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CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — There's an old adage in the Marine Corps — "adapt and overcome." It could apply to any number of situations, whether it's not having a particular piece gear or being heavily outnumbered in a fire fight, Marines excel at making do with what they have. Improvising is one of the organization's hallmarks, but what about something as delicate as respectfully overcoming cultural and social taboos to ensure mission success in combat zones?
When addressing the issue of effectively identifying the wants and needs of the people of Afghanistan with a significantly male force, the unique use of females is one of those adaptations.
Though males are prohibited from speaking with Afghan women, the Corps has been able to breach this cultural barrier by fielding teams of graduates from Female Engagement Team courses like the one conducted by a group of female Marines and sailors of Combat Logistics Battalion—6, Combat Logistics Regiment-2, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, here Feb. 1-6.
Brought to fruition just a few short months ago, the training is tailored specifically to overcome the gender issue that has no doubt hindered operations in the Middle East on more than one occasion. Now armed with well-trained teams of mission-oriented females, ground assault units will have yet another approach for gathering information and networking.
Master Sgt. Julia Watson, officer-in-charge of the overall program for Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, sees the program as an instrumental tool in showing the people of Afghanistan we are here to help, not hinder, their way of life.
"It's not just going in and talking, it's establishing relationships," said Watson, who was assigned to the program more than a month ago.
"Yes, the teams provide security, and that's important, but they do so much more," she said. "Their ability as women to go into these villages and talk to their women is crucial for gathering information vital to understanding the dynamics of their culture."
Watson noted that by establishing these long-term relationships through regular FET contact, MEB forces will earn the trust and support needed by these people to efficiently help them. Once these needs are identified from information collected, it is passed to units such as civil affairs that will in turn be able to target specific needs effectively.
Throughout the six-day course, the more than 40 Marines and sailors were taught a myriad of topics ranging from convoy operations and combat skills to the history of the Taliban and cultural awareness, with lessons and practical application on search procedures, combat life saving and weapons handing.
In some scenarios like the Combat Expectations Course, the instructors were all but climbing on the backs of students in an effort to add a level of stress, which gave participants just a taste of what they may be in for on a real mission. In addition to the constant barking of commands, the instructors had each student begin the course with ten pushups, while loaded down with their weapons and full issue of personal protective equipment.
"I want them to get that adrenaline up," said Sgt. Stacy Blackburn-Hoelscher, FET and training non-commissioned officer-in-charge for MEB-Afghanistan. "We want them to be able to perform regardless of what's going on around them. Their reactions could save lives."
In addition to instruction provided by Blackburn-Hoelscher and a handful of other Marines with first-hand knowledge of FET missions, lessons were supplemented with input from Afghan women, native to the region. The curriculum proved to be very popular and pertinent among participants, with a good portion of the information serving as great refresher and reinforcement training for those who have deployed in the past.
"It's a whole lot of new stuff and more specifics on what we already know, said Lance Cpl. Kiah Mallory, a radio operator with CLB-6. "The instructors are great motivation and I will be proud to be a FET member once I get through the course."
Class 01-10 culminated with a graduation ceremony attended by the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James T. Conway, and Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps, Sgt. Maj. Carlton W. Kent.
"No one questions the value of what you do," said Conway as he addressed the formation of graduates prior to presenting each of them with their certificate of completion.
| Date Taken: | 02.06.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 03.26.2010 02:03 |
| Story ID: | 47226 |
| Location: | CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF |
| Web Views: | 317 |
| Downloads: | 104 |
This work, FET training preps CLB-6 females for productive engagements with Afghan women, by SSgt Justin Shemanski, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
