Photo By Staff Sgt. Victoria Duran | Marines push through a simulated riot during the final exercise of the non-lethal...... read more read more
Subscribe
Sirens blare and the aroma of pepper spray hangs in the air as batons and cones fly at a platoon of heavily armored Marines taking their first step into the final exercise arena.
Marines with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Battalion Landing Team with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit participated in a non-lethal weapons course at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Nov. 18, 2016.
“Non-lethal weapons training is very important for us, especially when we don’t know what kind of contingency could arise overseas,” said 1st Lt. Matthew George, a platoon commander with Lima Company, 3/6. “We need to know how to react to different situations across the warfare spectrum, whether it is a non-violent protest or a block-three affair where we are conducting full-on combat operations.”
Non-lethal weapons training is a two-week course provided by the Expeditionary Operations Training Group, and designed to teach Marines how to control riots and violent protesters.
“Teamwork is essential because you don’t know if there will be flash bangs, loud music from the rioters, or anything else that adds to the fog of war,” said Lance Cpl. Karin Garcia, an automatic rifleman with 3/6. “Communication and teamwork build unit cohesion."
During the first week, Marines are exposed to various munition systems, as well as the effects of electroshock weapons and oleoresin capsicum spray. Marines also learn about escalation of force and the rules of engagement, explained Sgt. Christopher Williams, a non-lethal weapons instructor with EOTG.
In the second week, Marines are taught shield formations while instructors apply more situational stress to allow Marines to get accustomed to working in chaotic environments.
“There are different scenarios set up with aggressors charging the shield line and telling the Marines to go away, and another where peaceful protesters block the Marines’ path demanding food and water,” said Williams.
Overall, the final exercise took an hour and 20 minutes to complete, leaving Marines bruised and exhausted. With sirens still blaring, the range was filled with green smoke, and every few steps the Marines advanced a loud flash bang would release a plume of white smoke in front of them.
“The training was very intense and very realistic,” described George. “It put the Marines through a lot of different situations where they had to react quickly and keep a calm and cool composure. The instructors did a great job today of facilitating that. [They] pushed us through a long course with a live-fire [range] at the end which was the culminating event.”
The Marines handled the stress and exhaustion very well and accomplished the mission.
“I think the Marines did spectacular; the NCO leadership was right up front and taking charge, directing their Marines and keeping the platoon calm the entire time,” said George. “I think that was the key to our success. It allowed decisions to be made faster, and execution much clearer and more concise.”
| Date Taken: | 11.18.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 11.29.2016 10:56 |
| Story ID: | 215903 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 99 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
This work, Shield Line: 3/6 learns riot control, by SSgt Victoria Duran, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
