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ABGD hit ground running in Thunder Horse

US Marine Corps News

7/2/2010
By Lance Cpl. Marcel C. Brown, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 air base ground defense platoon began immediate action drills for reaction to improvised explosive devices and small arms fire at the north side football field here June 23.

The immediate action drills were conducted as part of Exercise Thunder Horse, which ended June 25. The ABGD platoon is composed of various MWSS-171 units including MWSS-171 Motor Transportation, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear and Headquarters.

“If we ever did get bombed or attacked on this base, our main mission would be to protect the airfield,” said Cpl. Dustin Lindsay, MWSS-171 combat engineer.

The immediate drill training is not only instrumental in preparing the ABGD Marines to respond to incidents on the air station, but it’s also important for the Marines who may deploy to Afghanistan in the near future.

“My Marines love (training). ”It’s a lot of cross training where it’s not just the same Monday 9-5 job kind of deal like it is (on the air station).They get out of the office and have their own platoon where everybody bonds and has a lot of fun training like infantry Marines.”

Lindsay also said the training is a good method to get the Marines out of their sections to train and build camaraderie at the same time.

“It’s a good experience to get out of the office and actually be a Marine, which is what all of us really want to do,” said Lance Cpl. Erik G. Vanvoorhis, MWSS-171 CBRN defense specialist.

The ABGD platoon began its training June 21 at the Penny Lake Field where Marines started their weeklong training at 3 a.m.

As a start, the MWSS-171 ABGD Marines practiced immediate action drills for covering flank fire, covering sectors of fire and tactically pursuing and surrounding the enemy for capture.

“Basically, if you can contain the enemy, it’s the best because that’s how we get our information, so that’s what I’m trying to teach these Marines,” said Lindsay.

Along with standing immediate action drills, the Marines practiced immediate action drills when patrolling in tactical vehicles.

ABGD Marines practiced staggering Humvees in order to enclose roads and cover sectors of fire when reacting to enemy fire during convoys or patrols.

“This also helps these Marines who will be leaving this unit and deploying pretty soon, especially with Afghanistan and Iraq going on. They’re going to need at least something to take to their next unit with them,” said Sgt. Javier Melendez, MWSS-171 Motor T. operator.

After several run-throughs of the different immediate action drills, the ABGD Marines headed back to Penny Lake to complete the remainder of their training for the day.

“Overall, it went pretty good. This is my first time with this platoon, but the proper training from myself and my NCOs are making this platoon up to par,” said Melendez.

Lindsay said the remaining days of Thunder Horse will piggy-back off of the day before until the platoon completes all of the training he expects them to learn in preparation for Exercise Haramura, which will take place in July.