Coxswain’s course practices landings, withdrawals

Photo By Staff Sgt. Courtney White | Marines with Special Operations Training Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF, conducted clandestine landing and withdrawal training as a part of the coxswain course Aug. 16. The Marines enrolled in the 20-day course are training to certify their competency as a coxswain; the course runs from Aug. 8 to Sept. 2.  

WHITE BEACH NAVAL FACILITY, AICHI, JAPAN

08.16.2011

Story by Lance Cpl. Courtney White 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

WHITE BEACH NAVAL FACILITY, Japan – Marines with Special Operations Training Group completed coxswain’s course training day seven here Aug. 16. The Marines are enrolled in the 20-day course which certifies their competency as a coxswain. The course will run from Aug. 8 to Sept. 2.

Coxswain is a term that dates back to the 1700s and refers to the cox boat, which was used to bring the ship’s captain to shore, according to Gunnery Sgt. Joshua P. Turner, staff non-commissioned officer-in-charge, Amphibious Raids Section, Special Operations Training Group.

“The Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps use this term for anyone in command of a small vessel,” said Turner.

The unit, a part of III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF, had a full day of training which included clandestine landings and withdrawals.

“We are practicing daytime practical application of clandestine landings and withdrawals,” said Sgt. Peter James, an instructor with the amphibious raids section of SOTG. “It is important for the students to learn how to properly conduct beach landings and withdrawals in the daytime, so when it comes time to test during darkness or to actually use these skills, they will feel comfortable enough to do so.”

Clandestine landings and withdrawals are necessary for a boat company on a Marine Expeditionary Unit, so they can land with great force undetected on a beach landing site, said James.

“We are learning how to properly mark the beaches for landings, how to signal other waves of boats, where to hide boats when conducting land missions and how to move along the beach without being detected,” said Staff Sgt. Danny R. Keller, a student in the course. Keller is also in training to be an instructor with SOTG.

There are many aspects that must be considered during clandestine landings and withdrawals to ensure you will not be detected, according to Keller.

“We made the mistake during landing training of coming in sitting up in the boats,” said Keller, but, we were reminded that it is essential that we stay low, so we will not form silhouettes or shadows which can be seen by others.”

It is also important to remember to be as quiet as possible, Keller added.

“The land is also a very important aspect you need to consider when trying to be silent,” said Keller. “You need to walk on the terrain which makes the least amount of noise possible.”

The techniques learned are necessary to remember for the Coxswain Course final testing, and prepares Marines for any future real-world scenarios, said Keller.

“Being uncomfortable during the course is not necessarily a bad thing,” said James. “We want them to be a little uncomfortable, so that when it comes time for a mission they have already tested their extremes.”
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• Date Taken: 08.16.2011
• Date Posted: 08.23.2011 02:26
• Story ID: 75756
• Location: WHITE BEACH NAVAL FACILITY, AICHI, JP