Courtesy Photo | U.S. Marines with II Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Raider Regiment pull a...... read more read more
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Strong cold winds blew down the shore as the waves hit the sands of Onslow Beach. A squad of Marines donned wetsuits under the bright sun as they positioned a small boat out to face the ocean. The crash of the waves and the roar of the engines faded into the distance.
Marines from units across II Marine Expeditionary Force and the Marine Raider Regiment conducted a coxswain course at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, March 7-8, 2018. Units that took part in the training included the Expeditionary Operations Training Group, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, and 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company.
“The training is usually geared toward infantry units but recently we have opened it to support personnel who use the Combat Rubber Raiding Craft in day-to-day operations,” said Sgt. Kevin Caro-Munoz, the chief instructor for the coxswain course, EOTG. “It gives capabilities for commanders to use during amphibious operations all over the Marine Corps.”
The 30-day training course accredits the Marines the military occupational specialty of 0316, coxswains, or small-boat operators when using the Combat Rubber Raiding Craft, also known as the F470 Zodiac.
“The purpose of the course is to [give] the Marines the baseline of nautical navigation, small-boat manipulations, surf passages and alongside drills,” said Capt. Michael Siani, the assistant officer in charge, EOTG.
The two main challenges Marines faced throughout the course were during their evaluation of alongside drills and surf passages.
“Surf passages involve the Marines [navigating] through waves, understanding throttle control, giving proper commands and taking control of the entire boat team as the coxswain,” said Caro-Munoz. “Yesterday we performed alongside drills, which taught the Marines how to transfer troops and equipment from vessel to vessel while using proper throttle and control.”
Upon completion of the course, the Marines are able to operate the CRRC within their units to achieve their mission and improve unit cohesion.
“The Marines understand the responsibilities and roles a coxswain has within a small-boat unit or a raiding company,” said Caro-Munoz. “The training allows them to work together as a team because being in a small-boat unit is not only one person for himself, everyone has to work together to make the boat function properly.”
| Date Taken: | 03.07.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 03.14.2018 13:04 |
| Story ID: | 269263 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 842 |
| Downloads: | 4 |
This work, From Land and Sea: Marines go through coxswain course, by Sgt Ashley Lawson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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