MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Marines with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit are taking part in a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP) course offered by the I Marine Expeditionary Force Special Operations Training Group, at Fire Base Gloria here.
The course, which began June 11 and will continue thru June 22, consists of classroom lecture and practical application designed to train personnel in the pertinent areas of TRAP in preparation for the MEU’s deployment later this year.
Some of the topics covered during the training are specialized recovery tactics, urban recovery planning, platoon evasion, helicopter hazards and destruction, casualty handling, and day/night recovery practical applications.
The first week of the course was spent in the classroom covering everything from mission planning and equipment to mission execution. During the second week the Marines are given back-to-back missions during the day and night.
The mission of the TRAP team can range from personnel recovery to destruction of downed aircraft upon recovery of the aircrews.
The TRAP force consists of Marines and corpsmen, all of whom are capable of fast roping into a mission site. Added personnel with specific training such as demolitions also allow the team to complete missions that may require destroying an aircraft.
The Marines are given a variety of operational scenarios ranging from performing missions in different terrains to completing missions in a nuclear, biological and chemical threat area.
For more information on the 11th MEU, visit their website at
http://www.usmc.mil/11thmeu.