Photo By Staff Sgt. Ryan Smith | COMBAT OUTPOST OUELLETTE, Helmand province, Afghanistan - Inspecting Lance Cpl. Kyle...... read more read more
Subscribe
COMBAT OUTPOST OUELLETTE, Helmand province, Afghanistan - Standing guard on the front-lines in Afghanistan is a vigilant task performed by service members throughout the war torn country.
This vigilance is what drives one Marine to ensure his guard force is prepared for any situation thrown at them.
Sgt. Terry Thomas Jr., the sergeant of the guard for 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines at Combat Outpost Ouellette, uses daily pre-combat checks and inspections to make sure his Marines are ready for every possibility when it comes to protecting the base.
“I’m responsible for the security of the Marines inside this compound,” said Thomas, a native of Franklin, Ky. “We are the security guards for the camp. I tour the posts to make sure my Marines are doing the right thing by watching their sectors of fire and reporting suspicious or significant activity.”
Thomas starts the supervision even before the Marines take to their posts. Ritualistically, the Marines gather 30 minutes prior to receive special instructions. During this time, Thomas runs the Marines through basic information necessary for standing post.
“We do that every morning and afternoon before my guys go on post,” said Thomas, a 2003 graduate of Franklin-Simpson High School in Franklin, Ky. “We go over general orders, justifications for deadly force, rules of engagement, weapons safety rules, weapons conditions and escalation of force procedures. Basically, it’s everything they need to know in case we get into a firefight or something does happen.”
“Repetition is key,” said Lance Cpl. Kyle Dawson, a combat replacement to 3/4. “You repeat something so many times it becomes second nature. It drills into your brain. You don’t have to think about anything because you already know.”
“A lot of the times I notice when I get new guys in…for half of them the last time they went over general orders was when they went to boot camp,” added Thomas. “It’s a refresher going over the general orders. Basically, it helps them out.”
“He’s one of the best sergeants I’ve ever had,” added Dawson, a native of Nevada, Texas. “He runs his stick very well; he’s very organized. We have everything we need and know we need to do. He has it all laid out for us. It’s real easy for people to catch on and jump right in.”
Continuously refreshing all of the procedures and orders regarding their posts ensures the readiness of the Marines and solidifies their understanding when it comes time to defend the base, according to Thomas.
“It helps to let them know when they are justified to return fire,” said Thomas. “EOF measures are a big thing; especially if we have a vehicle coming up to the [entry control point]. You have got to know them before they engage. It does help.”
As the Marines begin reciting the orders, if something is missed, the cycle begins again until the correction is made.
“We just continue going over it,” said Thomas. “Most of these guys are on guard for a while so we go over it twice a day; eventually they learn it.
“It’s something every Marine standing post should know,” added Thomas. “Whether standing post at the barracks or on embassy duty, they should always follow their general orders. The general orders get used in everyday Marine Corps life.”
Editor’s note: Regimental Combat Team 8 is currently assigned to 2nd Marine Division (Forward), which heads Task Force Leatherneck. The task force serves as the ground combat element of Regional Command (Southwest) and works in partnership with the Afghan National Security Force and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The unit is dedicated to securing the Afghan people, defeating insurgent forces, and enabling ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its area of operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.
| Date Taken: | 07.12.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.18.2011 05:24 |
| Story ID: | 73887 |
| Location: | COMBAT OUTPOST OUELLETTE, HELMAND PROVINCE,, AF |
| Web Views: | 360 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Franklin, Ky. native preps Marines for guard duty in Afghanistan, by SSgt Ryan Smith, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
