MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- Three out of 10 Marines from the Provost Marshal’s Office here made it through the Special Reaction Team’s indoctrination, a grueling week of running, shooting and clearing rooms in East Miramar, Nov. 16 through 20.
Current SRT members conducted the indoctrination to find new SRT members by testing the physical and mental prowess of each Marine hopeful and evaluating their performance under stressful situations.
The SRT hopefuls donned vests with drop and magazine pouches, helmets, shields, leg and arm pads, gloves, 9mm pistols and MP5 submachine guns to perform physical training and weapons handling.
“We’re looking for team players,” said Cpl. Justin Haffey, an SRT member. “You can’t increase somebody’s attitude. This indoc basically weeds out the non-hackers. You have to prove yourself for this, it’s not just given.”
The indoctrination included events such as the physical fitness test and police obstacle course. The course had more than 15 obstacles for the Marines to overcome, including wire fences, walls, ladders, a doghouse to climb under and a human dummy drag. Marines ran the course twice individually and once as a team. While one Marine ran the course, others ran around the course and performed different physical exercises.
“The indoc really tests whether you want to be here or not,” said Pfc. Steven Evans, a new SRT member. “Am I here just to say I did it, or am I here because I want to be here?”
The SRT hopefuls also went to the range to qualify with the MP5 and the 9mm. The SRT members watched and critiqued every hopeful’s stance and position while the Marines fired dozens of rounds.
In addition, the indoc involved the Marines clearing rooms in a small training house called the “white house.” They also practiced clearing rooms at the San Diego Police Department compound. The compound’s training house had an open roof and a catwalk which allowed SRT members to observe the Marines.
The Marines used modified weapons in stack formations to fire simulated rounds at “hostiles” hidden in the training house. At the end of the training, the SRT members and the hopefuls had a little fun with the house in a free for all pitting everyone against each other. This marked the end of the indoc and welcomed three new members to SRT.
The new members are now on a six-month probation period. They must continue to perform well at all of their duties and participate in monthly training with the other SRT members.
“It was a lot more intense than I expected because of things like the constant running around in all the gear,” said Cpl. Anthony Barnes, a new SRT member.
The final day allowed the new SRT members to relax by cleaning weapons and vehicles. They also held a small graduation for the Marines in which each Marine received a completion certificate. Haffey also named Cpl. Keane Wodele the honor graduate for his attitude and performance.
Although the SRT indoc is an intense week of training, Marines continue to leap into the action to become members of the group. The team continues their tradition of taking on the best Marines with the most heart.
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