2d LAR Marine Recognized by 11th ACR for heroic actions

FORT IRWIN, CA, UNITED STATES

03.17.2019

Story by Sgt. Justin Smith 

2nd Marine Division

A U.S. Marine with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division was recognized as “Hero of the war” during National Training Center 19-05 at Fort Irwin, California, March 2019.
Nearly 5,000 service members with the U.S. Marines, U.S. Army, United Emirates, and Canadian, and British armies participated in the training hosted by 11th Armored Calvary Regiment Upon completion of the exercise, the command unit held a ceremony where each unit recognizes a service for their brave or heroic actions during the training.

2nd Lt. Jared D. Paul, a platoon commander with Bravo Company received the award and a coin from U.S. Army Col. Scott C. Woodward, commander of 11th Armored Calvary Regiment, for his actions told at the ceremony.
“I’m humbled to be recognized, I didn’t do it alone,” said Paul. “My Marines deserve credit for this mission as well.”
Paul and his platoon began their mission at 11pm on March 14. The Bravo Company Commander pushed an order for his platoon to conduct route reconnaissance, locate enemy forces, and provide any information possible. Paul pushed his platoon pass the line of departure into a valley at midnight. During the mission Paul realized the enemy was positioned at the north and south portion of the valley.
According to Paul, they were outnumbered and out-gunned. He realized he had to take a risk and attempt to push through, ordering his Marines to drive at a casual speed, wave at enemies, and act friendly while passing through the enemy lines of the northern valley.
Around dawn they managed to find a defensive position with cover and concealment and received information on priority targets. As the sun began to rise, the Marines of Paul’s Platoon took the opportunity to rest and eat. A few hours later they deployed scouts into an observation post and identified enemy helicopters heading their way. .
Paul employed his low altitude air defense asset, which failed, but the enemy didn’t notice the attempt and Paul was able to locate an enemy forward arming and refueling point (FARP). At this time it was mid-day and the priority for his platoon wasn’t the FARP. So, they pushed on.
Paul received an order to destroy the FARP and ordered his platoon to get on line to bound forward with fire and maneuver. At 100 meters, Paul deployed his scouts to engage the enemy troops. With controllers present they were able to paint the effect of the engagement. Paul destroyed the FARP with no causalities of his own.
“A decent amount of luck, being able to assume calculated risk, execute time sensitive decisions, and accepting the fact that things might go wrong are what lead my platoon and I to execute this.” Paul said. “Knowing the enemy and how they conduct operations as well as thinking like the enemy helped aide this mission to a success.”

Capt. Ted A. Rose, Paul’s company commander, had the privilege of reading his actions during the ceremony.
“Paul’s swift thinking enabled his platoon to infiltrate enemy lines,” Rose said. “It is decisions like this that are difficult to teach and often result in the biggest gains on the battlefield.”

With his quick actions and decision making abilities, Paul allowed the Marines of 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and Soldiers with 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Calvary Regiment to dramatically change the outcome of the battlefield. NTC 19-05 concluded training on March 17, 2019.

• Date Taken: 03.17.2019
• Date Posted: 04.12.2019 09:08
• Story ID: 315947
• Location: FORT IRWIN, CA, US