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CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - During
every training evolution, there
is a discernible goal that is
accentuated before, during and
after the exercise. It serves as
the incentive and motivation for
Marines to accomplish a task
with the most speed, intensity
and efficiency possible.
Aside from that, there is an
unspoken yet very apparent idea
that no matter how mission
capable a unit may be, there is
always room for improvement. One
of the keys to testing
capabilities as well as
improving them is innovation,
which is the process of
introducing a new idea or
concept into something of value.
The 11th Marine Expeditionary
Unit used innovation to execute
its most recent training
exercise. On October 25, 2013,
the 11th MEU combined hiking
with annual gas chamber
familiarization training.
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Marines with the 11th Marine
Expeditionary Unit move through
CS gas during a hike on October
25, 2013. The Marines combined
both CBRND training and a hike
into one training evolution.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by
Lance Cpl. Demetrius Morgan)
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“The purpose of this training is
to increase the individual's and
unit's readiness due to the
global response force that the
MEU holds,” said Staff Sgt. Sean
Fordham, the 11th MEU CBRND
chief. “The 11th MEU as a whole
has to be ready for anything,
which includes a CBRN threat.”
With their scheduled deployment
approaching, the MEU is
participating in training
exercises at a more frequent
rate while intensifying each
training event to further
prepare and condition them for
any circumstance. This most
recent hike was a testament to
that.
As the Marines gathered
themselves in the assembly area,
there was a mixture of moods
that could be observed. Most
personnel didn't say much. It
was as if you could see the
gears turning as they
contemplated what could happen.
Others were seen casually
engaging in conversation as if
to seem unaffected by what was
to come. The one common trait
that all personnel displayed was
composure.
“Let's go, we're stepping!” said
Sgt. Maj. Troy Black, the 11th
MEU sergeant major. It started
out just like any other hike
with the boots marching along
the dirt road, and the rifles
and designated gear colliding
with each other.
At the 10-minute mark, the MEU
stopped to put on Mission
Oriented Protective Posture
gear. Going into the hike, the
Marines new at some point that
they would be getting gassed,
but nobody knew when or where.
All they were told was when they
smell gas, sound the verbal
alarm, stop breathing, close
their eyes and put on their
mask.
The Marines proceeded with
caution after the formation
started to move again. They were
seen looking in various
directions, trying to detect
where the CBRN threat would
appear.
“Gas Gas Gas!” yelled someone in
the formation after smelling gas
along the route. Canisters
containing the riot control
agent chlorobenzal malononitrile,
otherwise known as CS, spread
throughout the area, forcing MEU
personnel to utilize their M50
Joint Service General Purpose
Mask.
“Most Marines aren't used to
doing strenuous activity in MOPP
gear,” said Lance Cpl. Joseph
Leeder, CBRN Defense specialist
with the 11th MEU. “Confidence
and familiarization are the main
things you want to focus on when
dealing with CBRN related events
like this.”
The real challenge began when
the MEU continued to hike
through the gas. Although
protected by the effects of the
gas, vision through the mask,
and the gas itself, was limited
at best. Also, due to the
insulation of the MOPP gear, the
temperature inside increased
dramatically causing many of the
Marines to sweat heavily.
Through these conditions, the
MEU advanced through the terrain
as if there were no threat at
all. When personnel had reached
the final destination point,
they conducted the standard
procedures for shedding
contaminated gear, which was
rehearsed during their last
training exercise. The MEU then
boarded the bus and headed back
to headquarters.
By USMC Lance Cpl. Demetrius Morgan
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2013
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