CAMP LEJEUNE, North Carolina - 24th MEU personnel conducted a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel training exercise on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Jan. 29, 2019.
TRAP training prepares Marines to confidently enter potentially combative areas, collect equipment, retrieve or destroy sensitive material and recover personnel.
“It’s a learning curve especially for infantry Marines,” said Gunnery Sgt. Camilio Aragon, a TRAP instructor with Expeditionary Operations Training Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force. “Everything they do is combat related or combat focused, so this shifts their gears completely, and it makes them focus on the non-combat related scenarios that may come our way.”
The Marines undergo four days of rehearsals and classes. After completion of classroom training, they are given the opportunity to put their knowledge and skills to the test during a live scenario in an unpredictable environment. During the scenario, participants searched the woods looking for notionally loose or sensitive equipment that might become beneficial to the enemy.
TRAP training increases unit capabilities and enhances force availability for a commander to conduct a mission that requires a quick response time, refined procedures for security, and support to isolated personnel.
“Repetition of briefing and execution of missions helps increase the confidence of the leadership,” said 1st Lt. Patrick Bunce, the officer in charge of TRAP with EOTG, II MEF. “It also helps to refine internal tactics, techniques, and procedures that will be used when the Marines go down range.”