MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. --
2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion reinforced
the motto that “every Marine is a rifleman” with security forces training held at Marine
Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Sept. 30.
More than 30 Marines with the battalion participated
in the week-long training, covering a full spectrum of scenarios they may
encounter while deployed.
Security forces training is vital for the Marines to
undergo so they can refresh basic combat tactics first learned in Military
Combat Training, after basic recruit training.
Entry control points were established to inspect
vehicles for potential threats, such as explosives.
“Our ECP’s
and vehicle control points have been vital to our security measures,” said Cpl.
Mohamad Jrad, a low altitude air defense gunner with 2nd LAAD Bn. “Checking a
vehicle before it comes on base is important. There can be anything in that
vehicle like grenades or other explosives and we are the first line of defense
in protecting everyone here.”
“Some of the Marines might never have the chance to
go on patrols and clear buildings, but they have to know how to correctly
execute the tactics needed,” said Staff Sgt. Anthony Cortinas, a low altitude
air defense gunner with the battalion.
As long as the Marines have some kind of training
and are familiar with the weapons systems, they are not going out there blind,
explained Cortinas.
“If a scenario pops up that you have trained for,
you now have that muscle memory, you have that reflex and know what to do when the
moment comes,” said Jrad.
According to Cortinas, any new training Marines receive
can amount to lives being saved on the battlefield.