San Diego -- MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — One of the many threats in modern day warfare is Improvised Explosive Devices, which is why recruits are trained in the early stages of their Marine Corps careers on how to search and react to an IED device.
Recruits of Company K, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, patrolled through the IED lane during the Crucible at Edson Range, Jan. 8.
This event is a part of recruit training because recruits need to learn ways to spot and detect an IED, explained Cpl. Lucas J. Geboo, field instructor, Weapons and Field Training Battalion.
“The earlier they receive this training, the better it will be for them,” explained Geboo, a Lemont, Ill. native. “I know from my personal experience that the more practice they get with this, the more mistakes they can make and we would much rather them make mistakes here than in country.”
The course resembles a road in Afghanistan or Iraq with everything from a mangled car to a small town –like area. Recruits were briefed by Geboo before they began the course.
“We gave them classes while they were in Field Week on ways to spot an IED and then we reiterated those classes when they began the Crucible,” said 25 year-old Geboo.
During the brief at the beginning of the event, Geboo explained to the recruits that there would be two simulated IEDs along the course. It was their job to spot it and if they did not, it would detonate, causing casualties.
Co. K Marines got in patrol formation and began to patrol the road, looking for any signs of a possible IED threat.
Each object on the course was explained to the recruits as to why or why not it could be a threat. Geboo explained to the recruits that stopping the formation every 10 feet was better than missing something and taking the impact of an IED.
About 200 feet from the beginning of the course was the first IED that recruits had to spot, in this case they didn’t.
“I couldn’t see it,” said Pvt. Dakota Herrgesell, Platoon 3226. “It’s hard to see when you’re in the middle and have Marines in front of you. You have to trust them.”
When the IED detonated it sent a blast of white powder on-to the Marines. Any Marine covered in white powder was now considered a casualty and the other Marines had 60 seconds to evacuate them to a safe zone.
While some platoons learned from their mistakes at first, others didn’t and got hit with the second IED along the course.
At the end, the field instructors briefed the Marines on how they did, what they did wrong and what they did right.
However, the course taught the Marines to pay attention to detail in everything they do because it can cost them their lives or other Marines lives.
“I didn’t know that IEDs could be made out of almost anything,” said 18 year-old Herrgesell. “It definitely makes me look more in depth at my surroundings.”
Although this is the first IED training these Marines received while in the Marine Corps, they will build on the knowledge in their follow-on training at the School Of Infantry.
“I am not going to take any of this training lightly,” said Herrgesell. “One day it might all come back down to the training I receive here and it might save my life.”