7th Communications Bn. Marines get back to basics, refresh job skills

Photo By Master Sgt. Bryan Peterson | Pfc. Saree Ath moves the TRC-170 dish while Cpl. Robert E. Harvey supervises March 28 at Kin Blue Beach. Nearly 50 Marines with 7th Communications Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force, recently spent a week in the field using trouble-shooting techniques to repair equipment and become proficient in their military occupational specialty.  

04.08.2007

Story by Cpl. Bryan Peterson 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

By Lance Cpl. Bryan A. Peterson
III Marine Expeditionary Force PAO

KIN BLUE BEACH, OKINAWA, Japan - Lance Cpl. Zachary C. Becknell was only with 7th Communications Battalion for a few months before he was assigned to the battalion's armory as part of the fleet assistance program.

Six months later, he is back at his regular job and working to fine tune the skills he had before going to the armory. To do that, Becknell and nearly 50 other Marines from the battalion, most of whom, like him, recently returned from assignments outside their military occupational specialty, spent March 26-30 in the field at Kin Blue Beach and Camp Courtney.

"Lots of these guys were away from their MOS for a while, and we understand (the need for a refresher)," said Cpl. Michael J. Heuett, a digital multi-channel wideband transmission equipment operator with the battalion. "Coming out here can help these Marines refamiliarize themselves with their MOS and get out of the garrison mentality."

During the training, Marines at Kin Blue Beach sent signals back and forth to their counterparts on Camp Courtney, unaware that the on-site duty experts planned to make things go haywire.

"We wanted them to not only get a feel for how to essentially use the system for its main purpose but also to have the Marines troubleshoot the problem given to them," said Cpl. Mericko Dukes, a tropospheric scatter radio multi-channel equipment operator and an on-site duty expert with the battalion. "When they are in a real situation, they need to know how to fix the problem, because anywhere you go, something will always malfunction."

When the Marines could not figure out the problem, they spent time taking the equipment apart and putting it back together again until they got it right, Dukes added.

Heuett said Marines from the battalion are preparing for an upcoming deployments, so the training will help them work out the problems they will face.

"Everyone makes mistakes at their job at one time or another in their career," he said. "It's OK to make those mistakes here because that's what this is all about."

Becknell, a tropospheric scatter radio multi-channel equipment operator, said after coming back from his duty at the armory, he needed to get back to his job and refresh his job skills.

"I operate the TRC-170, and there are so many steps to operate this piece of equipment," Becknell said. "I was here for about four months before I was sent to the armory. But after six months of not doing my job, I knew I was going to be a little rusty. This exercise definitely helped us get back on track."

• Date Taken: 04.08.2007
• Date Posted: 04.10.2007 11:37
• Story ID: 9846