SOTG trains II MACE for deployment

[SR-25]

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Jan. 10, 2005) -- The Reserve Marines of II Marine Expeditionary Force Augmentation Command Detachment D went through Iraq preparation training Jan.8 when special operations training group instructors spun them up on the AK-47 assault rifle, the weapon primarily used by insurgents in Iraq.

As thousands of Marines aboard Camp Lejeune vigorously prepare for their upcoming deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, many of whom, like those who took part in the AK-47 training are activated Reserve Marines.

The majority of the training Reserve Marines are undertaking is to familiarize themselves with basic Marine Corps operations. However, some of the training is specifically geared toward situations they may experience in Iraq.

"The main reason that we started doing this program is that, if in the situation overseas in combat, the Marine finds himself where his primary weapon has gone down and there is the availability of an AK-47 type weapon on the ground, they will be able to pick them up, load them and go ahead and engage the enemy with their own weapons," said Staff Sgt. Kevin C. Dumais, primary foreign weapons instructor, SOTG. "From the experience of friends of mine that have been in theater, they've been in situations where they needed weapons because for one reason or another theirs has gone down, whether it's ammo or just weapon's malfunction. They have used foreign weapons that are in theater to actually engage the enemy to keep themselves alive."

The Reserve Marines learned the history of the AK-47 during an hour-long class as well as how to disassemble, reassemble and shoot the weapon if the situation presented itself in battle.

After the class, they got hands-on training that included learning the parts and how to put them back together, allowing each Marine an opportunity to break down and reassemble the weapon. Every Marine fired 30 rounds at 100 yards on both single shot and automatic to experience its capabilities and to get a feel for shooting the rifle. The feedback on the experience was positive.

"I think it was really good training. I feel a lot more confident if I go over there and I see an AK-47 I would be able to use it," said Lance Cpl. Concetta J. Leggio, a maintenance management specialist who will be attached to II MEF G-4. "I know how to take it apart and shoot it. I know what to expect now if I had to use it."

According to Dumais, the SOTG instructors have been teaching this class for the last five months and have trained close to 500 Marines thus far.

"They are very happy to get the training," he said and added it's difficult to determine its effectiveness since the majority of Marines trained will be leaving in the upcoming months.

The reason II MACE Marines went through this training is because many of them have been activated to support II MEF.

"We are doing the AK-47 shoot today, which is one of the requirements you are supposed to have going into theater. There are about 100 Marines that are going to be going straight to II MEF and MEF is leaving here in the February or March timeframe," said Sgt. James R. Murphy Jr., training noncommissioned officer, II MACE. "We realize with the shortness of this time period these Marines aren't going to have the same time as the active duty Marines to get spun up. We want to make sure they get as much training in the ten-day period as we give them. If we don't ensure they get the training they may not get it."

The day the Reserve Marines spent at the live fire range also included a quick kill range with the M-16A2 service rifle and the M-9 pistol. Other training the Marines are scheduled to take part in before deploying with the MEF includes qualifying with the M-9 pistol, spending a day at the grenade range, updating their physical fitness test score and making a trip to the gas chamber.