Security platoon trains to protect

Photo By Matthew Manning | A Marine with Headquarters Bn. ducks for cover after throwing an M69 training grenade in the Central Training Area near Camp Hansen March 5.  

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, JAPAN

03.02.2012

Story by Lance Cpl. Daniel Valle 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP HANSEN, Japan - More than 40 Marines with Headquarters Battalion conducted security operations training in the Central Training Area near Camp Hansen March 5-8.

The battalion, part of 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, is training non-infantry Marines to achieve all the individual training standards required of an infantryman in order to form a provisional infantry platoon, according 1st Lt. Christopher A. Meadows, security platoon commander for Headquarters Bn.

“The main purpose of the platoon is to provide expeditionary security in the event the division goes forward in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions or any other contingency operation,” said Meadows. “We are also the commanding general’s personal security detachment.”

The Marines are also designated to provide security for the battalion when it performs site surveys or combat operations, according Staff Sgt. Gayle L. Anders, platoon sergeant for the security platoon.

The security platoon consists of a variety of Marines from different military occupational specialties who are actively serving in the battalion, according to Anders.

“After we put the word out for Marines to volunteer for this platoon, we ended up with more than 40 Marines who are enthusiastic about being here because it gives them the chance to train outside of their everyday job and enhance their combat skills,” said Anders.

“With the way we are structured, we train together for seven days each month,” he said. “The rest of the time the Marines continue to perform their regular duties.”

Although the Marines in the platoon have learned to use these weapons throughout regular Marine training, it is important to maintain their proficiency with them, according to Lance Cpl. Tiara E. Grayson, a motor transport operator with the battalion.
“I enjoy this training because it allows me to get out of my normal job and train with different weapons,” said Grayson. “We have to make sure we do not forget how to use them effectively.”

The platoon trains every month, according to Meadows. Every time it trains, the Marines practice different skills to prepare for a wide range of situations.

“For this training evolution, we started off with M67 fragmentation grenade familiarization, after that we transitioned to M203 engagements, anti-armor M72 rocket shots, tables three and four shoots, and we will finish the training with fire team attacks,” said Anders.

The Marines of the security platoon have shown they retained the knowledge from their previous training, according to Anders.
“The Marines are actually doing very well,” said Anders. “They have maintained a lot of the knowledge they were taught throughout recruit training and Marine combat training.”

• Date Taken: 03.02.2012
• Date Posted: 03.08.2012 19:47
• Story ID: 84957
• Location: CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, JP