CAMP SHELBY, Miss. -- U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command continued to improve and strengthen the link between Special Operations Forces and Marine Air Ground Task Force, enhancing their interoperability during back-to-back 10-day exercises in the Gulf Coast region, Oct. 27 – Nov. 17.
U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command continued to improve and strengthen the link between Special Operations Forces and Marine Air Ground Task Force, enhancing their interoperability during back-to-back 10-day exercises in the Gulf Coast region, Oct. 27 – Nov. 17.
Marine Raiders with 1st and 2nd Marine Raider Battalions partnered with Marines of 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2d Marine Division, for the exercises that spanned across parts of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi and focused on mission development and execution.
“This is a perfect opportunity for all personnel involved to work on their ability to plan and execute full- spectrum operations in a unique and dynamic environment,” said the MARSOC G-7 (Training and Education) Director.
Marine Raiders spent the entirety of the exercises conducting a wide range of operations including foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance and direct action. Missions required the Marine Raiders to incorporate support capabilities including intelligence, communications and logistics.
Marines with 2nd CEB played the vital role of a simulated partner nation force, allowing Raiders to build upon their abilities to advise, train and assist foreign militaries around the globe. The Marines joined to conduct weapons training, close-quarters battle drills, patrolling, and insert and extract drills.
“This is great training and something outside the norm for us,” said Staff Sgt. Adam Chaney, a platoon sergeant with 2nd CEB. “We’re often attached to infantry and other combat elements, but these exercises show our Marines different aspects of the Marine Corps.”
It was not the first time 2nd CEB had supported MARSOC exercises. The unit has frequently partnered with Marine Raiders to take advantage of what Master Sgt. Thomas Garcia, an assistant operations chief with the battalion, described as “very realistic training.”
“It’s not often many of our Marines get to participate in live-fire drills, or CQB drills incorporating special-effect, small-arms marking systems (paint simulation ammunition),” said Garcia. “Our support here is a great opportunity for us to work on individual combat skills that a lot of our Marines don’t get.”
The realistic training Garcia referred to requires a network of enabler support ranging from military aviation for transport and aerial reconnaissance, to cosmetology for simulating combat wounds.
Each mission during the exercise is intelligence-driven and supports an overall end objective, such as capturing a high-value individual or gathering intelligence for follow-on missions. Marine Raiders must plan and execute each mission, which often involves night-time raids, reconnaissance and surveillance, and Visit, Board, Search and Seizure of vessels.
“We will take this experience and be a well-versed unit in support of the (Marine Air Ground Task Force). MARSOC requires this training and our battalion as a whole can only benefit from continuing this partnership,” said Garcia.