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KITP 10-4 graduates ROK Marine Corps Basic Ranger Course

US Marine Corps News

7/10/2010
By Lance Cpl. Colby W. Brown, Landing Force Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training

MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER, Republic of Korea -- A burning sensation creeps into leg muscles from climbing twenty flights of stairs, heading to a ten-story high platform where jumping off is the only way down. Dizziness runs eyes and mind around in circles as the top is reached. People on the ground are smaller than a pinky finger-nail and the platform feels higher than it looked from the bottom.

Standing on the edge, an instructor loops rope twice around a carabiner linked to the back of a three-point safety harness. Rope tightens while leaning out over the edge from the platform, until standing horizontal. Toes point downward to the earth 30 meters away. One hand points toward the ground while the other grips the rope tightly against the chest. The grip is slowly loosened and gravity does the rest.

Friction makes the glove hot from rope ripping across the leather palm. The ground races up, or more technically stands still, as terminal velocity is achieved. Details begin to focus and objects become their normal size. Then the arm gripping rope is flexed tightly into the chest, cinching the rope taunt around the carabiner and stopping free-fall 10-feet above the dirt.

“When I’m up there I concentrate on the butterflies in my stomach because I love that feeling,” said Lance Cpl. Bram Rice, SAW gunner, 1st Squad, 1st Platoon, Company A, native of Beal City, Mich. “That feeling of exhilaration of being nervous, being afraid. The anticipation is almost better than the actual event.”

July 5-9, more than 50 United States Marines from the Landing Force participating in the Korean Incremental Training Program 2010 Series Four, free-fell their way through the Republic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC) Basic Ranger Course with elements from the ROKMC 31st Airborne Battalion.

The course included repelling off a 30-meter platform and down a 30-meter rock face, climbing 25 meters of mountain wall and commando crawling across 240 feet of rope.

“It’s amazing, being able to go through this course is something I’ll never regret,” Rice said. “It’s something I’ll never get tired of telling my friends that I got to do and I’m really lucky as a reservist to be able to do this type of training.”

The course teaches basic repelling and climbing techniques as well as including a generous amount of exercise to help keep the body in shape.

“The mission here is twofold, we get unique training that we don’t get back home in the states and we also get to bilaterally train with the ROK Marines and see how they operate,” said 1st Lt. Sean Williams, platoon commander, Amphibious Assault Vehicle Platoon, Company A, native of Fort Myers, Fla.

The Marines started off small, beginning the course at an obstacle course on a ROK Marine base. After becoming proficient from a day of repelling and climbing, they hiked out to the training center where they put those skills to the test.

Throughout the week, U.S. Marines were integrated with ROK Marines. Even though the two militaries have differences, each Marine was similarly anxious about repelling off a 100-foot cliff.

“As many differences as there are between the two militaries, the basic aspects are very similar,” Williams said. “They go through the same stuff we do.”

As each Marine took his turn repelling, climbing and commando crawling, skills and relationships were made.

“When we train with U.S. Marines we can learn and train together and build the spirit between the ROK Marines and U.S. Marines,” said Master Sgt. Kibum Kim, platoon instructor, 31st Airborne Battalion. “It’s a good experience for private ROK Marines and U.S. Marines and they improve their body and mind through training.”

At the end of the course, each graduate had his own opinion of how the week went. The completion of the course and knowledge each Marine learned will be a lasting memory.

“I have the pride that I didn’t let my fear beat me,” Rice said. “It just comes down to your pride, I mean that’s why we all do this crazy stuff – we want to be the best.”