Fleet Anti-terroism Marines Complete Weapons Training Aboard GTMO
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS101217-03
12/17/2010
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Leona Mynes, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Public Affairs
NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba (NNS) -- Marines assigned to the Marine Corps Security Force Company Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, completed pre-deployment weapons training at the Granadillo Range aboard Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (GTMO), Cuba, Dec. 15.
Fifty Marines of 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team (FAST) from Norfolk, Va., refined their skills operating the M2 .50 caliber machine gun mounted on a Humvee and the M-240B machine gun mounted on a tripod.
"The targets are old vehicles that we use to simulate troop carriers," said Staff Sgt. Anthony Butler, platoon sergeant, 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, FAST. "Marines fired the .50 caliber machine gun from the Humvee across a small inlet of water near the range to large long-range targets on a hill."
Weapons training is essential to a Marine's overall readiness once forward deployed, said 1st Sgt. Richard Anderson, company first sergeant, MCSFCO Guantanamo Bay.
"At their level, the M-240 machine gun is their first and primary source of defensive fire," said Anderson. "This weapons training is preparing them to do their follow on missions throughout the naval fleet security operations abroad."
Platoon Marines deployed to Guantanamo spend time training in individual weapons skills, communication skills, personnel and vehicle searches, static site security and establishing a perimeter using concertina wire and other barricades. Two platoons reside on the base at a time and rotate between guarding the base's fence line and their security training.
Following their deployment to Guantanamo Bay, the platoon will return to Norfolk, Va., for further training and will eventually be forward deployed to an area of interest overseas.
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