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CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - United States Marine Corps Forces, Special
Operations Command (MARSOC) was born in 2006, during the wake of
Operation Enduring Freedom's surge. During their eight years of
operating within Afghanistan, MARSOC triumphantly left their
footprint in the country's evolution to stability, training and
advising Afghan National Army Commandos and eradicating Taliban safe
havens.
Now, the war in Afghanistan is nearing its
conclusion, and no further MARSOC battalions, companies or teams are
due to deploy there again. And though the young unit's undertakings
during Operation Enduring Freedom have earned the command an immense
amount of respect within the Department of Defense, the war in
Afghanistan by no means defines MARSOC.
Being a highly-adaptable force, possessing a multifaceted set of
skills, MARSOC has begun transitioning into new Areas of Operation
(AO).
As MARSOC continues to demonstrate their capabilities
and versatilities, so, too, are the special operations enablers who
embed with the deploying Marine Special Operations Companies.
MARSOC's Multi-Purpose Canine (MPC) unit is such a program,
adequately preparing the MPC handlers for the new AOs in which
they'll be operating.
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A Multi-Purpose Canine handler with U.S.
Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command carries his canine up
a grated ladderwell during training aboard Stone Bay,
Sept. 16, 2014. As MARSOC continues to demonstrate their
capabilities and versatilities, MPC handlers with the command are
preparing themselves and their canines for new areas of operation in
which they'll be operating. (U.S. Marine Corps photo illustration by
Sgt. Scott A. Achtemeier)
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“Now that MARSOC has broken down into different AOs,
we're ensuring all the handlers know what AO they're going
into, and what mission-set the teams could be tasked with,”
said the Multi-Purpose Canine program manager.
That
AO-breakdown involves each Marine Special Operations
Battalion (MSOB) deploying in service of a different
regionalized special operations command. First MSOB deploys
under Special Operations Command Pacific; 2nd MSOB deploys
under Special Operations Command Central, while 3rd MSOB
deploys under Special Operations Command Africa.
“All
of our guys have all the same capabilities, but each handler
will be dealing with a different mission-set in respect to
his AO, so we're constantly training and re-certifying our
guys to create a great product for the teams,” said the MPC
program manager.
The multi-purpose canines' core
capabilities include explosives detection, tracking, and
protection work. Along with maintaining these perishable and
essential skills, the MPC program actively introduces
additional training to the handlers and canines to meet the
needs of the Marine Special Operations Teams (MSOT).
“That's what we bring to MARSOC with our multi-purpose
canines – a dog with several different capabilities to be
able to conduct whatever mission the team has for us,”
explained the MPC program manager. “They're getting a
multi-purpose canine that's off-leash, sniffing out
explosives; they can track, patrol, chase down fleeing
suspects and provide an extra layer of protection to the
team.”
The MPC program manager went on to say that
this particular canine program has a unique ability to
quickly change, and adapt to varying AOs, given the small
size of the unit, and the resources made available to it.
In transitioning into the new AOs, the MSOBs are now
placing more of an emphasis on maritime operations. The MPC
program has followed suit to accommodate the operational
need of the MSOTs.
“Aside from the fast roping and
repelling we've been working on, we're also spending a lot
more time in the water,” said a handler who recently
deployed to Afghanistan with 2nd MSOB. “You know,
Afghanistan is a landlocked country, so there was never any
need for that. With the new AOs we're deploying to, there's
definitely the potential we'll be in the water more.”
The AOs are designed to cover the bulk, if not all of
the assigned region. This allows MARSOC, partnered with the
other existing Special Operations Forces (SOF), to
essentially canvas the globe in support of a global SOF
network.
This will be the first time any SOF unit has
brought along a multi-purpose canine element to many of the
areas the MSOTs are expected to visit. In addition, these
AOs cover a considerable land mass containing different
countries, cultures, terrains, climates, threat
considerations, etc.
“We're currently trying to build
some new skill sets and also improve the things we already
know,” said the handler. “We're figuring out what the
mission set is going to be, and what is going to be asked of
us, and then we're just preparing for that.”
As the
MPC handlers continue to deploy with the Marine Special
Operations Companies, they'll bring back with them helpful
information regarding their tours and how they can better
adapt to the needs of the MSOTs. The MPC program manager
stated the handlers who have come back from Special
Operations Command Pacific deployments returned with
invaluable information.
“Once we identify a
capability we need to change, we'll either enhance that
capability, change that capability, even do away with that
capability if it's no longer needed; or we'll create a new
capability if that's what's desired by MARSOC,” said the MPC
program manager.
To expedite the preparation and
adaptation process, the program manager explained that the
handlers are currently refining their skills as trainers to
develop new skills, as needed, while deployed.
“Our
goal is to continue to be proficient and continue to be
flexible,” said the MPC program manager.“MARSOC's motto is
‘Today will be different.' That's every day. So, tomorrow,
whatever mission is pushed out to us, we have the capability
of readying our handlers for that mission requirement.”
By U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Steven Fox
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
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