MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif -- Under the cover of darkness a team of heavily laden Marines shuffles across the deck of a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter and one by one they fling their bodies into the chilly night. After a few seconds of diving through space, the aircraft’s static line pulls their parachutes open, their bodies jerk violently, and they float serenely down to earth. Less than a minute later, the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Radio Reconnaissance Team (RRT) hits the ground, regroups and is ready to be the eyes and ears of the MEU commander during a Heliborne Raid Exercise here.
During this exercise, the RRT, composed of specialized troops from 1st Radio Battalion Detachment, used stealth and precision to get very close to a simulated suspected terrorist training camp and provided situational awareness to the incoming raid team from Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, from here.
Prior to the mission, the commander decides on the type of mission the raid team will conduct, said 1st Lt. Ryan D. Whitty, officer-in-charge, 1st Radio Battalion Detachment, 11th MEU. Using specialized equipment and reconnaissance and surveillance techniques "the RRT helps to fine-tune" the mission. They can alert mission planners of any conditions that may warrant changes to the mission. They are there to make sure the raid team isn't blindsided, said Whitty.
Prior to the mission, the RRT, packed their gear, conducted safety checks on their equipment, went over proper jump and landing procedures and took part in a safety brief provided by the mission jumpmaster.
The RRT is scheduled to deploy with the 11th MEU to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf regions later this year. For more information about the 11th MEU visit their website athttp://www.usmc.mil/11thmeu.