October 7, 2015 -- Marines with Transportation Support Company, Combat
Logistics Battalion 2, conducted simulated High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled
Vehicle convoy training at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Oct. 7, 2015.
The evolution was part of the three-day Convoy Leader’s
Course that is preparing motor transport operators from the unit to complete
different tasks required for effectively executing mounted patrols.
According to instructors, the students must be prepared for
possible hostile threats while conducting convoys.
“Their primary job is getting from point A to point B, but
if something happens in between, they must know what to do,” said Sgt. Jeffrey
Gause Jr., the chief instructor with Battle Skills Training School. “That’s
where our job as instructors comes in by teaching these Marines how to survive
when it comes to combat situations.”
A typical convoy requires four to five Marines to function
properly. During operations, the driver and vehicle commander assume the
largest responsibility in terms of transporting quickly and safely.
“The driver’s job is navigation and is solely responsible
for the truck, including maintenance and load-out planning, while the vehicle
commander takes accountability of everyone in the truck and communicates
between the other vehicles within the convoy,” Gause said.
The vehicle commander also operates the Blue Force Tracker,
which is a global positioning system providing precise locations of both
friendly and hostile forces to a combat operations center. A third Marine is
designated as a gunner, covering a Humvee’s field of fire with a crew-served
weapon, such as an M240G or M2 .50 caliber machine gun. Finally, one or two
Marines act as dismounts, assisting the convoy by checking for possible threats
near their respective Humvee when required.
“A dismount’s job is to leave the truck when instructed and
inspect five meters around the Humvee for any threats, specifically [improvised
explosive devices]. Once the area is clear, they post security until the gunner
calls them back into the truck,” said Lance Cpl. Ryan Leech, a motor transport
operator with CLB-2 and dismount during the training.
By cycling through the different positions within the convoy
and emphasizing the idea of small-unit leadership, the Marines were able to
better prepare themselves for an Integrated Training Exercise later this month,
which will combine logistical, aviation and ground combat elements.
“Through leadership by example, the Marines will do what you
need them to do, which is huge when it comes to combat situations. There’s
always chaos, but it’s about how you control that chaos,” Gause said.
“The training is beneficial because it gives us real
experience to what we could be facing,” Leech said. Doing it over and over
until it becomes second nature is what will make us successful.”