MSD 23 Undergoes Field Training at NAB Little Creek
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS060424-13
Release Date: 4/24/2006 2:33:00 PM
By Photographer’s Mate Airman Apprentice Patrick Gearhiser and Photographer’s Mate Airman Mandy McLaurin, Fleet Public Affairs Center Atlantic
NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Sailors stationed with Mobile Security Detachment (MSD) 23 conducted a field exercise at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek April 19-21 to prepare them for deployments.
“This is a unity exercise,” said Master-at-Arms Seaman George McCallum. “You have to learn to trust your teammates and know who you can count on and when you can count on them. Whether it’s tents, C-wire, thermal control or just react forces, everything we learn we use in the field. If we go on a mission to a foreign country, we’ll do everything we’re doing here.”
The setting of the exercise included the USS Jagged Rocks - a rock formation used to represent an ammunition ship that has run aground in the fictional country of Small River.
“The USS Jagged Rocks is laden with sensitive explosives,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jeff Ernsberger, security officer for MSD 23. “All personnel are advised to maintain a 100-foot clear zone in the event of an unexpected explosion.”
Ernsberger went on to describe the detachment’s primary obstacle in the exercise.
“The biggest threat U.S. forces may encounter is a group called FEETA, an animal rights group against fishing and the harvesting of ocean products. This group is about 100 strong with a few possible extremists among them. They are very resourceful and may have the resources and ability to deliver improvised explosive devices (IED).”
The training scenarios included role-players who acted as members of FEETA, protesting outside the main entrance to the encampment, testing personnel posted at several points around the perimeter, and attempting to penetrate the camp and reach the command tent.
In addition, a mass casualty training scenario started with a peaceful protest and ended in a simulated IED attack that allowed the detachment’s medic, Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Jerald Poole, to train unit members in simple field medical techniques.
“The importance of this training is to prepare [MSD 23] in the event were we have injuries that are going to overrun the medical department,” said Poole. “I need these guys to know how to treat basic wounds and stabilize casualties so that I can treat the severely wounded without having to stabilize the simple ones. They have to know how to treat each other.”
The operators of MSD 23’s Secure All-around Floatation Equipped boats participated in scenarios involving the seeping of docks for IEDs, identifying possible swimmers attempting to enter the boats and low-visibility travel.
“They have been doing very well,” said Engineman 1st Class Tim Boger, leading petty officer of MSD 23. “Half of our detachment is brand new. They’re doing very well for their first pre-phase of certification.”
The exercise is held every 18 months and is part of MSD 23’s certification.
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