KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, Japan -- Marines with Marine Air Support Squadron 2, Marine Air Control Group 18, refreshed basic rifleman proficiencies June 24 during Exercise Coral Thunder at Kadena Air Base.
“The goal of the training was to achieve the Marine Corps’ common skills standards, which cover all the skills that a Marine rifleman should maintain at all times,” said 1st Lt. Bryan J. Keyes, an operations officer with MASS-2, MACG-18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “We conduct this training annually to refresh the Marines on those skills.”
The Marines were separated into nine different squads and those squads rotated through nine different stations throughout the day.
“Each station focused on a different skill, such as detaining enemy prisoners of war, vehicle checkpoints and the basics of patrolling,” said Sgt. Christopher G. Durden, an engineer equipment electrical systems technician with the squadron.
Revisiting these basic rifleman proficiencies help the Marines maintain a combat edge should they deploy in support of a regional crisis or contingency, according to Lance Cpl. Shane A. Rogers, an aviation communication systems technician with the squadron.
“Since we are in garrison most of the time, we don’t use most of these skills, like patrolling,” said Rogers, an Enumclaw, Washington, native. “It is good to get a refresher every now and then, so when we do get deployed we can be ready at a moment’s notice and be proficient in whatever we may be called upon to do.”
The training established a common theme that every Marine is a rifleman and every Marine officer is a provisional rifle platoon commander.
“We have to maintain these skillsets because when we deploy, we cannot expect to fulfill our duties as Marines if we do not refresh these skills regularly,” said Keyes, a San Antonio native. “Patrolling is a big part of being in the Marine Corps. We went through a patrolling package and individual actions. We also had communications set up and vehicle and entry control points, which are all things we can expect to do when we deploy.”
The exercise provided a great opportunity to challenge the Marines over an extended period of time, according to Durden, a Bainbridge, Georgia native.
“I think this training exercise has been great,” said Durden. “Having this training annually is a great benefit to the unit because it keeps the Marines competent and savvy with all their rifleman skills.”