Photo By Cpl. Rashaun X. James | Gunnery Sgt. Ernest Barajas explains how to perform a test burn during an explosive...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Being prepared is very important to the Marine Corps, which prides itself in having some of the toughest training standards in the Department of Defense. In addition to all the required annual training they must complete, motor transport Marines of Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 completed a voluntary two-day course to familiarize themselves with various explosives and their capabilities at the explosive ordnance disposal range, Aug. 20.
“The first class the Marines engaged in last month was an [improvised explosive device] range which showed the Marines different examples of IEDs they may encounter while deployed,” said 1st. Lt. Wesley A. Eastman, MWSS-271 Motor Transport Company commander. “This class gives the Marines an opportunity to interact with the explosives and see the damage they can do.”
EOD Marines from MWSS-271 brought the motor transport company out to the range to learn about several different types of explosives including C-4 and TNT as well as detonation cord and fuses. In addition, the students had to build their own explosive setup and detonate them on the range.
“My favorite part of the class was learning how to chain explosives together,” said Cpl. Eric R. Lambert, a logistics vehicle system operator with MWSS-271 Motor Transport Company. “This training gave me an idea of what to expect when I go to EOD school or if I ever had to provide information to an EOD technician while deployed.”
The training was more than just a mere opportunity for Marines to “blow some stuff up” as affirmed by one of the Marines who organized the training.
“One of the motor transport company’s missions in a deployed environment is route clearance,” said Gunnery Sgt. Ernest Barajas, team leader with EOD. “The importance is to not become complacent. Afghanistan is a far different environment than Iraq was.”
The message seemed to get across to the motor transport Marines. One said he understands the importance of the training to mission success and staying alive in combat .
“Learning how to spot and analyze different explosives and how powerful each one could be in an IED was very eye opening,” said Lance Cpl. Lorenzo D. Bingham, a motor vehicle operator with MWSS-271 Motor Transport Company. “We’re all in motor transport here, which means that the things we learn here could save our lives.”
Eastman said this class educates and informs Marines about basic demolitions awareness, respect for their power, and could be very beneficial as reoccurring training for motor transport Marines.
“This is something I think we should really continue to keep doing in the future,” said Eastman. “I really want to begin incorporating this into our training schedule.”
| Date Taken: | 08.20.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 08.26.2010 15:59 |
| Story ID: | 55222 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 189 |
| Downloads: | 4 |
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