Philippine Recon Marines utilize U.S. Marine Helicopter, helicopter rope suspension training instructors to perfect rappelling techniques

Photo By Master Sgt. Tyler Hlavac | Philippine Marine Cpl. Ronald Dagon practices rappelling out of a CH-46E Sea Knight Helicopter with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265, at Basa Air Base in the Philippines, Oct. 23, 2008. Dagon is a reconnaissance Marine with the Philippine Marine Corp's Force Reconnaissance Battalion. This training was held during this year's Talon Vision and Amphibious Landing Exercise. These are annual bilateral training exercises conducted between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. Military, which enhance military interoperability and improve communities through humanitarian and civil action projects.  

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

10.23.2008

Story by Lance Cpl. Joseph Cabrera 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

By Joseph Cabrera
III Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA - Fourteen Philippine Marines with Force Reconnaissance Battalion found themselves dangling 30 feet off the ground from the back of a U.S. Marine Corps CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265, as they worked to perfect their rappelling abilities, Oct. 23, 2008.

The training, conducted by members of the III Marine Expeditionary Force Special Operations Training Group, was held during this year's Talon Vision and Amphibious Landing Exercise. These are annual bilateral training exercises conducted between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. Military, which enhance military interoperability and improve communities through humanitarian and civil action projects.

Rappelling is an insertion method used by armed forces to place troops in areas where a safe landing zone is not present, the terrain makes vehicle passage difficult, or there is a need for speed and simplicity.

"Speed is the key here," said U.S. Marine Sgt. Stephen Szopa the primary helicopter rope suspension training instructor for SOTG and Columbia, Mo., native. "The ability to conduct a quick insertion is beneficial for troops who are rappelling into a hot area or are landing on top a building occupied by enemy troops and are looking to clear it from the top down."

The training was held after the two groups of Marines spent three days in the classroom discussing and comparing their various methods of rappelling. During the information exchange the Marines found their methods of rappelling were only different in small ways.

"The Philippine Marines, for the most part, conduct rappelling the same way we do," Szopa said. "One of the differences is that Philippine Marines use a carabiner to pass the rope through. This keeps the rope from rubbing against itself and is a method we plan on looking into ourselves sometime in the future."

During the training, the Philippines Marines had a chance to rappel several times out of the helicopter.

Due to the experience level of the Marines, the training was more of a refining experience than anything new, said Szopa.

"One of SOTG's many missions is to train Marines at rappelling, so we have a lot of experience with this," he said. "The Philippine Marines where eager to exchange information with us and were quick to learn and adapt to the situations they where in."

These Philippine Marines have used rappelling techniques in many combat situations, particularly in battles against armed insurgents who often attempt to use the jungle terrain to their advantage.

"Rappelling is a good technique we use in combat," said Philippine Marine Tech. Sgt. Deograclas L. Alcayde, a reconnaissance Marine and sky-dive master. "Often these battles occur in the jungle where we can't use vehicles to move our troops in, so we have our helicopters bring in re-enforcements to quickly overwhelm our enemy. We come in lightly equipped, so that we can also chase down any fleeing combatants."

Alcayde said he and the other Philippine Marines were grateful to the U.S. Marines for giving them the opportunity to conduct the training.

"We really appreciate the U.S. Marines for allowing us to use their equipment and giving us the chance to jump out of the CH-46 helicopter," he said. "Some of our Marines have not had the chance to rappel before, and this type of training is important for our combat operations."

Gunnery Sgt. Dennis Dodd, an amphibious raid chief instructor with SOTG and a Steven's Point, Wis., native, said he and other SOTG Marines benefited from the training as much as the Philippine Marines did.

"This was really great bilateral training," he said. "This gave our instructors a chance to refine their teaching and training techniques as well as an opportunity to learn a few new things themselves. Our two groups of Marines had great camaraderie together and did an outstanding job."

• Date Taken: 10.23.2008
• Date Posted: 10.27.2008 23:43
• Story ID: 25614
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)