MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - --
Marines are highly trained individuals that pride themselves
on the skills they possess -- they learn to apply these skills and specialties
through various training courses and exercises in order to better themselves
and the Marine Corps.
Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 showcased that pride as Marine
combat engineers and communications specialists evolved their ability to
support the squadron during an Incidental Humvee Licensing Course at Marine
Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Oct. 15.
“As a Marine Wing Support Squadron, we are often tasked out
to provide various support assets to other squadrons such as motor
transportation, communications and combat engineering,” said Cpl. Harry
Garrett, the licensing noncommissioned officer with MWSS-274. “Cross-training Marines on how to operate a
Humvee allows us to expand and increase the skills they can bring to the
table.”
According to Garrett, the Marines underwent an extensive
course that covered basic operational skills, vehicle capabilities, emergency
procedures and first echelon mechanics. Each Marine in the course must complete
in-classroom assessments and road miles both on and off the air station in order
to receive a license.
“This vehicle is not like the average vehicle most of the
Marines are accustomed to operating,” explained Garrett. “It is heavier and has
different measurements, which makes basic maneuvering more complex. The Marines
received extensive knowledge on the vehicle and various routes they traveled,
which allowed them to apply the skills they learned in the classroom in the
real world.”
The Humvee has many versatile roles throughout the Marine
Corps. The vehicle was designed primarily for personnel and light cargo
transport behind front lines. Communication specialists often use the vehicle
to provide or transport communication assets.
The vehicle has been in use since its first incorporation in
Operation Just Cause, the U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989. Its design provided
troops with an all-terrain vehicle that could waistband the new geographic
demands.
By taking the course more Marines are available to provide needed
assistance to the various sections within the unit without having to request
additional support.
“This training is not only allowing us to cross-train, but gives
us another skill we can contribute to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and their
mission,” said Lance Cpl. Jeremy Midget, a heavy equipment operator with the
squadron. “It makes us as a unit increasingly self-sufficient and ready to take
on more tasks.”
While on deployment, many Marines find themselves tasked out
to convoys or patrols although it is not their primary military occupation
specialty. Knowing how to perform emergency maintenance and basic operational
skills can quicken reaction times in combat and save lives, said Midget.
According to Midget, the training he received through the
course has given him confidence in his skills as a Humvee operator. The
knowledge he acquired can be carried with him throughout his Marine Corps
career whether deployed in a combat zone or in a garrison environment.