Photo By Sgt. Kaitlyn Klein | Lance Cpl. Andrew D. Fleming, a refrigeration and air conditioning technician with 2nd...... read more read more
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CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - A formation of tents broke up the empty stretch of field in Landing Zone Osprey, where the Marines of 2nd Radio Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, would be bivouacking for five days during a communication exercise aboard Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Dec. 8-Dec. 12, 2014.
During the morning of Dec. 9, the Marines split into teams and cycled through five classes, which included topics such as radio procedures and etiquette, medical evacuation and casualty evacuation nine-line reports, and calling for fire support. The nine-lines include various call signs indicating the necessary procedures a radio operator should follow when reporting a medical or casualty evacuation, depending on the severity and the details of the situation.
Class leaders provided ample time for discussion, questions and practical application in order for the Marines to understand their responsibilities as a part of the battalion.
Sergeant Benjamin K. Derr, a special intelligence system administrator with the battalion, taught his Marines how to assemble and successfully use the AN/PRC-117F Multiband Manpack, and provided guidance from his own knowledge and experiences.
“I think this exercise is very helpful,” said Derr. “It’s different from what we would normally be doing. It takes us back to our roots as warfighters. We’ve been establishing ourselves as a team, and as elements that can go out with (infantry) units and get the mission done.”
The mission is for the battalion to return to its expeditionary roots, said Derr. The battalion is going to continue to have three month cycles of training and classes. Special intelligence communicators must be able to set up and tear down their tents and radios at night, abiding by the concepts of light and noise discipline.
The Marines maintained constant security of the command operation center tents, standing guard with their rifles behind a wide fence of concertina wire as they stayed in an alert mindset, as they would in a deployed environment.
Once the Marines had cycled through each class that morning, they continued into the afternoon gathering into teams once again, each team carrying one green-cloth pack, and spread out across the field.
The Marines unpacked radios, adjusted frequencies and plugged in receivers to begin attempting test calls with other teams. After successful test calls, the Marines pressed on to practicing the nine-line, all the while maintaining proper clarity and conciseness that radio etiquette requires.
Master Gunnery Sgt. Leif T. Landa, a special intelligence system administrator communicator with the battalion, noted the importance of the frequent training that his junior Marines undergo to become more familiar with the tools of their trade.
“We do this training every quarter now,” said Landa. “We provide all of the special intelligence communications for radio battalion.”
Derr added his insight on the radio battalion as a vital part of the Marine Corps from his own experiences while being deployed in Afghanistan.
“As a radio battalion Marine, you always have to be a step ahead of the enemy,” said Derr. “When you’re attached to (an infantry) unit and stuff goes downhill and bullets are flying at you, you hit the ground and do your mission. You don’t always fire back. You have your own mission while you’re with them, and it’s for the greater good of that entire unit.”
| Date Taken: | 12.09.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 12.15.2014 08:17 |
| Story ID: | 150293 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 193 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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