Photo By Lance Cpl. Jerrick J. Griffin | Sgt. Andrew T. Pizzutelli, 28, Greenville, N.C., Combat Skills Training School...... read more read more
Subscribe
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - - Marines who man the heavy machine guns need to be confident in their skills during combat, knowing they play a major part in Marines returning home safely.
These skills have to come from somewhere.
Three instructors with the Combat Skills Training School use their 20-plus years of combined infantry experience and knowledge to teach Marines the skills necessary to succeed.
"I think this is a great opportunity for [Marines]," said Sgt. James R. Scott, 32, Lauderhill, Fla., Combat Skills Training School instructor, Military Police Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group. "It lets Marines from all [Military Occupational Specialties] learn to use the weapon systems the Marine Corps has to offer."
They teach the basic functions of the M-240G medium machine gun, M2 .50 caliber machine gun and the MK-19 40mm grenade launcher, weapons commonly used in the combat environment.'
"Move up five and right two," said Sgt. Peter J. Katineay, 27, CST instructor, to keep the students on target.
Katineay enjoys sharing his knowledge with the Marines.
"I like teaching this course," said Katineay, 27, Polson, Mont. "I get to give the knowledge I learned during my MOS school and in combat."
Katineay went to the School of Infantry as a machine gunner and has been on three deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He now shares those experiences and knowledge with the students that go through his course.
"I try my best to teach the students that I have enough to help them increase their chances of surviving in the combat zone," he added.
Sgt. Andrew T. Pizzutelli, 28, Kansas City, Kan., CST instructor, uses his lifetime experiences as examples in the class.
"We try to tell them interesting stories to keep them motivated about taking the course," Pizzutelli said. "I'll tell them things about what I did while I was deployed, like some of the convoys I went on or firefights I've been in."
One of Pizzutelli's favorite stories to tell is when he was on a convoy and a vehicle was driving a little to close. After hitting the vehicle with a flash bang, it kept driving close. After following the Rules of Engagement the last option was to fire upon the vehicle.
"These are the type of things Marines go through while being deployed." he said.
His real-life accounts pay off for the students in the course.
"I get a lot from the stories they tell me," said Pfc. Zachary S. Barclift, 20, Mobile, Ala., embark clerk, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, CLR-17, 1st MLG. "I hear that and think 'man that could be me out there doing those things.'"
While in the classroom they play off each other's strengths to teach the course.
"Since me and Sergeant Pizzutelli are better with our hands, we teach the practical application portion," Scott said. "Sergeant Katineay is a great speaker so he teaches the power point presentations."
At the end of the three-week course 30 Marines leave with the skills to man any machine gun and continue the fight as a new group of students prepare to get the same training.
"At the end of the course I have a sense of satisfaction, knowing I had something to do with the Marines gaining the knowledge they need to be able to use these weapons." Scott said.
| Date Taken: | 03.13.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 03.20.2009 14:03 |
| Story ID: | 31396 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 244 |
| Downloads: | 157 |
This work, Combat skills instructors use experience to better Marines in combat situations, by LCpl Jerrick J. Griffin, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
