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Breaking and entering Marine Corps-style

US Marine Corps News

11/6/2009
By Lance Cpl. Lucas G. Lowe, Marine Corps Base Quantico

Goettge Demo Range lies in the extreme western part of the base west of Interstate 95. This remote location is the home of the Methods of Entry School, where Marines from and a broad range of military occupational specialties learn the techniques of breaking and entering, Marine Corps-style.

‘‘A lot of commands send their Marines here after realizing what a valuable skill set it is that we teach in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Master Sgt. Shane Langerud, the staff noncommissioned officer in charge of MOE. ‘‘We have Marines come here who are in explosive ordnance disposal, special reaction team, force reconnaissance, and the recapture tactics teams. They’re our target population.”

Currently on deck at Goettge is the Methods of Entry Supervisors Course, class 2010-01. The two-week course teaches students the finer points of breaching doors, windows, walls and other fixtures of man-made structures. In 10 training days, students become familiar with the four methods of entry — explosive, thermal, ballistic and mechanical.

In the spectrum of urban warfare, as in a hostage situation, for example, it’s all about finesse, Langerud explained. It’s about being cognizant of what is on the other side of the doorway.

‘‘Urban mobility breachers are basically taught to use whatever will get them inside a house as quickly as possible,” said Langerud. ‘‘With our students, we teach them to use the lowest amount of explosives for a given target, because there’s probably someone on the other side of the door who they don’t wantto harm.”

The school was established in 1985, and the first students graduated in ’86. And though it is not an MOS-producing training curriculum, what the school teaches is skills that are becoming more relevant the longer the Marine Corps is engaged in urban warfare, like in Kabul.

However, only recently has the base investedapproximately $2 million toward the renovation ofon-site facilities. The structures stood neglected for decades, said Jim Cook, the range complex development manager.

From June 25 to Aug. 5, the first phase of renovations, which included repairing two training houses at Goettge, was completed.

‘‘It’s absolutely phenomenal what industry can do to provide [MOE] with the capability they need,” Cook said.

The second phase of the Goettge upgrade began Sept. 18. So far investments total roughly $500,000. As of now, the projected completion date is Nov. 30.

Correspondent: lucas.lowe@usmc.mil