Combat hunter course teaches proactive basics

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Kentavist Brackin | Marines from 12th Marines, attended a combat hunter course hosted by Marines from Headquarters Battalion, 3rd MarDiv., as part of pre-deployment training Aug. 11.  

OKINAWA, JAPAN

08.27.2010

Story by Cpl. Abigail Brown 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

The 10-day course is broken into three major building blocks designed to increase situational awareness, said Gunnery Sgt. Richard Gonzalez, staff non-comissioned officer in charge, Mobilization Training Battalion, School of Infantry West, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

The concept of the combat hunter course was originated by Gen. James Mattis, commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command in 2007, who saw the need for Marines to be in the mindset of predators instead of prey, Gonzalez said.

"We train the Marines to have enhanced observation skills using optics and observation posts," he added. "We will also teach them tracking by showing them how to read the ground, and lastly, we will give them the tools to profile people by reading mannerisms and situations."

Many Marines are now required to participate in a combat hunter course prior to a combat deployment, Gonzalez commented.

"This is a good concept for Marines to embrace," said Cpl. John D. Starnowski, fire team leader, 1st Platoon, 1st Squad, Military Police Company, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd MarDiv. "In the combat hunter mindset, you think about the enemy as prey; then, you take away their food, logistics and water. If you do that, then you win the battle."

Marines are given a foundation of basic concepts at the beginning of training.

"We teach them the basics of range estimations, profiling and tracking at the beginning," Gonzalez said.

"It's remarkable to see how much they improve over the course and how they can read situations before anything happens."

A goal of the training is to ensure Marines have the tools to be proactive instead of reactive before hitting the battlefield, he added.

"We always get glowing reviews from our students," Gonzalez said adding that those who have deployed before normally say they wish they had attended this course before their previous deployments.

"I want to have a different mindset and outlook on the enemy," said Lance Cpl. Joshua Blackwelder, field artillery fire control man, 12th Marines. "I want to be able to determine the enemy from other people around."

The course is offered in five- and 10-day packages and can be scheduled through your unit's S-3 office.

• Date Taken: 08.27.2010
• Date Posted: 08.26.2010 01:09
• Story ID: 55174
• Location: OKINAWA, JP