MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Marines with 2nd Ground Sensor Platoon, 2nd Intelligence Battalion conducted a live-fire range aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, May 13, 2015. The Marines executed fire-team and squad sized rushes while engaging enemy targets.
During their time with GSP, the Marines are responsible for emplacing sensors in the ground that detect any movement and alerts them of nearby enemies. The most common sensor that the Marines emplace are encoder transmitter units, which can be programmed to detect vibrations in the ground, acoustic levels and changes in temperature.
Sergeant Tanner Richie, a ground sensor operator with GSP, said that the sensors are programmed based on what sort of terrain the Marines are dealing with.
“We work a lot with counter-narcotics,” Siemieniec said. “We go down to the U.S.-Mexico border and employ our sensors to help better track illegal aliens and the transportation of narcotics into the Unites States.”
The Marines started the day with a fire-team competition, where they were required to drop as many targets as possible with the allotted rounds. They then advanced to fire team rushes and ultimately to a squad sized assault.
“Shoot, move, communicate,” said Sgt. Kory Diley, a squad leader with the platoon. “That’s what today was about.”
While conducting the rushes, they were tested in their ability to move as a team and communicate with each other to successfully eliminate the enemy and advance as a whole.
“Everyone has to be able to have confidence in the Marine to the left and to the right of them,” said 1st Lt. Dan Siemieniec, a platoon commander with GSP. “We have the capability to be employed as grunts whenever it’s necessary.”
The platoon is a small unit mostly compiled of Marines that have the military occupational specialty 0311 riflemen who receive the secondary 8621 surveillance sensor operator title.
“We’re 03’s first and foremost,” said Cpl. Brett Smith, a team leader with GSP. “Because we’re grunts with a secondary MOS, we have to stay up on our training as an infantryman.”
Once the Marines are done at GSP, they will return to a regular infantry unit, where they assume their primary MOS. The Marines must stay proficient in infantry tactics while with GSP.
“If we reenlist, we return to an infantry unit and go back to being an 03,” said Diley.
While deployed, GSP Marines are integrated into the units and are organic to the platoon. The training helps to ensure the readiness and relevance for 2nd Intel Bn. to be employed in support of combatant command requirements.