Allies from "Down Under" teach Marines

Marine Corps News ^ | Aug 3, 2005 | Cpl. Adam C. Schnell

[SandRat]

MARCH AIR FORCE RESERVE BASE, Calif. (August 3, 2005) -- With the ever changing mission in Iraq, the Marine Corps has called on our allies from “Down Under” to help add a different aspect to pre-deployment training.

Ten Soldiers with the Australian Army are currently working alongside Marine instructors providing pre-deployment training to the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment and thousands of other troops in the Marine Corps.

“We’re just really glad to get the opportunity to come here and help put an Australian twist on the Marine Corps training,” said Australian Army Capt. Roy Henry, an instructor with the Australian Instructor Support Team.

The AIST first came to the Urban Warfare Training Center here in early 2004 with just five soldiers. With the need for more instructors during the 10-day training evolution, the team has since doubled.

Each Australian soldier serves as an instructor in the UWTC for a total of two months teaching convoy operations, urban assaults, identifying improvised explosive device and other classes with an Australian flavor.

“In our Army, we spend a lot of time dealing with humanitarian aid and peacekeeping missions like East Timor and the Solomon Islands,” said Murray, a Townsville, Queensland native. “So we try to bring that experience to the table when teaching Marines on urban patrolling and personnel searches.”

This experience caught the eye of the Marine Corps Training and Education Command who then wanted the soldiers to train Marines who would be deploying to Iraq. When the Marines are given different scenarios during the training, the soldiers are alongside them providing guidance and experience to help minimize the number of Marine and Iraqi citizen injuries during the upcoming deployment.

“They do a really good job showing the Marines a different aspect to the training than what we show them,” said Cpl. Dave A. Walker, an UWTC instructor and Toronto native. “We see things a certain way, and they see things a certain way, so when we train together we can get a grasp on the whole picture.”

Even though they bring a different aspect to the training than Marines, the Australian Army is much like that of the Marine Corps with rank structure and organization of forces.

“We pretty much already use the Marine Corps doctrine as our doctrine, only we just put in our own Australian ways and made it fit our military,” said Murray.

For some Marines who have been through the most hostile fighting in Iraq since the start of OIF, the training being taught now is different than the standard operating procedures in Iraq months earlier. For most, it was a different battle when they were there and the Marine Corps has different missions now.

“This training is quite a bit different than what I was doing or was taught by my NCO’s (non-commissioned officers) in Iraq,” said Lance Cpl. Christopher C. Villaceran, a Los Angeles native and rifleman with security platoon, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines. “Even though it is really different, it is also a different place, different time and different war than when I was in Iraq before.”

[SandRat]

MARCH AIR FORCE RESERVE BASE, Calif. - (From right to left) Sgt. Garry Warren, Sgt. Clarence Hovell, Sgt. Ronald Davis, Chief Warrant Officer-2 Bill Volavola, Maj. Simeon Ward, Capt. Roy Henry, Chief Warrant Officer-2 Robert Gill, Chief Warrant Officer-2 Owen Trevorrow, Sgt. Mick Taplin, Sgt. Rick Murray, all Australian Army soldiers, taught Marines with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment during Stability and Security Operations training here July 20-29. The instructors taught many different classes alongside Marine instructors that prepare the Marines for whatever they might encounter in the upcoming deployment to Iraq. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Benjamin J. Flores

[SandRat]

National Anthem of Australia ~ Advance Australia Fair.

[Michael Goldsberry]

Cool.

Get some!

[marmar]

I love Marines..........that being said I was stationed at March at the 452 ASTS, then I moved to the 944th MDS. I like staying in PX......

[Travis McGee]

I'd love to be at the local bar friday night!

[Americanexpat]

I love the Aussies and have great respect for their military. I hope they can in fact teach our guys some good techniques. However, the only thing I am concerned about is if this is more PC combat training.

IMO, in light of the 20 Marines from the same unit being killed in the last two days, I wonder if we need to fight a more lethal war?

[Always A Marine]

"...in light of the 20 Marines from the same unit being killed in the last two days, I wonder if we need to fight a more lethal war?"

I wouldn't give that a second thought. Casualties happen in war, because the other side is fighting, too. And sometimes the losses are heavy. But there's nothing PC about the way the Corps trains or fights, and this is the same Corps that proved highly lethal in Fallujah. There will always be casualties, but I can assure you that we are giving better than we're getting. Semper Fidelis...

[Americanwolf]

God Bless the Aussies! :)

[shield]

Actually, I'd like to see the SAS Aussies go to Bragg and teach our Special Forces...talk about a lethal group...they're the best...

[Calpernia]

Ten Soldiers with the Australian Army are currently working alongside Marine instructors providing pre-deployment training to the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment and thousands of other troops in the Marine Corps.

“We’re just really glad to get the opportunity to come here and help put an Australian twist on the Marine Corps training,” said Australian Army Capt. Roy Henry, an instructor with the Australian Instructor Support Team.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[blackie]

God Bless our Aussie Allies ~ Bump!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[ArmyBratproud]

Rock on!

Good match.

They can kick the crap out the terrorists....and then have a few beers on the beach.