Marine Headline News
3rd
Materiel Readiness Battalion takes flight with combat skills
CAMP HANSEN,
OKINAWA, Japan — Marines in various support specialties with
3rd Materiel Readiness Battalion, 3rd Force Service Support
Group, strapped on pistols and grabbed their rifles during
helicopter embarkation and landing zone defense training here
June 7.
Building on training
and tactics forged in the jungles of Vietnam, the 3rd MRB
Marines were supported in their endeavor by two CH-46E Sea
Knight helicopters and crews with Marine Medium Helicopter
Squadron-262.
“We have been able
build a partnership with HMH-262 that allows us to give our
Marines multiple opportunities to gain different experiences
with helicopter operations,” said Capt. Carlos J. Algarin,
operations officer, 3rd MRB. “This group of 72 Marines is
practicing how to board and exit the helicopters from a
potentially hot landing zone.”
The drills also help
build on the confidence and leadership abilities of individual
noncommissioned officers.
“The team leaders
tested their abilities to effectively direct a team to exit
the aircraft and set up a hasty defense of the landing zone or
pull out of that defense and board the helicopters,” said
Cpl. Nathan M. Jones, a parachute repair specialist and team
leader.
It is difficult to
take these Marines away from their jobs because they are
needed in their technical specialties on a daily basis.
However, commanders find it necessary to prepare them to
function efficiently in a combat environment, according to
Algarin.
“Hopefully this
training gives the Marines some muscle memory when and if that
first round goes by their head, said Algarin. “In places
like Iraq and Afghanistan the enemy is not going after the
infantry. They are going after support Marines in convoys, and
we want to be able react with support Marines and drop in
right on top of them.”
The Marines welcomed
getting away from the day-to-day grind of being in the rear
with their gear.
“There is nothing
like getting out of the shop and hopping in a helicopter,”
said Lance Cpl. Daniel W. Hatten, computer technician. “It
is something I don’t do very often. Not only is it fun, but
it is great training for those inexperienced Marines who need
more confidence in flying.”
Like any movement of
Marines in combat, this training took extensive planning.
“We had to send in
requests for air support and get landing zone site
approval,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Cary W. Gross, MRB
training officer. “Safety is paramount so the Marines
received instruction on the proper way to exit the birds in a
water landing because they would be over the ocean.”
The training areas
on Okinawa provide a safe and secure environment to build upon
a Marine’s war fighting abilities.
“The ability to go
through this training now instead of in a dangerous,
uncontrolled combat zone is crucial,” said Algarin. “If
these Marines come here and never received this training and
deploy into combat roles one doesn’t return, we have failed
as leaders.”
CAMP HANSEN,
OKINAWA, Japan — Lance Cpl. Michael M. Guzman lies in a
prone position while defending the landing zone during
helicopter embarkation and landing zone defense training here
June 7. Guzman is a welder with 3rd Materiel Readiness
Battalion, 3rd Force Service Support Group. The training
is part of 3rd MRB’s effort to prepare their support Marines
for combat missions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl.
Jonathan K. Teslevich) (Released)
CAMP HANSEN,
OKINAWA, Japan — Two CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters from
Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron-262 approach a landing zone
defended by Marines with 3rd Materiel Readiness Battalion, 3rd
Force Service Support Group, during helicopter embarkation and
landing zone defense training here June 7. The training is
part of MRB’s effort to prepare their support Marines for
combat missions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl.
Jonathan K. Teslevich) (Released)
CAMP HANSEN,
OKINAWA, Japan — Marines with 3rd Materiel Readiness
Battalion, 3rd Force Service Support Group, sit aboard a
CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter during embarkation and landing
zone defense training here June 7. The training is part of
MRB’s effort to prepare their support Marines for combat
missions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jonathan K.
Teslevich) (Released)
