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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. – Humvees, 7-ton
trucks and other armored vehicles ruled the road August, 27-28,
2013 ... as Marines with Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38,
Detachment A, continued pre-deployment training aboard
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, CA.
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Marines with Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38, Detachment A attach night vision goggles to their helmets during pre-deployment training aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, CA on Aug. 27, 2013. They used the NVGs to navigate while driving in the dark during convoy training. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Johns)
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This was
just a small portion of an intense training schedule as the
detachment prepares for a deployment to the Middle East in a
couple of weeks.
The convoy ops training put Marines
behind the wheel of armored vehicles as they line up in a
convoy, and navigated through day and low-light conditions
and in the dark with night vision goggles.
“[With
this training] we are giving all of our drivers a chance to
drive in multiple conditions before this deployment,” said
Staff Sgt. Michael Huack, the detachment's company gunnery
sergeant and an Arlington, Texas native. “We want to keep
the skills sharp because training like this atrophies if you
don't keep up with it. We plan on reacquainting the Marines
with NVGs and getting them used to driving using them as
well.”
During their downtime, Marines received
classes from sergeants on topics ranging from their own
experiences while deployed to suicide awareness.
“A
lot of these Marines are young and some of them have just
gotten their [Humvee driver's licenses,] but, they are
getting a lot of good training that I think will help them
out in the future,” said Sgt. Justin Snow, a refrigeration
and air conditioning technician with the detachment and a
Lynn Center, Ill., native. “This kind of training is taking
it a step beyond what units usually do for pre-deployment
training. I really think we're taking a step in the right
direction by doing this. I'm confident about going on this
deployment.”
The Marines also went to Carlos Hathcock
Range where they brushed up on their advance combat
marksmanship techniques.
Every shooter took the
course of fire three times – once in the day, once in
low-light conditions with a visible laser mounted to their
weapon and another in complete darkness with an infrared
laser which could only be seen by those wearing NVGs.
The more these Marines practice these techniques, the
more the movements and firing positions become muscle memory
allowing their bodies to keep up with their minds in a fire
fight.
“I'm really excited about this deployment,”
said Lance Cpl. Spencer Studer, a satellite communications
technician with the detachment and a Parker, Colo., native.
“I get to do what I enlisted to do—travel and see a lot of
new things. I've really enjoyed our pre-deployment training;
getting to handle weapons systems, hike and do activities I
don't get the chance to do on a normal basis. It's good for
us to get this extra experience before we go into this
deployment.”
With this training under their belts,
the Marines of MWCS-38, Det. A are well prepared for a
successful deployment.
By USMC Lance Cpl. Christopher Johns
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2013
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