Photo By Sgt. William Hester | Marines demonstrate riot control capabilities Dec. 18 at the Central Training Area....... read more read more
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CAMP HANSEN, Japan – A formation of Marines, nine wide, marches down the noisy streets of the Central Training Area equipped with riot shields, batons and protective gear. The objective is to reach the church approximately 200 meters away. Their obstacle is a group of more than 20 Marines, acting as aggressive rioters.
Marines are always in demand to intervene in crises around the world. The Marines from 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, currently attached to 31st Marine Expeditionary Force, trained with nonlethal weapons and riot control tactics Dec. 15-18 on Camp Hansen. This training ensures they are prepared to operate in complex environments throughout the world.
“This training is to prepare Marines to set up riot control to support an embassy or foreign locals,” said Sgt. Jake Matz, a nonlethal weapons and riot control instructor with 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF. “Nonlethal training gives us the opportunity to stop a threat and mediate death.”
Marines trained with Tasers, Oleoresin Capsicum spray, riot shields, batons and mechanical advance control holds along with entry control point equipment to suppress a crowd and to de-escalate a possible riot situation on deployment, according to Cpl. Cameron M. Rollins, a field artillery cannoneer with 2nd Bn., 11th Marines.
“Riots happen all the time,” said Rollins, from Phoenix, Arizona. “It’s one of the more likely things we’ll see when deployed with the MEU.”
The Marines attached to the 31st MEU are always ready to deploy for combat operations. The skills associated with crowd control are important for Marines on a MEU, according to Cpl. Arturo H. Prado, from Chicago, Illinois, a field artillery cannoneer with 2nd Bn., 11th Marines.
“We may not always be shooting,” said Cpl. Alex D. Laird, from Phoenix, Arizona, a field artillery cannoneer with 2nd Battalion. “We may need to apply (this training) . If called, we have to know how to perform these techniques for crowd control.”
The instruction on crowd control is the most important part of this training because it can prevent death and serious injuries, according to Lance Cpl. Tyler M. Mullaney, a field artillery cannoneer with 2/11 attached to the 31st MEU.
“The effects of the nonlethal weapons are strong for a purpose,” said Rollins, regarding Tasers and OC Spray. “They are meant to subdue and stop what you’re doing.”
Tasers and OC spray are a great asset to stop someone with a less than lethal force, according to Matz.
“I think it’s great that law enforcement techniques are being spread across different MOS’s because law enforcement might now always be around,” said Matz, from Hastings, Minnesota. “It widens the Marines’ spectrums.”
This training was a good refresher, according to Mullaney, from Louisville, Kentucky, who had received this training in Camp Pendleton, California about a year ago.
“This time we learned a lot more about the (mechanical advantage control hold) techniques and how to do the techniques with a baton,” said Mullaney. “It is important to be able to employ the tools you have.”
| Date Taken: | 12.18.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 12.30.2014 00:35 |
| Story ID: | 151182 |
| Location: | OKINAWA, JP |
| Hometown: | CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, US |
| Hometown: | HASTINGS, MINNESOTA, US |
| Hometown: | LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, US |
| Hometown: | PHOENIX, ARIZONA, US |
| Web Views: | 181 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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