ABOARD THE USS PELELIU -- Cpl. Justin R. Noe, radio operator, command element, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, (Special Operations Capable) Camp Pendleton Calif., disassembles an M249 Squad Automatic Weapon Machine Gun (M249 SAW) during crew served weapons, convoy and communications refresher training aboard the USS Peleliu March 24-25.
Weapons, communications, motor transport and force protection experts from the command element and weapons company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment provided training that will serve as a foundation for further training the Marines and sailors will receive when the arrive in the Persian Gulf region next month.
Sgt. Jon V. Nerva, vehicle commander, combined anti-armor platoon, weapons company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, from Santo Domingo, N.M., and Cpl. Samuel Schauer, armorer, command element, provided the weapons refresher training for the Marines and sailors of the command element. The training included clearing and conducting preventive maintenance and function checks on the M249 SAW, M240G Medium Machine Gun and M2 .50 Caliber Machine Gun.
Staff Sgt. Robert B. Callahan, motor transport maintenance chief, command element, trained Marines and sailors to conduct pre-convoy preventive maintenance checks and services on all humvees and trucks, while Sgt. Raul A. Reynoso, radio operator, command element, trained participants how to do preventive maintenance and conduct radio checks on the AN/PRC-119, the AN/PRC-113 field radios.
CWO3 Robert T. Garcia, nuclear, biological and chemical defense officer, trained Marines on how to properly respond to convoy attacks, disabled vehicles and how to send contact reports, casualty evacuation, explosive ordnance disposal and quick reaction force link up plan requests over the radio.
The Marines and sailors of the 11th MEU (SOC) as part of the Expeditionary Strike Group 3 are on a six-month deployment through the Western Pacific Ocean and Persian Gulf in support of the Global War on Terrorism.
For more information about the 11th MEU (SOC) visit their website at http://www.usms.mil/11thmeu.