Photo By Cpl. Monty Burton | Lance Cpl. Trey Ellingson, a fire support man, and Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Chesnutt, a...... read more read more
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CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - “On the other side of the road you will see a two-story building. Call contact on that building,” says Lance Cpl. Trey Ellingson as he calls for close-air support from an AH-1w Super Cobra attack helicopter. As the helicopter approached its target, Ellingson says calmly, “you are cleared hot,” and the aircraft releases a barrage of bullets onto a simulated target.
Ellingson, a fire-support man with 1st Air Naval Gun Liaison Company and Chicago native, participated in the ANGLICO Basic Course, a six-week course designed to teach every Marine assigned to the unit the basics of all the jobs associated with the ANGLICO mission.
A typical ANGLICO unit specializes in coordinating artillery, naval gunfire and close air support for all branches of the U.S. military and allied forces. Operating in small teams they direct and control air support for joint forces.
The Anglico Basic Course, also known as ABC, is a three-section course implementing the basics of motor transportation, communications and call-for-fire techniques. Every Marine assigned to an ANGLICO unit for the first time is required to pass the course, regardless of rank or time in service.
Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Chesnutt, the fire-support chief with 1st ANGLICO, said the goal is to make every Marine within the unit, no matter their military occupational specialty, able to join a team and operate effectively.
“We go out in 4-5-man teams, if we lose one Marine, that’s 25 percent of our team,” he said. “Until we can get a replacement for that team member, we may have to grab somebody from the headquarters unit and get them up to speed with what we do.”
Chesnutt, a Kingston, N.H., native, said each team is comprised of forward observers, radio operators and a joint tactical air controller.
He said the course teaches a basic set of skills to the Marines, which provides a common platform, making them easier to train.
“At the end of the course, we are not expecting these Marines to be experts,” said Chesnutt. “If they can retain the basics, when we need them, it will make their transition easier.”
Ellingson, who has already deployed to Afghanistan, said ABC is relevant to what’s expected in a combat situation.
“It’s really good training,” the 20-year old said. “They take all the information and break it down completely. If you thought you knew about something before the course, you will have no doubt about the information after the course.”
The course gives the Marines, who may potentially be on the front lines together, a chance to cross train with each other, said Ellingson.
“Since I’m a forward observer, I can teach a radio operator the basics of what I do and he can do the same for me,” he said. “It’s the ultimate cross-training.”
Ellingson said the training gives the students, all with different skill sets, a chance to interact with each other and build unit cohesion.
“This course is one of the times we are able to come together as a unit and learn how everybody operates,” he said. “That is the most beneficial part of the training.”
Chesnutt said there are currently no licenses attained during this training, but the unit is working to change that.
He said this class is larger than normal, due to the unit’s operational tempo.
“We have 45 Marines in this class, but we normally have only about 25,” he said. “That is due to constant deployments and new Marines coming to the unit.”
Chesnutt said the training is always evolving to keep up with enemy tactics in Afghanistan.
“We are always working to keep this training up-to-date. We need our Marines to be prepared for anything,” he said.
“When they graduate they will have a basic understanding of what is expected to join one of our teams. He said. “We throw a lot of information at them, but in the end, it all works out for the best.”
Chesnutt said during 1st ANGLICO’s most recent deployment to Afghanistan, the unit successfully used Marines from its supporting units to fill roles on several teams due to the nature of their mission and small size of the unit.
The class graduated on Friday, Nov. 5.
For more information on 1st ANGLICO please visit www.i-mef.usmc.mil/external/mefhqtrsgrp/1stanglicomhg/
| Date Taken: | 11.04.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 11.05.2010 14:18 |
| Story ID: | 59517 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,801 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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