to make their mission successful,
when and if the time comes, that they
have to deploy to a secluded area, where
common luxuries are not so common.”
The Marines will spend five weeks at
Twentynine Palms, training as a MAG-
TAF element. The MAGTAF element is
a part of what makes the Marine Corps
so efficient. The twelve Marines training
on the M1014 are a part of making sure
every Marine understands their role in
the mission and can proficiently accom-
plish their tasks.
“The Benelli is a very effective weap-
on, but in the hands of someone who has
no idea how to use it, it is useless and
unsafe” said Duncan. “Give them some
training and confidence in the weapon,
and then tell them to go out and destroy
the enemy.”
| Date Taken: | 09.26.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 09.30.2016 15:41 |
| Story ID: | 211043 |
| Location: | BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 167 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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