Photo By T. T. Parish | Lance Cpl. Alan M. Thorne, a signals analyst with 1st Radio Battalion, I Marine...... read more read more
Subscribe
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war—an ethos weaved into the fabric of the Marine Corps. Tough training for even tougher warriors continues to be a familiar refrain in Marine Corps doctrine.
For each Marine scheduled to deploy, a rigorous pre-deployment training cycle helps prepare them for war. And in today's 360 degree battle field, any Marine may be called to locate, engage and destroy the enemy, or at least hold security during a convoy.
To prepare the Marines of I Marine Expeditionary Force for deployment, whether to Afghanistan or Iraq, Pre-deployment Training Program week is a necessity. Meant as a refresher for common skills common amongst all Marines, including medical training, weapons familiarization and patrolling, PTP week gets Marines back in the combat mindset.
"The concept behind PTP week is to give every Marine the basic infantry skills and the skills they're going to need to conduct themselves in a combat environment, whether it is on patrol, a convoy or in a [Combat Operations Center]," said Gunnery Sgt. Richard H. Fields, the training chief for I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group.
During PTP week, I MEF Marines sharpen their skills in battlefield medicine, combat outpost procedures and land navigation, some basics all Marines learn after joining the Corps. However, for those who don't typically go outside the wire, PTP week introduces advanced tactics, weapons and procedures usually only known by more combat oriented Marines.
"Any one of these Marines, at any time, could be on a convoy or be outside the wire within the confines of their job," said Fields, who hails from Wheaton, Ill. "It doesn't matter what your job is because every Marine is a rifleman."
Part classroom and part hands-on, PTP week covers a variety of combat skills vital to keeping Marines safe during combat operations. Knowing the laws-of-war and rules-of-engagement is crucial in keeping Marines safe and building trust between innocent civilians and the Marines sent to help rebuild after years of war, according to Sgt. Alfred C. Nieto, a combat tracker with the I MHG Military Working Dog Section.
"The battle is always changing. You have to make sure you have positive I.D. and [escalation of force procedures] are followed. You have to know what you can shoot and you can't shoot. So the refresher training is helping change our mindset," said Nieto, a native of San Antonio.
The tactics of the enemy in both Iraq and Afghanistan show little regard for innocent life or private property, hiding amongst the populace and using them as shields. According to the ROE, a Marine must be judicious in identifying and targeting only armed combatants and to minimize wanton destruction or unintended civilian casualties. However, ROE gives Marines the right to self defense in all situations to protect the individual or their fellow Marines from injury or death.
On the battlefield, decisions are made in mere fractions of a second. Marines must be cognizant of the impact of their split-second decisions and actions and how they impact the perception of the Marine Corps and the support of the general public, both in the war zone and on the home front, continued Nieto.
"If you go pick on Joe the farmer and shoot up his cattle, we're only going to turn him against us," said Nieto. "We're going out there to help them as opposed to going over there to be an occupying force. We're not there to be an occupying force, we're there to liberate them and give them their freedom."
| Date Taken: | 08.20.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 08.20.2009 20:51 |
| Story ID: | 37764 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 511 |
| Downloads: | 372 |
This work, I MEF Marines train for deployment, by T. T. Parish, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
