Photo By James Clark | Marine instructors with Close Quarters Battle Section, Training Company, Marine Corps...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Marines master many techniques of warfare from martial arts, Military Operations in Urban Terrain, land navigation courses, weapons ranges and myriad field exercises. However, it's the responsibility of the Marine Corps Security Forces Regiment, II Marine Expeditionary Force, to focus on Close Quarters Battle skills.
Unlike many methods the Corps uses to conduct warfare, CQB is not solely a military skill, but one exercised in the civilian sector as well. Therefore, the instructors of the CQB schoolhouse in Norfolk, Va., sometimes look outside the military to their civilian counterparts in SWAT teams for evaluation of their performance and ideas to improve their training program.
The instructors of Marine Corps Security Force Training Company, II MEF, recently participated in the Security Protection Officer Team Competition, which included expert marksmen from civilian and military law enforcement and security units, in Albuquerque, N.M., May 31-June 4.
Marine instructors from the regiment's training company have participated in the event for the last 13 years to maintain their edge and share best practices in CQB.
"[The competition] is a good assessment of the techniques and procedures we use, which are similar to our civilian counterparts," said Capt. Christopher L. Buck, officer-in-charge of Close Quarters Battle Section, Training Company, Marine Corps Security Force Regiment. "It gives us a chance to evaluate our equivalency."
The event allowed the Marines to compare their techniques, tactics and procedures, and also see how well their tactics hold up against other organizations, Buck said.
"This competition provides us with the opportunity to cross train, engage in subject matter exchange and prevents our training from becoming stagnant," he said.
The knowledge gained from their continued participation in the event has led to the incorporation of new skill training in the regiment, such as the use of ballistics shields and an increased focus on speed reload drills with the pistol, which serves as the Marines' alternate weapon, Buck said.
In preparing for the competition, the Marines had to balance a full day of instruction with the training they did during their breaks and on weekends, said Sgt. Ryan W. Flowers, team leader for the event and instructor with the CQB section.
"Preparing for the event, we were slammed by the lack of instructors and the time we spent teaching class," Flowers said. "When [the students] would break for lunch, we would spend that time firing or training,"
The standard team size for the event is five members and one replacement - should one of the participants be disqualified. The Marines entered the contest with only five instructors and so didn't have the option to "sub out," Flowers said.
The other instructors who took part in the competition were Staff Sgt. Travis R. Dexter, Sgt. Macky J. Cottongim, Sgt. Christopher Latham and Sgt. Edward W. Deptola.
At the event, the Marines gained recognition for their use of standard M4 carbine rifles, Flowers said. They were also the only group to hit every target during the final super team event.
The Marines placed first in two of the nine events and second overall. This accomplishment is significant because they competed with basic equipment — using the same gear which they use to train their Marines. They were also the only team in the competition not to use scopes or similar optics. The Marines used EOTech Holographic Weapons Systems sights and flip up iron sights.
The sight has a small reticule with a red dot in the center and allows the shooter to keep both eyes open while frequently assessing the environment and situation without enhancing the targets' size, like a scope.
"Using iron sights reaffirmed our training methods." Flowers said. "Technology can keep advancing, but if you don't have basic skills you can't progress. The weapon doesn't make the shooter; the shooter makes the weapon,"
| Date Taken: | 07.02.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 07.02.2009 11:01 |
| Story ID: | 35892 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,124 |
| Downloads: | 371 |
This work, Excellence in the basics; Marines test skills using iron sights, by James Clark, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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