MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Pink, purple and yellow grenades exploded upon the guard posts as Marines scrambled for cover from the enemy attack, a different war was upon them.
More than 60 Marines with the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment’s guard force conducted a simulated combat exercise Thursday at the battalion barracks.
Aggressors in Arabic garb tested the defenses of the guard force with guerilla tactics during the ten hour event.
“This was a mission rehearsal for what we’ll be doing in Iraq,” said Staff Sgt. Nicholas D. Day, 27-year-old staff non-commissioned officer in charge of the battalion guard force, “Our mission is to provide security at (the main encampment) and the entry control points in the battalion’s area of operations.”
To help simulate their role in Iraq, the guard force occupied the battalion’s three barracks buildings, setting up numerous guard posts and a small command center in each.
From their posts on the second and third levels of the barracks, the Marines kept watch on the activity around the area as water balloon and water gun carrying role players harassed their position.
But despite the constant presence of civilians and suspicious persons, attacks were few and far between, said Cpl. Aaron G. Roman, 20-year-old squad leader for the guard force.
“Each Marine stood post for six hours and were engaged for about ten minutes,” Day said.
The sporadic activity served as a good demonstration of the vigilance that will be necessary in a fully populated city, said Day.
The aggressors, pulled from the battalion’s Headquarters and Service Company’s personal security detachment, used sniper attacks, improvised explosive device attacks, ambushes and various other deceptions during the exercise.
The different scenarios tested the skill, communication, teamwork, discipline and decision making of the Marines involved, said Roman.
“The attacks were good enough to open the Marines’ eyes to the possibilities of what might or might not happen over there,” said Roman.
At its conclusion, the exercise was considered a successful rehearsal and beneficial for all involved, said Day.
And with each Marine coming from within the infantry battalion, there leaves little doubt to the guard force’s readiness for the task, said Day.
“The guard force is more than prepared for the task at hand,” said Day.
Prior to the exercise, the guard force also received classes in escalation of force, rules of engagement, force protection, media relations and more.
But one of their more important lessons was on the importance of their mission, said Day.
“We protect the Marines when they get R&R, so they can rest up, go back out and effectively combat the enemy,” said Day.
The guard force deploys along with the rest of the battalion in two weeks, where they will conduct security and stability operations in the Sunni Triangle for approximately seven months.