Camp Lejeune, N.C. --
Marines with Scout Sniper Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine
Regiment conducted patrols as part of training aboard Camp Lejeune, North
Carolina, July 29, 2015, in order to train and become proficient in their
tactics, techniques and procedures.
Scout snipers with the battalion excel in conducting their
mission set by being highly skilled in marksmanship and delivering long-range
precision fire on selected targets from concealed positions.
“Today we’re making a realistic [scenario] based on a
perpetually developing situation where Marines have to adapt to what we’re [presenting
them]. They have to identify targets, identify possible weapons and different
anomalies,” said Sgt. Charles Holloway, chief scout with the battalion. “They
then report that to the command so they can get a clear picture of what they’re
looking at on the ground.”
The Marines patrolled roughly a mile and a half through
dense wooded areas while wearing ghillie suits and carrying their gear and
weapons in order to assault an objective.
1st Lt. Mark Ryan, the scout sniper platoon commander, said
that each time the unit goes out they can reassess their readiness and expand
on their training; whether it’s at the rifle range or the training they are currently
conducting.
“Especially with the new guys coming in, I think that every
chance we get to come out here, plan missions and throw guys in different
roles, it just further reinforces the cohesion and builds more camaraderie in
our unit,” said Ryan. “At the end of the day we’d like to see what training
standards we’ve hit and succeeded in and what training standards we still need
to spend a little more time on to become proficient in.”
Holloway said that the training gives the new Marines a
taste of what they can expect in the future, and they get a good opportunity to
experience what it’s like operating within a SSP. Ultimately, he says, this
will let them learn so next time they do this type of training they can learn
more from it.
“The most important thing to take away is [we’re] never untouchable,”
said Holloway. “Any time that [we’re] involved in a situation like this they
need to be watching their brother’s backs and making sure everyone is doing the
right thing.”