T h e C o r p s ’ O f f i c i a l w w w . m a r i n e s . m i l • J a n u a r y • M a r c h 2 0 0 5

TAKING THE ‘FIELD’ OUT OF TRAINING PG. 16

Intra-PlatoonRadio

AdvancedOpticalGunSight

Hydration System

Mossberg 590 Shotgun

M-9Bayonet

M-16A4ServiceRifle

M-203GrenadeLauncher

OuterTacticalVest w/SAPIPlates

BATTLEFIELD CRUISERS PG. 8 • KEVLAR COOKIN’ PG. 48

> > T O M O R R O W ’ S

TodayPG. 10

OnPointAN NAJAF, Iraq — An Independent Electoral Commission of

Iraq worker salutes a Marine from the 11th Marine Expeditionary

Unit before boarding a Marine C-130 Hercules cargo plane here

Jan. 26.The Marine, along with other members of his unit, provid-

ed the election workers with food, water and transportation to

numerous polling stations across the country for the Jan. 30

elections.The Iraqis shook hands and thanked the Marines

repeatedly during their time under Marine protection.

Photo by Sgt. Nathan K LaForte

SemperFidelis

GougeV o l u m e 3 4 | N u m b e r 1 | w w w . m a r i n e s . m i l

1

Features10 | Tomorrow’s

TechnologyToday

Marines takes a look at the newweapons, equipment and concepts being tested around the Corps.

16 |SimulationsAdd Playtimeto Training CycleScenario-driven training teachesMarines the lessons of combat outside the ‘School of Hardknocks.’

From theTrenches24 | 26th MEU Makes Training

History in New Orleans

26 | Climbing to New Heights

27 | DI School’s Top EnlistedTramples Boot Camp Mystique

28 | Helicopter Support TeamsGet Taste of Desert

30 | Marines Aid Storm-Ravaged Philippines

31 | Deck Stacked in Children’s Favor

32 | Logistics Battalion ProvidesVital Support to Wing

January • March 2OO5

Navy and Marine Corps pilotsspend numerous hours in simulators learning to fly the aircraft organic to their branches of service. Many, like the F/A-18 simulator shown here, are common and both services train in them. Learn more about Marine Corps flight simulators on page 16.Photo courtesy of L-3 Communications

40 | Over There

Marines Over There fight insurgents and burstthrough doors into harm’s way. They stand in lines to give blood when other Marines are injured. While on the front lines of the Global War on Terrorbecoming the leaders of tomorrow, they carry on the traditions of the men and women who bore the title before them.

Corps Shots | 44

DivisionsOn Liberty | 36

Single Marines experience the ups and downs of snowboarding. • CMC’s

reading list is revised. • Marines reviewsMicrosoft Combat Flight Simulator 3,

Battle for Europe for PC. • Marineswants your book reviews.

T h e C o r p s ’ O f f i c i a l M a g a z i n e

J a n u a r y • M a r c h 2 0 0 5w w w . m a r i n e s . m i l / m a r i n e s m a g a z i n e

Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Michael W. Hagee

Sgt. Maj. of the Marine CorpsSgt. Maj. John L. Estrada

M A R I N E C O R P S N E W S

Editor-in-Chief Lt. Col. Greg Reeder

Managing Editor Gunnery Sgt. Glenn Holloway

Associate Editor Staff Sgt. Cindy Fisher

Associate Editor Staff Sgt. David L. Crockett

P U B L I C A T I O N D E S I G N

Bates Creative Group, LLC

Marines (USPS 013-867) is published seven timesannually (quarterly, plus three special editions) bythe Division of Public Affairs, Marine Corps News Branch, HQMC, U.S. Marine Corps (PA)3000 Marine Corps Pentagon, Washington D.C.20350-3000. Periodicals-class postage paid atWashington, D.C., and additional mailing stations.The Secretary of the Navy has determined that this publication is necessary in the transaction ofbusiness, required by law, of the Department of the Navy. Funds for printing this publication have been approved by the Navy Publications andPrinting Policy Committee. All photos not creditedare official USMC photos.

Postmaster: Send change of address to: Marines,Commandant of the Marines Corps, HeadquartersMarine Corps, U.S. Marine Corps (PA), 3000Marine Corps Pentagon, Washington D.C. 20350-3000 or e-mail to mcnews@hqmc.usmc.mil.

Reader Comments: Marines, Marines,Commandant of the Marines Corps, HeadquartersMarine Corps, U.S. Marine Corps (PA), 3000Marine Corps Pentagon, Washington D.C. 20350-3000 or e-mail to mcnews@hqmc.usmc.mil.

S U B S C R I P T I O N I N F O

Official DoD Units (Marine & Non-Marine):Send a fax, letter, or e-mail requesting an individ-ual activity code to: Commandant of the MarinesCorps, Headquarters Marine Corps, U.S. MarineCorps (PA), 3000 Marine Corps Pentagon,Washington D.C. 20350-3000. The letter mustcontain a complete mailing address, point of contact, phone number, and number of copiesrequired. Fax the request to 703/692-1814.E-mail: mcnews@hqmc.usmc.mil.

Personal/Civilian Subscriptions: Request yourone-year subscription from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Personal subscriptions can be ordered via the Internet at http://bookstore.gpo.gov, or by calling 888/293-6498.

2

GougeGouge“The Marine Corps only helps those who help themselves. If you’re not goal oriented

and set goals for yourself, then you’re just sitting on the sidelines.”— Staff Sgt. Roger W. Kinga Gravette, Ark., native, said after

he re-enlisted March 11 while

deployed to Al Asad, Iraq.

3-4Sound Off

4Sempertoon

5Calendar

6Scuttlebutt• Little Robot,

Big Job

• Marines Go Postal

• Cold as Ice

• Battlefield Cruisers

• Executive Support

• ‘Tanks’ for the Upgrades

• Short Count

34Fact File• Iraq Insurgency

Ordnance

35PME• Combat Veterans

Top 20 ‘Must-Haves’

62Saved Rounds• More Money

Sought for Familiesof Fallen Marines

• Foreign ServiceOfficers Needed

• Bases Offer Free Help with Tax Returns

• Beverage CompanyOffers FreeAdmission to Service Members

64Boondoggle

Tailend Charlie

On the Cover“Keep Attacking!” — Commandant of

the Marine Corps Gen. Michael W. Hagee andSgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps John L. Estrada

thank Marines and their families for keepingtheir spirits high and remaining vigilant as the

Corps, America and the world enter anotheryear in the Global War on Terrorism. The

Corps’ leaders visited Marines across theglobe this year, and are “extremely proud”

of their efforts the commandant said.Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Glenn Holloway

Note: Special thanks to Army Sgt. Josh Lovely, Darrell Hudson and other members of the Pentagon Portrait Studio.

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Adapt and Overcome

T HROUGHOUT MARINE CORPS HISTORY, CRITICS HAVE

tried to eliminate us, claiming that the Army or the Navycould preform our missions. As such, we’ve had to defend

ourselves against numerous abolishment attempts.President Andrew Jackson recommended to Congress that

the Corps be absorbed into the Army in 1829 – a suggestion that found favor with then Secretary of the Navy John Branch.

About this same time, we were proving our fighting ability during engagements in Quallah Battoo against Malays. Perhaps

reports of our valor influencedCongress, for it passed an act in1834 that firmly established us as a separate service within theDepartment of the Navy.

Our right to exist as a service was again questioned in 1908 by President Theodore Roosevelt who felt the Corps should bemerged into the Army and that “no vestige of their organizationshould be allowed to remain.”

Again Congress disagreed.In 1946, Senate bill S. 2044 proposed the unification of the

armed forces. The bill would have severely reduced the Corps’effectiveness as a fighting organization.

In his ‘No Bended Knee’ speech to the Senate Committee onNaval Affairs May 6, 1946, Commandant of the Marine CorpsGen. Alexander Vandegrift spoke vehemently against this bill,citing the Corps contributions in World War II and our role as the“primary force in readiness” as proof of our value to the nation.

After much debate, the Corps again survived. The NationalSecurity Act of 1947 unified the services under the Department of Defense, but defined us as the “fleet marine forces of combinedarms, together with supporting air components, for service withthe fleet in the seizure or defense of advanced naval bases, and for the conduct of such land operations as may be essential to the prosecution of a naval campaign.”

Our reluctance to go away quietly combined with our adaptability and forward thinking fighting skills justify our continued existence.

Today, we continue “to adapt and overcome” and this is anessential ingredient in our success. We hone our skills in anticipa-tion of new enemies and battlegrounds and our adaptabilityensures Marines are protecting America for generations to come.

As cities continue to become the common battleground, wefight the “three-block war” and further develop the leadershipskills of our junior Marines. We focus on expeditionary warfareand can now strike far inland from bases at sea.

This issue of Marines looks at our ability to adapt and over-come and the technology and ideas being developed to help newgenerations of Marines fight on the battlefields of the future.

Semper Fi,Marines

From the Editor

N E W S T A F F C O N T R I B U T O R

Shown here during Operation Al Fajr,

the November 2004 battle for Fallujah,

Iraq, is the newest member of Marines staff.

He enlisted in the Corps Aug. 31, 2000,

and entered recruit training June 10, 2001.

Upon graduating from the Defense

Information School as a combat correspon-

dent, the 24-year-old Jeffers, Minn.,

native served as a broadcaster at AFN Iwakuni, Japan. A year

later, he joined the Division of Public Affairs as a part of the

Community Relations office.

He volunteered for duty in Iraq, and in September 2004, found

himself in Baghdad, working at the Combined Press Information Center.

He saw his “fair share of mortar attacks and convoy patrols”

as he traveled around the country writing about all the services,

but Operation Al Fajr was his first experience with real combat,

he said.

On that first night in Fallujah, “when the Amtrak doors opened

and everyone ran out I didn’t even think of trying to take pictures.

All I wanted to do was find cover.” By morning, he had garnered a

new respect from infantry Marines and throughout his remaining

months in country covered many aspects of the infantrymen’s lives.

He says his time in Iraq has changed him. “The little things

I would run into that used to get me upset no longer bother me.

Compared to what I could be dealing with, they aren’t important

in the least.”

You can read some of Firstbrook’s reports from Iraq at

www.marines.mil, keyword “Firstbrook.”

Welcome aboard, Marine.

Sgt. Clinton Firstbrook

On the Cover21st Century Warriors — The battle attire

and weapons used by today’s Marines are a far cry from what Marines wore in 1775.

Gone are the wool overcoats and field scarves, replaced by modern digital

camouflage and automatic weapons. See what else Marines use in the fight

against terrorism on page 10.

Illustration by Seth Sirbaugh, Bates Creative Group

SoundOff

Marines,I have tried to log on to (Marine

OnLine) but I cannot remember my ID or my password. I have triedthe reset option at MOL but nothingseems to work. Now, it appears that I am locked out from trying to register or login. Perhaps my name is misspelled in the system or anothererror that is preventing my access.It would be gratefully appreciated if you could help me get back intoMOL. Thank you for your time andpatience.

Compiled from multiple emails regarding MOL access

MOL user,Marine OnLine draws from names

contained in a central data store to verifyaccess to the system. Marine OnLine uses aFirst Initial – Middle Initial – Last Namenaming convention for accounts. Therefore,John Q. Smith would have the Usernameof “JQSMITH”. The only exception occurswhen a username is already taken at thetime of registration. In that case, a num-ber is appended to the end of the username[e.g. JQSMITH1].

With regard to being locked out of thesystem, after four attempts to register users

are locked out from attempting to registeror log in for only twenty minutes. Waitand try again. Remember, passwords arecase sensitive (usernames are not); makesure you don’t inadvertently have the“Caps Lock” on.

If this fails, please try the follow on-lineaccount recovery procedures and follow thedirections there. You will need to authenti-cate yourself before having your accountinformation displayed on screen. The website will ask for your Social SecurityNumber, Date of Birth and Pay EntryBase Date to retrieve your Username. Youcan then use your Date of Birth and PayEntry Base Date (PEBD found on block 8of your LES) with your username torecover your password.

In each case, you will need to pro-vide the answer to the security questionyou selected at the time of your regis-tration. If all these attempts fail, youcan email the MOL Support team atmol.support @dfas.mil. Include yourfull name, last four digits of your SSN,Date of Birth, Pay Entry Base Dateand military occupational specialty.The information provided will be usedto verify your identity and respond withaccount information as soon as possible.

Marines Editor

Marines,We have watched today’s news

with fascination and pride. Thank youMarines for your priceless contribu-tion to history and a better future forthe freedom-seeking citizens of Iraq.The price for this victory has beenhigh and Americans have born eachsacrifice with the shared pain of griev-ing families. We will continue to holdeach brave Marine in our hearts,praying for their safety and comfort,and for that great day when we canwelcome them home.

Gratefully,Sandra and Errol Thomason

Hemet, Calif.

SemperToons By Staff Sgt. Charles F. Wolf

SoundOff

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Tell it to the Marines!

Here’s your chance to write for Marines. Take a look at the photograph above and tell us what you think is happening. Submityour funny caption to MCNews@hqmc.usmc.mil. Include your name, unit and base. Marines will pick the best one to run in next quarter’s issue.

Last Issue’s Funny Caption Winner:“This downsizing thing has gone too far!”

— Staff Sgt. Ken Reed,Marine veteran 1988-1998, Algonac, Mich.

CalendarApril May June2005 2005 2005

More information on concert dates and community events can be found on the Community Relations Web site at www.marines.mil/comrel/120day.nsf/community.

If you have a calendar event of Marine Corpswide interest, submit it to mcnews@hqmc.usmc.mil.

Sports Events Community Events Concert Dates Historical Dates

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< April 1 April Fool’s Day

< April 3At 2 p.m. the President’s Own Chamber Ensemblesperform at the George Washington Masonic National MemorialAuditorium, 101Callahan Drive,Alexandria, Va.

< April 10At 2 p.m. the President’s Own Marine Band performs at George Mason University’s Center for Arts Concert Hall, Braddock Road and Route 123, Fairfax, Va.

< April 15, 1962Marine Corps operational involvement in the Vietnam War began on Palm Sunday.

Gunnery Sgt. board convenes

< April 19

< April 23Earth Day

Take our Sons and Daughters to Work Day

< April 28

< April 29Arbor Day

May 1 >Asian/Pacific Heritage

MonthMay 2, 1946 >

Marines from Treasure Island Marine Barracks,

under the command of Warrant Officer Charles

L. Buckner, aided insuppressing a three-

day prison riot atAlcatraz Penitentiary in

San Francisco Bay.Buckner led his force

of Marines without suffering a single

casualty.

May 8 >At 2 p.m. the President’s

Own Marine Band performs at the Northern

Virginia Community College’s Rachel M.

Schlesinger Concert Hall, Mary Collier

Baker Theater, 3001 N. Beauregard, Street

Alexandria, Va.

May 15 >At 2 p.m. the President’s

Own Chamber Ensembles perform

at the George Washington Masonic

National Memorial Auditorium,

101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria, Va.

In Vietnam, Operation Pipestone Canyon

began when the 1st Battalion, 26th Marines and 3rd Battalion, 5th

Marines began sweeps in the Dodge City/Go Noi

areas southwest of Da Nang. It terminated at

the end of June with 610 enemy killed in

action. It cost the lives of 34 Marines.

May 26, 1969 >

Last day of reporting for captains, majors,

lieutenant colonels and colonels

fitness reports.May 31 >

< May 1At 2 p.m. the President’sOwn Marine Band performs at The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, N. Bethesda, Md.

< May 5Cinco de Mayo

< May 8Mother’s Day

< May 13Season’s first Evening Parade at the Marine Barracks 8th & I.

< May 22At 2 p.m. the President’sOwn Marine Band performs at George Mason University’s Center for Arts Concert Hall, Braddock Road and Route 123, Fairfax, Va.

< May 30Memorial Day

June 7 >Season’s first Sunset Parade at the Marine Corps War Memorial

in Washington.

The 24th Marine Expeditionary

Unit returned to Mogadishu, Somalia,

to help United Nations forces maintain peace

in the war-torn country.June 20, 1993 >

June 25, 1966 >In Vietnam, Operation

Jay began about 30 kilometers northwest

of Hue, and lasted ninedays. The 2nd Battalion,

4th Marines landed north of the North

Vietnamese 812th Main Force Battalion, and the

2nd Battalion, 1st Marines landed south of

the enemy’s position.In between the two

Marine units, the enemy suffered more than 80

dead in nine days of fighting.

< June 6Anniversary of D-Day

< June 14Flag Day

< June 19Father’s Day

< June 21First day of summer.

< June 26, 1918Battle of Belleau Wood ends.

Last day of reporting for gunnery sergeants, first sergeants, master sergeants and brigadier generalsfitness reports.

< June 30

April 3 > Spring Forward! Daylight savings

time begins.

April 15 > Taxes due (See Saved Rounds, page 62, for

more tax information).

April 17 > At 2 p.m. the

President’s Own Chamber Ensembles

perform at the George Washington Masonic

National Memorial Auditorium,

101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria, Va.

Jewish Passoverbegins at sundown

April 23 >

April 24 > At 2 p.m. the

President’s Own Chamber Orchestra

performs at the Northern Virginia

Community College’sRachel M. Schlesinger

Concert Hall, MaryCollier Baker Theater, 3001 N. Beauregard,

Street Alexandria, Va.

April 30 > Last day of reporting

for first lieutenants, warrant and chief

warrant officers fitness reports.

Asian/Pacific Heritage Month

President’s Own,Marine Band – April 10

President’s Own,Marine Band – May 8

Evening Parade,Marine Barracks 8th & I – May 13

Flag Day – June 14

D-Day, June 6, 1944

Sunset Parade – June 7

President’s Own,Marine Band – May 22

Earth Day – April 23

Gunnery Sgt.Board – April 19

Arbor Day – April 29

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In 2005, going postalwill take on a new

meaning — for theMarine Corps, anyway.This year, Marine leg-ends will adorn theUnited States PostalService’s “DistinguishedMarines” stampseries.

Depicted on thestamps are Lt. Gen.John A. Lejeune, the

Corps’ 13th commandant andinitiator of the Marine CorpsBirthday celebration; Lt. Gen.

Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, staple of Marine Corps historyand veteran of the Korean War and four WW II cam-paigns; Gunnery Sgt. JohnBasilone, the only enlistedMarine in World War II toreceive the Purple Heart, NavyCross and Medal of Honor;and Sgt. Daniel J. Daly, one ofonly two Marines ever to earntwo distinct Medals of Honor.

The portraits of these legends can now accompanyletters from home to Marineswho are carrying on the same traditions of honor,courage and commitmentaround the world.

To learn more about theseMarine Corps legends, visitwww.marines.mil/history.

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Scuttlebutt

Little Robot, Big JobFeatherweight Friend Joins EOD Team

Marines Go PostalHeroes Get Stamp of Approval

And in this corner, weigh-ing in at 100 pounds and

only two feet tall, is theVanguard MKII.

It may not be the tallest or the strongest, but it can definitely help win the fight –the fight for life, that is.

The remote control batteryoperated robot, deployed withexplosive ordnance disposalunits, can climb stairs orinclines up to 45 degrees, turnon a dime and provide muchneeded eyes-on-target from its

three day-or-night capablezoom cameras. Able to lift upto 35 pounds, slide undervehicles and traverse rough

terrain, the robot can go safelywhere others can’t.

The MKII is a welcomemember to the team, sinceduring threats and tactical and surveillance missions, it can save lives by givingMarines closer looks at a suspicious packages or tough situations from safe distances.

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Marines will do justabout anything to be

comfortable in the field –including adopting technologydeveloped for the racetrack.Marine tankers in Iraq’s AlAnbar Province are testingHydro-Cool shirts, a new pieceof equipment originallydesigned to keep NASCAR

drivers cool during their 500-mile races.

The insides of racecars and M-1A1 Abrams MainBattle Tanks can easily reachhigher than 130 degrees.Temperatures that extremecan be debilitating to drivers

and crewmen, causing heat-related illnesses.

Hydro-Cool shirts combatthose conditions by helpingkeep core body temperaturesat comfortable levels. They are made of a compressionbase-layer material that usesmoisture management tech-nology. Known as wicking,

the process draws perspirationaway from the skin, promotingrapid evaporation that coolsthe wearer during extremework or activity.

These flame retardant gar-ments are equipped with pockets that hold cold or heat

packs. The individual packs are flexible, allowing the body a full range of motion.They are encased in tearresistant material and slideinto the vest pockets. Thepacks can also be heated for use in cooler weather.

Marines of C Company,2nd Tank Battalion used theHydro-Cool system duringOperation Al Fajr in Fallujahand continue to use them during their daily operations in the 1st Marine Division’sarea of operations.

Recommendations fromthe tank battalion have led to the development of a longsleeve version of the shirt with new hot and cold packsthat can be adjusted so theshirts will be more comfort-able under flak jackets.

Future use of the Hydro-Cool shirts will not be limitedto tankers. They may be helpful to Marines in any military occupational specialty,said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Fultz,assistant chief of staff forAssessments and NewTechnologies, 1st MarineDivision.

“To have the United States Marine Corps involvedwith the development of this brand new product isbeyond my wildest dreams,”said Michael Webb, founderand vice president of Hydro-Cool. “Our focus was original-ly the NASCAR driver and pit crews. To have a productthat will be beneficial to themen and women of our armed forces is an amazinghonor.”

Cold as IceMarines Test NASCAR Technology in Iraq

Marines anxious to trick out their battlefield cruisers – and save their rears – may want

to check out the latest in haute battle wear. The Marine Armor Kit provides a complete package

that can be installed by Marines or by contractors, andfits both the 2-door and 4-door humvee variants. TheMAK uses a combination of rolled armor, steel and ballistic glass to protect the flanks, rear, underbody, gunturrets, air conditioner units, and side windows – the latter of which isn’t included in the “up-armor” program.

Two kits are available, the 1,800-lb. kit with armor that can stop 17-grain fragments (shrapnel about the size of a dime) and the 3,400-lb. kit with increased protection to stop 44-grain fragments (about the size of a fifty-cent piece). Installation and fielding to the deployedoperational forces may take up to 18 months.

Scuttlebutt

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Although Marines tradi-tionally forgo luxury to

maintain a warrior status, in atleast one area the Corps canenjoy the best of both worlds.

The UC-35C CessnaCitation 560 Ultra OperationalSupport Aircraft, currentlybased in Qatar and flown byMarine Transport SquadronDetachments from NewOrleans and Andrews Air ForceBase, Md., is a twin-enginecorporate workhorse for theCorps. In concert with theC130, the UC-35 fits the need

for air support for small groupsof warriors, VIPs and staff per-sonnel. Supporting OIF, OEF,the Horn of Africa and Europe,the UC-35 can fly its two pilotsand up to eight passengersmore than 1,000 miles at analtitude of 45,000 feet. Don’tbe misled by its simple luxu-ries, like swiveling leatherseats, foldout tables and a“head,” the Citation also pro-vides an operational platformwith encrypted satellite communications, a modemradio and flight phone.

Anyone can request the bird, regardless of rank,through an assault supportrequest, staffed to the 3rdMarine Aircraft Wing. And although the Citation has no fixed schedule, depend-ing on space, seating may be available to your destina-tion – if the change doesn’tconflict with other missions

that day.

Executive SupportLuxury Jet Flies the ‘Warrior’ Skies

Battlefield CruisersNew Safety Kits Latest in Humvee Attire

22 – Contracts made by Pfc. Stephanie Twichell as arecruiter’s assistant in Harahan,La. Twichell was awarded the Navy and Marine CorpsAchievement Medal for her efforts.

850,000 – Dollars spenton the construction of theMarine Corps War Memorial –all donated.

32 – Gallons of water thecanteens of the Marines onthe Marine Corps WarMemorial would hold if theywere real.

3.5 – Percent pay increasereceived by service membersacross the board under the

2005 Defense AppropriationsBill. This is the first time in five years that there are no targeted raises.

1916 – USS Hendersonlaunched as the first shipdesigned for the specific needs of the Marine Corps.

1,050 – Distance in yardsof the longest confirmed kill in Iraq by a Marine sniper –Sgt. Herbert B. Hancock, Nov. 11, 2004.

75 – Percentage of casualtiessuffered by Easy Company,28th Marine Regiment, 5thMarine Division during the battle of Iwo Jima. The anniver-sary of the battle is Feb. 19.

15 – Approximate time inminutes it takes to give a vial of blood and be enteredinto the bone marrow donorregistry.

83,000 – Storage areason Marine Corps LogisticsBase Barstow, Calif., includingstorage bins in warehousesand storage in vacant lots.

16 – Maximum number of years a Marine may have in service and still receive aselective re-enlistment bonus –up from 14 in past years –thanks to the 2005 DefenseAppropriations Bill.

4,000 – Degrees inFahrenheit of the heat expelledby thermite grenades used todestroy enemy equipment.

13,500 – Pounds of supplies collected by Opera-tion Spirit of America fromAmerican hospitals so Iraqiscan provide quality health care to their citizens. The supplies were distributed by 2nd Battalion, 24th Marinesin the Babil Province of Iraq.

23,200 – The number ofkilled, missing or wounded inaction during the World War IIbattle for Iwo Jima.

32,000 – Dollars is thecost of the AGM-45 ShrikeMissile, an Antiradiation missile that homes in on hostile antiaircraft radars.

SHORT COUNTT h r e e … T w o… O n e …

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Though eagles are renowned for their vision,they may soon be envious of the M-1A1

Abrams tank. The Corps’ tank fleet will soon be fitted with

the Firepower Enhancement Program, allowingtank crews to reach out and touch the enemy up to 8,000 meters away. This is farther away than the enemy can touch them – a good thing,no doubt.

The FEP works its magic by combining thepower of thermal sights, laser rangefinders, theGlobal Positioning System and navigation equip-ment with a Far Target Locate function – giving the tank crew an accurate target location withintwo seconds. Plus, the advanced optics let thetanks “see” their targets day or night, throughsmoke, fog or dust – something else an eaglemight envy.

‘Tanks’ for the UpgradeThe Abrams Gets a Better Set of Eyes

> > 1.Outer Tactical Vest w/SAPI Plates (see below)

Small Arms Protective Inserts, or SAPI plates, are the latest inpersonnel protection from fragmentation and small arms fire. SAPI platesare made of a ballistic ceramic tile and backed by multiple layers of

unidirectional ballistic material. They are inserted into thenew Outer Tactical Vest and are responsible in part forthe lowest wartime death rate in history, according toGregory L. Hauck at Marine Corps Systems Command. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Information gathered from the official Marine Corps Web site at www.marines.mil and the Ceramics Industry Web site atwww.ceramicindustry.com.

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2.Intra-PlatoonRadio

3.AdvancedOpticalGunSight

7.Hydration System

8.Mossberg 590 Shotgun

6.M-9Bayonet

4.M-16A4ServiceRifle

5.M-203GrenadeLauncher

1.OuterTactical Vest w/SAPIPlates

O M O R R O W ’ S

Illustration by Seth Sirbaugh, Bates Creative Group

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> > T O M O R R O W ’ S

Today

Edited by Staff Sgt. Cindy Fisher, HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS, Washington

Before new technologies and conceptsbecome part of the Corps’ inventory or doctrine they are tested at bases,camps and stations around the Corps.

Proposed new gear is put through the paces in the field while our decision-makers watch the demonstrations to determine if there is a need for suchitems. The testing, done by Marines, is essential and the findings they make on capabilities and operability often cause refinements in original designs orentire redesigns.

The tweaks and redesigns recommended to the manufacturers and leader-ship come by way of hard-knuckled trials and errors discovered by the Marines of today who are paving the way for Marines of the future.

> > 2.Intra-Platoon Radio (see below)

Operational units expanded the employment of the Intra-Platoon Radio as a stopgap measure to provide communication between platoon commandersand squad leaders. The double AA battery-powered system has not replacedthe field radio, but allows Marines to contact their chain of command ata moment’s notice in the field. Attached with an encrypted device, theintra-platoon radio allows secure communication from Marine to Marine.> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Information gathered from the official Marine Corps Web site at www.marines.mil and the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab atwww.mcwl.usmc.mil.

> > 3.Advanced Optical Gun Sight (see below)

The Advanced Optical gun sight, or ACOG sight, offers Marines greaterhit probability, especially in low light situations. It uses no batteries and the four-power magnification is useful at longer ranges.The field of view at one hundred yards is about thirty-seven feet.Weighing about three-quarters of a pound with a flattop mount, the ACOG is compact and relatively light, while offering the durabilityneeded in a combat sight. Currently, the Marine Corps WarfightingLaboratory is developing a telescopic riflescope that automatically corrects for range and wind. The Advanced Rifle Scope should accuratelymeasure range to target and winds out to 1,000 yards, and retain manual functioning in the event that the electronics fail. The finalprototype scope should maintain the basic shape and size of currently available riflescopes.> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Information gathered from the official Marine Corps Web site at www.marines.mil, the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab atwww.mcwl.usmc.mil and the Optics Planet at www.opticsplanet.com.

Marines Test Equipment & Concepts of Future Corps

> > 4.M-16A4 Service Rifle (see pg.10)

The M-16A4 maintains the same performance characteristics as the M-16A2 service rifle, such as the muzzle velocity and range, to whichMarines are accustomed. Its weight and length are consistent with theA2, but there are several physical differences and upgrades that makethe A4 a more versatile and effective weapon. The A4’s carrying handleis removable to expose the Military Standard 1913 accessory mountingrail and it has modified hand guards that allow Marines to easily mount accessories like optical sights, M-203 grenade launchers, highintensity flashlights and infrared lasers.> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Information gathered from the official Marine Corps Web site atwww.marines.mil.

T HE RECONNAISSANCE, SURVEIL-lance and Targeting Vehiclefaced grueling conditions atQuantico’s Transportation

Demonstration Range Severe Off-Road Track Dec. 11, 2004.

The RST-V is a hybrid-electricfour-wheel drive vehicle designed tocarry up to four Marines on long-range reconnaissance, surveillance and targeting missions – doubling the range or the time on stationallowed by current systems. It canoperate using both conventional fuel and electric-only power – the latter making the RST-V capable of stealthy movement.

The Quantico demonstrationproved to the Marine Corps' leader-ship "the potential benefits that theseadvanced technologies provide on the battlefield,” said Jeffrey Bradel,Office of Naval Research Maneuvermanager. The vehicle allows smallunit tactical reconnaissance teams,

fire support coordinators, and specialreconnaissance forces a means toquickly review the battle space.

The RST-V pushes the technologyenvelope farther with a highly effi-cient hybrid-electric system forincreased fuel economy, and beefed up suspension for cross-country speedand maneuverability. The vehicle also has multiple geographical loca-tion and communication sensors. Itcan be reconfigured to conduct vari-ous missions, including forward obser-vation and air control, battlefieldambulance service, air defense, logis-tics, mortar weapons carrier, and acommand post variant, complete witha 60-kilowatt generator.

The RST-V started with conceptstudies in 1997, followed by prelimi-nary and detailed designs through1999, said Bradel. During the last fewyears, four different vehicles were fabricated and subjected to perform-ance testing and operational user eval-

uations. The vehicle underwentexhaustive testing, enduring morethan 7,000 miles of field tests andnumerous demonstrations at placeslike the Army’s Yuma ProvingGrounds in Yuma, Ariz.

The RST-V is designed to fitaboard CH-53 helicopters, MV-22Ospreys and C-130 Hercules fortransportation and delivery to thefight. Its inclusion to the arsenal adds to the Marine Corps’ MAGTFExpeditionary Family of FightingVehicles – the Corps’ approach tosupport joint operations via expedi-tionary maneuver warfare through2015 and beyond.

The program is a collaborationbetween the Office of Naval Research,the Defense Advanced ResearchProjects Agency and GeneralDynamics Land Systems. The Marine Corps Warfighting Lab has also been involved in the testing.

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< < Reconnaissance, Surveillance & Targeting VehicleBy MCB Quantico Staff, MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va.

> > T O M O R R O W ’ S

Today

> > 5.M-203 Grenade Launcher (see pg. 10)

The M-203 grenade launcher entered into the service during the 1980s and was designed to replace the M-79 grenade launcher of the Vietnam Era. The single shot launcher is lightweight and compact. It is a breach-loaded, pump-action weapon that mounts to the servicerifle. The launcher consists of a hand guard and sight assembly with an adjustable metallic folding, short-range blade sight assembly, and an aluminum receiver assembly which houses the barrel latch, barrel stop and firing mechanism. The launcher is capable of firing a variety of low velocity 40 mm ammunition including High Explosive,Flare, and a variety of non-lethal rounds. The launcher also has a quadrant sight, which may be attached to the M-16 or M-4 series. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Information gathered from the official Marine Corps Web site at www.marines.mil, and the U.S. Army Fact File atwww.army.mil/fact_files_site/m203.

> > 6.M-9 Bayonet (see pg.10)

The M-9 Multipurpose Bayonet System is used as a bayonet on the M-16A4 service rifle and on the M-4 series carbine. The M-9 has a heavy 7x1.4 inch blade, and is 12 inches in overall length. It has left-hand and right-hand lock-release levers at the rear of the bayonet.It is longer, wider and heavier than the M-6 and M-7 bayonets itreplaced. The scabbard has a sharpening stone under a rear flap and hasa screwdriver at the tip. The knife and scabbard together form a wirecutter by slipping the scabbard stud into the hole in the knife blade.> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Information gathered from the official Marine Corps Web site atwww.marines.mil, and from the Olive-Drab Military Information Resourceat www.olive-drab.com.

T HE SCAN EAGLE UNMANNEDaerial vehicle demonstrated its prowess for I MarineExpeditionary Force intelligence

headquarters in Iraq.Together with its mobile deploy-

ment unit, the Scan Eagle providescomputers, communication links andground equipment necessary to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support duringoperational missions. The low-cost,long-endurance, fully autonomousUAV was developed and built exclu-

sively for the Marine Corps by Boeing and The Insitu Group.

The two companies were contractedby the Marine Corps in June 2004 to provide two Scan Eagle mobiledeployment units for I MEF, accord-ing to Dave Sliwa, director of FlightOperations at The Insitu Group.

The 4-foot long UAV with a 10-foot wingspan is launchedautonomously by a pneumatic wedgecatapult launcher and flies prepro-grammed or operator initiated mis-sions. It can fly up to about 10,000

feet with surveillance capabilities and remain in flight for more than 15 hours, Sliwa said. The Scan Eaglecan remain aloft for more than 15hours with future variants being able to remain on station for up to 30 hours.

Scan Eagle is tasked with providingISR coverage and time-sensitive targeting to a broad network of other UAVs, ground stations, ships at sea, command centers and other airborne assets.

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Sgt.Thomas G. Abarca, a I MarineExpeditionary Force Intelligence Imagery Analyst points out the charcteristics of the Scan Eagle to Assistant Commandantof the Marine Corps Gen. William “Spider”Nyland prior to its flight.Photo by Sgt. Robert E. Jones Sr. By Sgt. Robert E. Jones Sr., CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq

< < Scan Eagle Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

A N EXPERIMENTAL 96-METERwave-piercing catamaran, theJoint Venture High SpeedVessel-X1, transported 1,446

Marines and sailors and 1,731 tons of equipment from Kaneohe Bay to the Big Island of Hawaii for theHawaii Combined Arms Exercise in September of 2004.

Joint Venture HSV-X1, operatedby the Army for the exercise, madethe trip in less than six hours. Thesame trip takes a landing support

vehicle about 16 to 18 hours carryingless cargo, according to Chief WarrantOfficer 3 Brian Duff, 2nd engineeraboard the Joint Venture.

The HSV-X1 is powered by fourturbine jet engines. These engineskick out slightly less than 10,000horsepower each, allowing the vehicleto cut through the open ocean at a topspeed of nearly 40 knots, without theuse of traditional propellers. Thevehicle can haul equipment andtroops four times faster than similar-

sized seagoing vessels.Throughout the past year, the

Army crew that currently operates the vessel has taken the HSV-X1 on a series of exercises ranging fromOkinawa, Japan to Korea andThailand, accruing mileage equivalentto a trip twice around the world.

“You call, we haul,” Duff said.“For transporting troops, this experi-mental vessel has proven to be quitethe asset.”

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< < Joint Venture High Speed Vessel-X1

Sea Basing

By Sgt. Joseph A. Lee, MCB HAWAII

T HE EQUIPMENT ENVISIONED TO SUPPORT THE SEAbasing concept has not been built yet, but that didn'tprevent Marines supporting Operation UnifiedAssistance, the relief effort for the southeast Asian

countries devastated by the Dec. 26, 2004, tsunami, fromusing the concept.

Sea basing erases the dividing line between sea andshore, reducing the Marine Corps footprint on land. Theconcept is to “be able to move from wherever we are;maneuver on the sea … come into the land, project combatpower ashore and essentially go right to the objective, saidCommandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Michael Hagee.

“We don’t have all the capabilities and all the platformswe need in order to do that as efficiently as it could bedone,” but that didn’t stop Marines from using the con-cept, the general said.

The Corps used the platforms that were available – air-craft carriers, small deck amphibious carriers and otheramphibious ships – to arrive within days of the disaster.

The Navy-Marine Corps team’s response was swift.“We even beat the reporters there,” said the commandant.

The U.S. Pacific Command began planning effortswithin the first 24 hours of the catastrophe and Okinawa-based Marines were among the first to offer assistance.3rd Marine Division coordinated relief efforts with theUSS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and deployed400 Marines, six CH-46 medium-lift helicopters and otherengineering and medical equipment aboard USS FortMcHenry from Okinawa to Indonesia.

Six of the Corps’ maritime pre-positioning force ships,which carry supplies and equipment to support 15,000Marines for a month of operations, also participated. Thecargo ships were loaded with food, fresh water and otheremergency relief supplies and equipment.

The USS Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary StrikeGroup with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (SpecialOperations Capable) provided further assistance.

“We were handing out humanitarian relief supplies; wehad a very small footprint ashore; we extracted at night;and we didn’t threaten any of those nations’ sovereignty.Those are all the things that sea basing brings,” Gen.Hagee said.

By Gunnery Sgt. Frank Patterson, MCAGCC TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif.

< <

By Staff Sgt. Cindy Fisher and Marines deployed to the area, SOUTHEAST ASIA

T HE EXPEDITIONARY FIGHTINGVehicle hit the sands ofTwentynine Palms for testingin October 2004.

In development as the next genera-tion of the amphibious assault vehicle,the EFV is slightly larger than its pred-ecessor, is operated by a crew of threeand carries a complete reinforced riflesquad of 17 Marines with gear.

Its armaments include a fully stabi-lized MK-46 30 mm weapon systemwith a full-solution fire control system

and a 30 mm chain gun, accord- ing to Shawn Haag with GeneralDynamics Amphibious Systems.

Other improvements include an engine that gives the EFVmore horsepower than the AAV. Theimproved power plant produces 1,200horsepower in the transition mode andup to 2,750 in the water – turning the35-ton EFV into a speedboat thatdances across the waves at speeds up to 25 knots in the water and 45 milesper hour on land.

The EFV also has improved armor,advanced combat capabilities andincreased survivability, mobility andagility. It offers nuclear, biological andchemical protection to crews andembarked Marines and will providecrews with superior command, controland navigation capabilities. Theimproved armor makes the EFV one of the best protected fighting vehiclesin the world, said Gunnery Sgt. RobertNewell, human factors engineer whosetask is to ensure the operational suitabil-ity of the EFV for vehicle crews at theEFV’s Advanced Amphibious Assaultprogram management directorate.

The EFV program is scheduled to end the developmental stage during fiscal year 2006. The next phase isoperational assessment, some of whichwill also be hosted at the combat center.

> > 7.Hydration System (see pg. 10)

The hydration system has become one of the top items to take into the desert environment. It allows instant access to life-saving fluids without the hassles of struggling with canteens. Hydration systems hold more water than traditional canteens and the Corps’ newMOLLE packs have slots for drinking tubes to easily exit the packs. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Information gathered from the official Marine Corps Web site at www.marines.mil.

> > 8.Mossberg 590 Shotgun (see pg.10)

The Mossberg 590 combat shotgun is based on the Mossberg 500 pump action upgraded to military specifications. The weapon was adopted bythe Marine Corps in 1987 and is used by special forces and many law enforcement agencies. The Mossberg 590 is an extremely rugged andreliable weapon that passed rigorous military testing, involving 3,000rounds fired without a failure. Both 2 3/4 and 3-inch shells can bemixed in the magazine. The stock houses an additional four rounds of ammunition for quick loading into the magazine. Currently the MarineCorps Warfighting Laboratory is experimenting with 12-gauge high explosive cartridges, including a HE fragmentation round, a HE BlastRound and a HE Armor Piercing Projectile. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Information gathered from the official Marine Corps Web site atwww.marines.mil and the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab atwww.mcwl.usmc.mil.

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IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES ARE ONE OF THE BIGGEST THREATSMarines face in Iraq, but there is a technology that may combat this danger.

Marines with Regimental Combat Team 7, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, aretesting and using thermal camera technology to locate these lethal obstacles.

The military has used thermal video cameras in the past to detect hidden compartments and weapons at vehicle checkpoints.

The Marines here discovered that the cameras are effective tools for recognizing IEDs, according to Chief Warrant Officer 2 Peter O. Parker,the battalion gunner.

Explosive devices made by anti-Iraqi forces aren't the only dangers viewable by the cameras. Antivehicle and antipersonnel mines also have a distinct patternthrough the camera viewfinder. Marines require training and familiarity with the equipment to recognize these dangers.

Thermal cameras allow Marines to take advantage of the unique infrared energy signature everything emits. In addition to helping spot unknown objects,thermal cameras or devices can also detect inconspicuous infrared pointers aimed by Marines on possible targets, undetected by the enemy.

The biggest drawback to using thermal cameras is their hefty price tag.One thermal camera costs about $14,000.

“Every time we find (an IED), I can justify every squad getting a thermal camera,” said Parker. “Ultimately if it saves one life, it is worth the effort and the price.”

By Gunnery Sgt. Frank Patterson, MCAGCC TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif.

Thermal Camera Technology< <

By Cpl. Randy Bernard, AL QAIM, Iraq

> > Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle

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Flight Simulators, like the one shown here for the MV-22 Osprey, save time, fuel and aircraft use. Osprey programmanagers project that using simulators to complete up to 75 percent of initial-level training at the Fleet ReplacementSquadron could also reduce the number of MV-22 marked for training from 40 to 20.Photo courtesy of Flight Safety International

By Staff Sgt. Cindy Fisher, HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS, Washington

Though hands-on-been-there-done-thatreal field experience will always be a vital part of the training cycle, simulatedtraining will play a much larger role in the future, said Capt. Erik Jilson, amodeling and simulation analyst at the Technology Division, Training andEducation Command at MCB Quantico, Va. Scenario-driven computer exercises, virtual reality video games and hi-tech equipment simulators aremeant to augment live training, saving money, time and lives.

Simulations Take Some of the ‘Field’ Out of Training.

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HE WRIGHT BROTHERS MADE THEIR HISTORIC FIRST FLIGHTat Kitty Hawk, N.C., Dec. 17, 1903.

That 12-second, 120-foot flight paved the way for aviation,but it wasn’t until April 14,1929, that 25-year-old Ed Link, the“father of flight simulation,” patented the “Pilot Maker.”

The difference between this, the first true flight simulator, and earliertrainers was that it was the “first ground-based training device designedto teach pilots how to fly,” according to the Web site About.com.

Link began building his simulator in 1927 while working as a techni-cian at his father’s piano andorgan factory in Binghamton,N.Y. Aviation fascinated himbut the cost of fuel, flight les-sons and plane rentals madelearning to fly expensive. In thefactory’s basement, he used var-ious piano and organ parts tocreate a machine that would“mimic the experiences of fly-ing an airplane without everleaving the ground.”

He continued to modify hissimulator and in 1933, he added a hood to enclose thepilot and an instrument panelto the cockpit. The hood forcedpilots to rely on the cockpitinstrument panel. Instead ofteaching pre-flight, his modi-fied trainer provided instrumentflight training, according to the University of Houston’sBeginning of Flight SimulationWeb site.

His big break came when theArmy Air Corps began flying the U.S. mail, according to the LinkSimulation and Training Web site. Nearly a dozen pilot deaths caused by bad weather in the early days of the Army Air Corps’ mail service ledArmy officers to review Link’s trainers, which taught pilots to fly byinstrument instead of just by sight. The six Link Flight Trainers the ArmyAir Corps bought in 1934 were the start of Link Aviation Devices, Inc.

The company first started by Link has changed hands. It now oper-ates as the Link Simulation and Training Division under the parent company of L-3 Communications. The division provides simulator support for all four branches of the armed forces.

Link died in 1981, but the legacy of his Link Flight Trainer continuesin today’s simulators used in training for commercial, military and spaceflight. From the Pilot Maker in 1929, the flight simulation field has grown into a multi-bullion dollar industry.

“The training that takes placebefore live training has the goal of better preparing Marines. When livetraining (occurs), less time is spent getting up to speed and the ‘in thefield’ training time is more effective,”Jilson said.

Simulators usually take less time and fewer personnel to set up.Scenarios can be played repeatedlythrough simulations, and many simula-tors also include an after action report-ing process for evaluation.

“The best training is live, but it iscostly in training dollars,” said TrumanC. Preston, assistant chief of staff, G7,II Marine Expeditionary Force, MarineCorps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Repetition is part of training; “themore times you do (something) thebetter you get,” he said. “Simulationsare more cost effective ways to build in the repetitions needed to gain experience.”

Simulation training also puts nowear and tear on vehicles or aircraft,and it expends no ammunition, fuel or other expendable materials. A 2ndMarine Division commanding generalin the mid-80s credited a one-weekdivision-level computer-assisted exer-cise with saving more than $70,000 inradio batteries alone, Preston said.

“Needless to say, savings in 2005dollars would be considerably more,”said Preston, who retired from theCorps as a lieutenant colonel aftermore than 28 years.

Simulations allow Marines to make and learn from mistakes in anenvironment that does not result indeaths. “Using simulations, trainers can inflict casualties on trainees forimproper tactics, bad decisions, poorteam coordination, etc., and make them bleed, so to speak,” he said.

Marines who “bleed” in the simula-tions, “hopefully won’t bleed in actualcombat,” he said.

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By Staff Sgt. Cindy FisherHEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS, Washington

One Man’s Passion ‘Link’to Modern Flight Simulator Industry

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – Ed Linkbegan building his first flight simulator in 1927. By the time World War II began,

his idea had evolved into the ANT-18Basic Instrument Trainer such as the oneshown here. During the war, more than

500,000 aviators trained in the Blue Box,as the device came to be called.The Blue

Box improved safety and shortened training time, according to the American

Society of Mechanical Engineers Web site.Photo courtesy of L-3 Communications

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Computer-based Programs are the Name of the Game

Increasingly, today’ battles arefought in a joint or combined arena.Marines in operations Enduring andIraqi Freedom are fighting side by side with Army, Navy and Air Forcepersonnel as well as forces from foreign nations.

Marine units must train to operateseamlessly in joint and combined envi-ronments, but live joint or combinedtraining exercises are not always feasi-ble. Deployments, operational tempo,time and logistics constraints, or a vari-ety of other reasons are barriers to livetraining, Jilson said.

Computer-based gaming systems,conducted at modeling and simulationsites throughout the Corps, fill thistraining void.

Computer simulation training hasbeen in use as far back as 1979 with the

Tactical Warfare Simulation Evaluationand Analysis System at Las Flores onCamp Pendleton, Calif., according to Tom Buscemi, director of I MEF’sBattle Simulation Center there.TWSEAS was based on a 35 mm slidepresentation that illustrated trainingscenarios.

From this evolved the MAGTFTactical Warfare Simulation, which wasfielded to the Marine Corps again atCamp Flores in 1995, Buscemi said.

NAVAL AIR STATION LEMOORE, Calif. – A Navy F/A-18 pilot at Naval AirStation Lemoore trains in a simulator that was manufactured and maintained by the Link Simulation and Training Division. Link supports and maintains all the Navyand Marine Corps’ F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet training assets.These assets range from flight simulators to maintenance trainers to computer-based trainingequipment.The division also built a trainer for the Navy’s air cushioned landing craft, known as the LCAC, which is the vehicle often used to bring Marines from ship to shore in amphibious operations.Photo courtesy of L-3 Communications

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MTWS is the Marine Corps’ mainstaff-planning model, said Preston.

With MTWS, small unit leaders,commanders and their staffs practicecommand and control procedures,standard operating procedures andtechniques, tactics and procedures, saidBuscemi.

MTWS produces information towhich forces must react. It replicatesfire and maneuver, intelligence, logis-tics, command and control, and forceprotection – all the war fighting func-

tions. By responding to the scenarios,the various elements within a unit orjoint command learn to operate witheach other “before the trucks hit theroads, the planes get in the air or thetroops go into battle,” Buscemi said.

The ability to tailor scenarios to a unit’s training needs, allowed 1stMarine Division and I MEF to fightMTWS battles in preparation forOperation Iraqi Freedom four timesbefore they ever went overseas,Buscemi said.

“A senior watch officer who was inIraq told me that with the exception of the causalities being real, what theyexperienced in Iraq was very similar to what the simulation produced,which emphasizes the effectiveness of the computer driven combat simulations,” Buscemi said.

Let the Games BeginThe Marine Corps’ virtual training

arsenal has expanded to take advantageof the proliferation of video game technology.

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SATTAHIP Thailand – Royal Thai and U.S. Marines train together usingMTWS Sept. 14, 2004.They used MTWS to enhance interoperability and coalitionsecurity relations. MTWS is just one of the many simulation program available at the various modeling and simulation centers through out the Corps.The II MEFSimulation Center uses the Joint Conflict and Tactical Simulation, an entity-levelsimulation for individual Marines up to small units.The Modeling and SimulationsLab at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Training Center Twentynine Palms,Calif., offers the Joint Tactical Simulation, in which small units practice combat exercises in rural and urban battlegrounds.The Camp Pendleton and Camp Lejeune simulations center offers Convoy Operations Training, a first-person perspective for convoy commanders and drivers.Photo by Cpl. Jonathan K. Teslevich

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Training and Education Commandis poised to unveil the Corps’ versionof the commercial game “CloseCombat: First to Fight” in late spring of this year. The game is a tactical decision simulation, first-person per-sonal computer program designed totrain infantry Marines on fire teams.

The Marine Corps worked closelywith Destineer Studios during thedevelopment of “Close Combat: First to Fight.”

The Marine Corps provided thou-sands of pages of doctrine and morethan 40 Marines to work with a

Destineer development team to incorporate Marine Corps combat tactics into the game, said Peter Tamte,president, Destineer Studios.

The Corps' contribution of subjectmatter experts and about $900,000resulted in a realistic fire team trainerto which the Corps has unlimited distribution rights for Marine Corpsuse, Jilson said.

The collaboration gives Destineer a game they bill as “the real life experi-ences of the proud few.” They hope it better illustrates to the gaming community the honor, courage and

commitment it takes to be a Marine,said Tamte.

The production of an average videogame costs between $5 million and $20 million, said Tamte.

Marine Corps input is pervasivethroughout the game.

In First to Fight, a player selectsthree men from a roster of 20 charac-ters to fill his four-man fire team.About 15 of the characters are basedon active duty Marines. “We hope that surrounding players with real-lifeMarines will help create a taste of whatit might be like to actually be a Marinein urban combat,” said Tamte.

Staff Sgt. Hector “Casanova”Arellano, with 3rd Amphibious AssaultBattalion, 1st Marine Division, had just returned from Operation IraqiFreedom I when he was approached to help with the game.

He provided input on fire team tac-tics like clearing stairs and rooms andmoving under fire, said Arellano, a LosAngeles native who is also featured asone of the characters in the game.

The commercial version, which will

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Today’s advanced simulatorsgive pilots the opportunity to fly and manage aircraft systems in a realistic environment.The MV-22 FullFlight Simulator uses the latest technology, such as higher-fidelity visuals, motion and other flight simulator subsystems, to create thismore realistic training environment.Photo courtesy of Flight Safety International

Virtual Battlefield System One allows Marines to practice small unit tactics.TDSs like this feature photo-realistic terrain, user-definable mission

scenarios, specialized response tools and tactics, and variable environmental conditions to enhance the team training experience.Training and Education

Command has been developing TDSs since 1995.The initiative was given a push in 2001 thanks to a Technology Division research project to

investigate technologies for a Deployable Virtual Training Environment to maintain forward-deployed Marines’ decision-making skills.

VBS-1 was the first modified DVTE simulation introduced after the push.Official Marine Corps photo

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HE TROUBLE SPOT IS LEBANON. MARINES ARE RETURNINGto Beirut, the city where 241 Marines and sailors died Oct. 23, 1983, when a bomb-laden truck crashed through the Corps’ temporary headquarters and into a building where they slept and detonated.

Today, in the year 2006, several groups of insurgents have taken control of sections of Beirut andthe surrounding areas. Thelargest, best-organized and best-funded of these groups is theradical Atash movement, led byTarik Qadan, a local religiouszealot of considerable influence.

The current Prime Ministerof Lebanon, an impressive,strong-willed man, kept the situ-ation in check until he left thecountry to seek medical care inthe United States.

Almost immediately, his aidesbegin to bicker among them-selves and lose control overmuch of the Lebanese Armybased in the city. In this rapidlydeteriorating situation, the insur-gents strike and Atash begins ter-rorizing the city.

Akhbar al’Soud, a Lebanesecolonel, takes command of themilitia in Beirut and declaresmartial law in the city. Shortlyafter al’Soud takes control, large battles begin between the radicals and militia forces, as they vie for control of the city and the country.Much of the fighting occurs in and around the Grand Serail, the prime minister’s official home and the symbolic seat of government in Lebanon.

The Unites States and NATO decide to intervene and a joint opera-tion, called Operation Preserve Peace, is begun. The 28th MarineExpeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) spearheads the operation. With only small skirmishes and no casualties, the vital Beirutairport is quickly brought under U.S. and NATO control. Marines soontake control of the area around Beirut’s main port, El Karantina, andestablish El Karantina as their primary base for operations.

You’re a fire team leader with the MEU. You and your fellow Marinesare experts at helicopter borne assaults, maritime raids and urban combat. Your battle has just begun.

be available for X-Box, Macintosh andWindows, is scheduled for release inMarch for about $40.

“While TDSs are games, when usedwith a training plan and facilitationthey are valuable tools for improvingwar fighting skills,” said Jilson.

Although the Corps has beeninvolved with other TDSs likeOperation Flashpoint, which was laterrenamed Virtual Battlefield SystemOne, “usually it is a small-scale pro-gram or involves modifications afterdevelopment is completed,” said Jilson.

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Condensed from a scenario by reserve Lt. Col. Raymond Liddy and Destineer

Mission Brief

Close Combat:

Marines clearing a room in thisscreen shot from Close Combat: First toFight use the same weapons and tacticsas Marines currently engaged in theGlobal War on Terrorism. Collaborationbetween the Marine Corps and DestineerStudios resulted in a realistic video game Marines can use to get the feel of real combat at a lower cost in money and lives.

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The MEF simulation centers andinfantry military occupational specialtyschoolhouses already using TDSs willbe the first to get “Close Combat: Firstto Fight.” Units interested in the TDSshould contact their MEF simulationcenter or the Technology Division ofthe Training and Education Command.

Training in the Air …The next step to more realistic

simulation training takes Marines outof the computer room and puts theminto equipment simulators.

Pilots at Marine Medium Tilt-RotorTraining Squadron 204 based atMarine Corps Air Station New River,N.C., spend considerably more time in simulators training to fly the MV-22Osprey than in the actual aircraft,said Col. Joel “Coach” Kane, the commanding officer of the squadron.

During the four-month initialinstruction phase of the curriculum,pilots are in the MV-22 Full FlightSimulator 60 hours and in the aircraft36, Kane said. “Flight simulators do an outstanding job of introducingpilots and aircrew to a specific type,model or series of aircraft.”

The Osprey is a tilt-rotor aircraftthat takes off like a helicopter. Thanksto the two rotors mounted to its wingsthat tilt forward, it can convert to fly as a plane. This transition “createssome unique aerodynamic challengesthat pilots must work through,”Kane said.

In the simulators, a student pilot“gets a feel” for what is required tomaintain control of the aircraft “longbefore ever getting into the seat of an actual MV-22,” he said.

A mistake in the aircraft could result in the loss of life and a morethan $80 million dollar aircraft. A mistake in the simulator means areboot by the instructor and studentstry again.

On Land …Marines attending the M-1A1 Main

Battle Tank crewman course at the Army’s Armor Center at Fort Knox,Ky., know of the demand for M-1A1Tank Drivers Simulators.

The simulators are mock-ups oftank compartments. The boxed com-partments are mounted to mechanical systems so that when students movethe controls the compartments move,said Master Sgt. Bernard Prevost, theoperations chief at the Marine CorpsDetachment there.

Due to the high demand for simula-tor time, students average only aboutfour hours in the simulators, but thosefour hours are valuable, Prevost said.

“Tanks are kind of hard to stop andit’s better to make your mistakes in thesimulators; it greatly reduces your mis-takes out in the training field,” he said.

Not only do the simulators get first-timer mistakes out of the way, theyincrease the variety of a student’s train-ing experience. The basic tank course is only 53 training days long, but withthe simulators a student attending during summer can still learn how tooperate the tank in winter conditions,he said.

“The simulators change not just theweather but the terrain; whatever thesimulator operators dictate,” he said.

… And SeaAnother up and coming vehicle

that will rely on equipment simulators during training is the Expeditionary

Fighting Vehicle. The EFV, currently in development, is the next generation of AAV.

Seven different types of trainers are planned for specific areas or tasksin the EFV, according to DanielDykstra, the division head for Man-power, Personnel, and Training of theLogistics Directorate under the DirectReporting Program Manager AdvancedAmphibious Assault. Planned simula-tors include a driver simulator, a turretsimulator and a weapons station main-tenance trainer.

The trainers are still in developmentand have yet to be tested. They willsupport a curriculum that is beingdeveloped. Based on a study byProgram Manager for TrainingSystems, Marine Corps SystemsCommand, based in Orlando, Fla.,students can expect to spend 20 to 50 hours in the more complex simula-tors, like the driver and turret simulators, Dykstra said.

Initial operational fielding, the firstfielding of limited quantities of EFVs,is scheduled for fiscal year 2010,according to the currently proposedbudget. The EFV training systemsshould arrive at the Amphibian AssaultSchool Battalion at Camp Pendleton infiscal year 2006.

The value of simulation training to augment live training is apparent.Wherever it is determined that virtualtraining – simulation – is the correcttechnology for training, it will beapplied, said Jilson.

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Modeling and Simulation Sites with MAGTF Tactical Warfare Simulations: • I MEF, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

• II MEF, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

• III MEF, Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan

• MCAGCC Twentynine Palms, Calif.

• MAGTF Staff Training Program, TECom, Quantico, Va.

• Joint Training, Analysis, and Simulations Center, Suffolk, Va.

• Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, Calif.

• The United Kingdom has also recently acquired MTWS

T raining in an urban environ-ment is traditional for MarineExpeditionary Units prepar-ing for deployment. But for

the Marines and sailors of the 26thMEU, their training in an urban environ-ment exercise here Dec. 4-16 was any-thing but traditional.

The TRUEX included a list ofnotable “firsts,” including the Corps’ firsturban convoy with close-air supportthrough a major U.S. city, and a livevideo feed of combat operations beamedstraight to the MEU’s command post.

During the urban convoy, the MEUdrove several vehicles throughout New Orleans, both day and night, with aircraft support from several elements of Marine aviation.

AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicop-ters and AV-8B Harriers from Marine

Marines of the 26th MEU’sMSPF move by convoy to an objective

during an urban training exercise in New Orleans Dec. 13.The use of close-air

support with convoys in a major U.S.city is a first for the Marine Corps.

Photo by Cpl. Eric R. Martin

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“There is no doubt in my mind this MEU is where it needs to be.”

By Sgt. Roman YurekJOINT RESERVE BASE, New Orleans

In this edition, Marines report on history-making training in the Big Easy, where

close-air convoy support is used for the first time in a major U.S. city. They capture

birthday celebrations and holiday cheer in Iraq, helicopter support team training

in the desert near Yuma, Ariz., and the softer side of Marines who helped bring relief

to the storm-ravaged Philippine Islands. Across the country and the globe, Marines

delivered news From the Trenches.

FromtheTrenches

26th MEU MakesTrainingHistory in NewOrleansClose-air Support, Video Feeds Key to Realistic Urban Exercises for Marines Headed to Iraq

Medium Helicopter Squadron 162(Reinforced); EA-6B Prowlers fromMarine Tactical Electronic WarfareSquadron 1; and a KC-130 from MarineAir Refueler Transport Squadron 252,were stacked at altitudes from 500 to15,000 feet, to support the convoy.

A forward air controller with the convoy relayed the ground scheme ofmaneuver to the supporting aircrews so they could make the best decisions on how to support the convoy.

“I take the information from thetroops on the ground and translate it in a way the pilots understand,” said Capt. Scott Peters, the convoy FAC and assistant air officer for the MEU.He relayed important data during allphases of the convoy including the critical casualty evacuation phase, whenCH-46E helicopters landed in the city to pick up and transport simulated casu-alties to the rear for medical care.

As the convoy moved through the citystreets, a Pelican reconnaissance aircraftprovided a live video feed of the progressdirectly to the combat operations centerat Joint Reserve Base New Orleans,located twenty miles away.

The Pelican was used during all theMEU’s training scenarios here andproved to be an invaluable asset.Provided by the Joint Forces Command,Pelican is a piloted version of theunmanned reconnaissance aircraft com-monly referred to as Scan Eagle. To cre-

ate Pelican, Scan Eagle sensors are placedon a piloted Cessna aircraft, since FAAregulations prohibit unmanned aircraft to be flown over U.S. cities.

“Every faction, from the FAC to the drivers to the aircrews, learned a lot more about how to execute urbanCAS and urban convoy support,” saidMaj. Brian R. Blalock, 26th MEU airofficer. “We are really grateful to thepeople of New Orleans for letting us do this training.”

The urban convoy operations provided a realistic urban training environment to prepare the 26th MEUfor deployment.

Focusing on real-world scenarios andtactics currently used by enemies in theGlobal War on Terrorism, TRUEX wasstructured around four situational train-ing exercises where the capabilities of theMEU’s Maritime Special Purpose Forcewere brought to center stage. The MSPFis the MEU’s surgical strike force. It is used in situations where a large-scale conventional assault is not thedesired action.

The Marines of II MarineExpeditionary Force’s Special OperationsTraining Group – responsible for admin-istering the training – used simulated ter-rorist cells, hostage situations, chemicalweapons, roadside bombs and improvisedexplosive devices to test the abilities ofthe MEU. Shortfalls discovered duringtraining will be corrected before the

MEU can be designated special opera-tions capable.

One corporal who thought the training was very realistic may be amongthe most qualified to make that call.After back-to-back tours in Iraq andAfghanistan, Cpl. Justin Burza ofKalamazoo, Mich., is now a blockingteam leader for the MSPF. His team’smission is to protect the force reconnais-sance platoon from threats outside theobjective area during raids.

“You have (simulated) rounds andthere are a lot of SOTG instructors whomake it real for you,” he said of the fourmissions he took part in during TRUEX.“It all seems very realistic, especiallyusing the trucks. That is the way we nor-mally did things in Iraq. We would rollin, jump off the trucks, do what we had to do and jump back on the trucks.”

“We came here to demonstrate a highdegree of success in urban combat opera-tions, and the Marines and sailors in the26th MEU showed themselves extraordi-narily,” said Col. Thomas F. Qualls,26th MEU commanding officer. “Wewere challenged by (exercises) with varying degrees of complexity. On eachone, we got better and better.”

This training is especially significantbecause the Marines are headed for com-bat in a few months, said Qualls. “Thereis no doubt in my mind this MEU iswhere it needs to be as we approach ourfinal days before we sail.”

d this MEU is where it needs to be.” 25

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Marines from the 26th MEU’s MSPF assault across a field near their objective during a practice raid for a TRUEX.Marines spent the 13 days of the exercise training in New Orleans. Photo by Sgt. Roman Yurek

H iking 5.2 miles of moun-tainous terrain with a 63-pound pack and a rifle in 85 minutes or less earned

Sgt. David L. Walter a spot at theSummer Mountain Leaders Course atthe Marine Corps Mountain WarfareTraining Center, Bridgeport, Calif.

But the spark kindled by that courseburns long after he left Bridgeport.Walter has immersed himself into

the sport of rock climbing and now persuades others to do the same.

Walter, the training noncommissionedofficer and administration clerk forService Company, has embarked on atrek to free himself from the stresses ofthe Marine Corps, at least for a moment’stime, when he’s contorting his 5-foot-11-inch lanky body around a boulder or cliffto reach the summit, or “top out.”

“You’re scared to death, but once you

make it, it’s a great sense of accomplish-ment and a rush,” he said.

Perched on a boulder 30 feet off theground, with nothing but countless hoursof climbing techniques, rubber soledshoes, a chalk pouch and a strong grip,Walter doesn’t spend time being scaredof heights – not anymore at least.

“I used to climb trees when I was akid. I wasn’t super scared, but I used tofreeze up,” he said.

Freezing up was not an option whenhe was 200 feet up a cliff, roped in withanother climber, leap-frogging to the top.

The Mountain Leaders Course helpedWalter overcome his fear of heights.

“It takes such focus and all you’rethinking about is the rock and that nextmove,” Walter said.

Walter tries to get Marines involvedin rock climbing and he leads a group ata local rock gym.

“He’s a very good teacher,” said LanceCpl. Jared M. Padula, combat photogra-pher, Combat Visual Information Center.“Without his instruction, I would nothave made it very far, and I think I’m ingood shape. Seeing him contort his bodylike that makes it look feasible. He has arhythm when going up the rock.”

Walter tries to climb three to fourtimes a week, either in the gym or out-doors, but he admits it’s difficult tosqueeze in the time between his otherhobbies – singing, songwriting, and scubadiving.

“I’m just having fun with it and I’menjoying meeting new people as well askeeping up with my abilities for training,”he said.

Walter says he wants to return toBridgeport as an assault climber instructoror transfer to an infantry unit and deployto Afghanistan to become an advisor.

“I’m a challenge-oriented person androck climbing is the perfect sport,” hesaid. “It just clicks with me.”

From

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“Once you make it, it’s a great sen se of accomplishment and a rush.”

Sgt. David L. Walter learned his climbing skills at the Summer MountainLeaders Course in Bridgeport, Calif.The course is more than six weeks long andenhances small unit leaders’ mountain operations abilities. Subjects taught includerappelling, fixed rope installations, climbing and medevac techniques, mule packingand many other skills necessary to be effective in a mountainous environment. Formore information on training courses offered at MCMWTC, visit www.mwtc.usmc.mil.Photo by Sgt. Len Langston

Climbing toNew Heights Marine’s Confidence Soars After Mountain Leaders Course

By Sgt. Len Langston MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO

n se of accomplishment and a rush.” 27

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D rill Instructor School is likereturning to boot camp,according to rumor.Consequently, some students

show up there expecting a trip back totheir first day on the yellow footprints.

But that’s only rumor. While theschool is challenging, it’s not a return to recruit training, according to theschool’s new first sergeant.

“Professionalism starts here,” said 1st Sgt. Robert A. Ledferd. “The focushere is on leadership. We focus on theleadership traits and principals, and thatcreates a professional atmosphere.”

Ledferd was assigned to DI Schoollast August after serving as first sergeantfor L Company, 3rd Recruit TrainingBattalion. As the senior enlisted Marineat the school, he helps ensure future drill instructors are prepared to trainfuture recruits.

Marines headed to the drill field starttheir journey at the 12-week school.During the course, students spend 55training days mastering a variety of sub-jects, including extensive first aid classes,CPR, general military subjects, swimqualification and physical fitness training.

They also participate in and conductuniform inspections and have their lead-ership evaluated by instructors and fellowstudents. The students also stretch theirlegs during five and eight-mile hikes atMarine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.The hikes are a part of preparation forthe Crucible, which the students gothrough toward the end of the course.

“The students go through everythingthe recruits go through during training,”said Ledferd, a 41-year-old native ofSpringfield, Ill.

But a big part of the course curricu-lum focuses on drill and learning theStandard of Operations manual – thebible for recruit training.

All the classes prepare Marines to take

on the responsibility of training theCorps’ future. While many Marines vol-unteer for the drill field, they don’t knowwhat school will be like.

“You hear stories out in the fleetabout DI school,” said Ledferd. “But we treat students as sergeants and staffnoncommissioned officers.”

The goal is for the students to beleaders first and DIs second, he said.

“The example needs to be set for students to conduct themselves as DIs,and how they should treat their fellowMarines when they go across the street

(after graduation), especially those junior to them.”

One way Ledferd is changing theschool atmosphere is with counseling.

“There’s not a lot of yelling andscreaming like in recruit training,” saidLedferd, who first served as a drillinstructor at MCRD Parris Island, S.C.,in 1994. “It’s positive and correctivecounseling. It puts the focus on positiveleadership, vice negative leadership.”

Ledferd, a former artilleryman, saidDI School should be more like profes-sional military education schools like theSergeant, Career and Advanced courses.

“I feel the atmosphere should be on ascholar and student relationship, vice aDI and recruit relationship.”

Before Marines can get orders to DISchool, they must have a first-class physi-cal fitness test score, all required annualtraining must be completed, and theymust have family and financially stability.

“We usually have four classes peryear,” said Ledferd. “We start with about60 students, but there is a 15-to-20-percent attrition rate. That’s normallydue to medical issues that pre-existed in a student or due to injuries that happen at school.”

DI School is challenging, saidLedferd, but the journey doesn’t stopwhen the students earn the coveted DI campaign cover. A tour on the drillfield is also very challenging, but DIschool equips Marines with what theyneed to succeed.

“Be firm, but fair and demanding torecruits,” said Ledferd. “Use the leader-ship traits and principles and that willhelp you be a successful DI.”

Staff Sgt. Alejandro Walker,student DI, fills in answers to his writtenCPR test. Walker was last stationed atMCRD San Diego as an administrativechief. Photo by Cpl. Edward R. Guevara Jr.

By Master Sgt. Janice M. Hagar, MCRD SAN DIEGO

DI School’sTopEnlistedTramplesBoot Camp Mystique Professionalism, Leadership Create Positive Environment for DI Students

From

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“The environment here is very sim ilar to what we will face in Iraq.”

F lying a helicopter with a17,000-pound payload danglingbeneath it is a challenge.But when the payload is vital

equipment or supplies, it must be done.The Marines of Beach Terminal

Operations Company, 2nd TransportationSupport Battalion, 2nd Force ServiceSupport Group, make heavy lifts possibleby providing a vital link between thebirds in the air and the gear on theground.

The company is preparing for deploy-ment to Operation Iraqi Freedom by participating in Exercise Desert Talon01-05 here Dec. 8, 2004.

“In garrison, we work about two helicopter support teams a week, here we are doing at least six a week,” said Sgt. Jason E. Lott, HST head teamleader, and native of Mobile, Ala. “Theenvironment here in the deserts ofCalifornia and Arizona is very similar to what we will face in Iraq.”

The brownout conditions, rocks,dust, and debris, are much different than the grassy fields of Marine CorpsBase Camp Lejeune, N.C., where theunit is stationed.

During the first flight operationsphase of Desert Talon, aviation squadrons

Story by Cpl. Rocco DeFilippisMARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz.

A CH-53E Super Stallion from HMM-465 hovers close over helicopter support team Marines from 2nd TSB as they prepare to attach a

17,000-pound load to the heavy hauler.The helicopter is capable of lifting 16 tons at sea level, transporting the load 57.5 miles and returning.

Photo by Cpl. Rocco DeFilippis

Helicopter SupportTeams GetTasteof Desert Desert Talon Gives Lejeune-based BTO Co. Needed Lift in HST Training

flew squadron specific flight missions,focusing on the lessons learned from 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing units operat-ing in Iraq.

The HST Marines joined up withCH-53Es of Marine Heavy HelicopterSquadron 465, from MCAS Miramar,Calif., at Landing Zone Bull for heavylifting operations. The zone is a dried up creek bed full of rocks in a remotedesert of southern California.

“Our focus is on setting up the lifts tothe best of our ability so the pilots cantrain,” said Cpl. Daniel J. Botting, landingsupport specialist from Manawa, Wis.

With some convoy routes in Iraq taking up to 16 hours to complete and all the dangers that go with moving supplies on Iraqi roads, aerial resupplyhas become invaluable in Iraq.

“The ability of the Marine Corps toprovide aerial resupply hinges on HSTMarines being able to operate under anycircumstances,” said Staff Sgt. Patrick M.Wales, HST staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge from Winter Haven,Fla. “Training here at Desert Talon pre-pares the Marines to complete the mission and support the fight when the dust and rocks are flying.”

m ilar to what we will face in Iraq.” 29

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CH-53E Sea Stallion

Specifications:

Primary function: Transportation of heavyequipment and supplies during the ship-to-shore movement of an amphibious assaultand during subsequent operations ashore.

Manufacturer: Sikorsky Aircraft

Power plant: Three General Electric T64-GE-416 turbo shaft engines producing4380 shaft horsepower each.

Length: 99 feet 5 inches

Height: 28 feet 4 inches

Rotor diameter: 79 feet

Speed: 172.5 mph

Maximum takeoff weight: With Internal load: 69,750 pounds With external load attached: 73,500 pounds

Range: Without refueling: 621 milesWith aerial refueling: indefinite

Armament:Two XM-218 .50-caliber machine guns.

Crew: 3

Introduction date: June 1981

Unit Replacement Cost: $26,100,000

Inventory: 160

Information pulled from the Marine Corps Fact File atwww.marines.mil/factfile

Lance Cpls. Michael A. Whitakerand Matthew D. Schiltz, landingsupport specialists with 2nd TSB, prepareto attach 40,000-pound slings to a CH-53ESuper Stallion during helicopter supportteam training.The Marines must usegrounding rods to grab the pennants to protect them from the 20,000 volts of static electricity that can building up on the lift cable. Photo by Cpl. Rocco DeFilippis

M ore than 600 Marinesand other service members with Joint Task Force 535arrived here Dec. 7 to

provide humanitarian assistance and dis-aster relief for people who were affectedby severe storms.

Successive tropical storms killed more than 650 Filipinos, left more than 400 missing and displaced at least

“We are doing everything we can to mini mize human suffering and the loss of life.”

From

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Logs & trees litter the beaches near destroyed homes in Real Dec.10. Successive tropical storms killed nearly 1,000 Filipinos and left

many more homeless.The Philippines is a scattering of more than 7,000 tropical islands that create southeast Asia’s border with the Pacific Ocean. It was

strategically significant during World War II.The U.S. military maintained a presencehere until 1997 and continues to maintain strong relations with the nation.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Joel Abshier

Landing support specialistLance Cpl. Jesse M. Fordgrabs a box of bottled water to load onto a CH-46E helicopter at the ManilaInternational Airport Dec. 10. Okinawa,Japan-based 3rd MEB Marines andsailors with the JTF-535 provided immediate lifesaving support to flood-devastated areas of the Philippines.Photo by Lance Cpl. Joel Abshier

MarinesAidStorm-RavagedPhilippines Emergency Relief Supplies Ease Suffering in Island Nation

Story by Lance Cpl. Joel Abshier CLARK AIR BASE, Philippines

About 250 men and womenbundled in their warmestclothing here Dec. 4 and pre-pared to hit the road in a scene

reminiscent of a 1960s biker movie.The riders participated in the inaugu-

ral Hutchins Motor Sports Toys for TotsPoker Run – a nearly 40-mile ride thatraised more than $3,000 and 300 toys.

The money, about $500 from the riders and $2,500 from a local businessowner, will be used to buy gifts for chil-dren in age groups that are hard to col-lect for, said Capt. Mark D. Bodde, chair-man, Toys for Tots Advisory Committee.

“This, in addition to the toys, willprovide a merry Christmas to many chil-dren throughout the Morongo Basin.”

The ride started at Hutchins’ in Yucca Valley and proceeded to Pappy and Harriet’s in Pioneertown, then alongPipes Canyon Road and Old WomanSprings Road to the Roadhouse in Yucca Valley.

Riders collected playing cards at each

checkpoint along the route and at theend of the run, the male and female riders with the highest and lowest pokerhands won prizes.

The last leg of the route took them to Luckie Park where they met SantaClaus, some “elves” wearing the MarineCorps Dress Blue uniform, and foundenough hamburgers and hot dogs to feed a battalion.

“It was a good ride,” said PettyOfficer 1st Class Mark Terrill, corpsman,3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Bn.“I love the road through the valley.”

At the park, Staff Sgt. Lee Coe, co-owner of the Cactus Bar in Twenty-ninePalms, presented Bodde with a check for $2,500.

“Every year our patrons get togetherand raise money for a charity,” Coe said.“This year we chose Toys for Tots.”

The generosity and enthusiasm of the community is certain to make a difference in the lives of local familiesand children this year, said Bodde.

A biker chooses the three of spades as Toys for Tots volunteers record thedraw at Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace in Pioneertown, Calif. Photo by Sgt. Jennie E. Haskamp

168,000 since Dec. 3, said Lt. Col.Gregory F. Bond, operations officer for JTF-535.

“JTF-535’s mission is to provideimmediate lifesaving support to the flood-devastated areas of thePhilippines,” Bond said. “We are doingeverything we can to minimize humansuffering and the loss of life.”

The Marines and other service members, mostly from the Okinawa,Japan-based 3rd Marine ExpeditionaryBrigade, are delivering relief supplies,such as water, food and shelter items to distribution points, said Bond.

The Philippine government requestedaid from the United States to assist thetowns of General Nakar, Infanta and Real in the Quezon Province, said Bond.

Within 36 hours of receiving the call for help, an assessment team was sent to the area. They then determinedaccessibility for the service members andsupplies that would be needed. Within 48 hours, the first wave of help arrived.

U.S. service members are workingclosely with the Philippine armed forces,who are providing helicopter landingzone safety and assisting in the loadingand unloading of supplies, said Bond.

“The Marine Corps is always on call, whether for peacekeeping or human-itarian reasons,” said Staff Sgt. Frankie G. Newton, a radio chief with JTF-535.“Because I am Filipino and was bornhere, it is important (to me) that theUnited States keeps a positive relation-ship with this country.”

“The forward presence of the 3rdMarine Expeditionary Brigade signifi-cantly contributes to United States’ ability to respond to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief,” said Brig. Gen. Kenneth J. Glueck, the taskforce’s commanding general. “It is myhope that (JTF-535) will alleviate thehuman suffering caused by these natural disasters.”

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By Gunnery Sgt. Frank Patterson, TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif.

Deck Stacked inChildren’s Favor Toys for Tots Poker Run Nets Thousandsof Dollars for Needy Children

“These Marines drive into the face of danger everyday, they get the mission accomplished.”

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T he Marines and sailors herefrom Combat LogisticsBattalion 2 are committed tothe Global War on Terrorism

and provide a multitude of daily servicesto the fixed and rotary wing aircraft fly-ing missions in support of OperationIraqi Freedom.

“We support the wing in two majorareas,” said Lt. Col. Kyle J. Nickel, CLB-2 executive officer and native of Bay City,Mich. “The aviation combat element isnaturally self-sufficient, but we help byproviding intermediate ground mainte-nance and engineering support.”

Since their arrival here on Feb. 19,the fuels Marines have redesigned fuelstorage areas for the 1.5 million gallonsof fuel stored here on a daily basis.They replace worn fuel lines, and pumpup to 200,000 gallons of jet fuel per day to support flight operations.

“We sample and test all the fuel thatcomes through here before it is pumpedout to the various fuel farms where westore fuel,” said Cpl. Robinette M.Roxburgh, bulk fuel specialist and nativeof Salt Lake City. “Our Marines aregreat, when they get a mission, it’s done.”

From an engineering perspective,the engineers and material handlingequipment operated by CLB-2 Marineshelps ensure troops, equipment, vehiclesand supplies are loaded and unloaded at the arrival and departure point.

“We work hand in glove with theMarines of the airfield liaison element to load and offload the planes and takeaccountability of the passengers and gear,”said Maj. Mark A. Brennan, operationsofficer and native of Walnut, Ill. “As thoseground maintenance supplies are broughthere, we have our hands on them to dis-tribute them to all the units in the wing.”

Lance Cpl. Stephen Fischer,a CLB-2 bulk fuel specialist, conductsflash point tests on a sample of JP-8 jet fuel March 15.The test measures

what temperature the fuel ignites at, which helps to determine if

the fuel has been contaminated.Photo by Cpl. Rocco DeFilippis

By Cpl. Rocco DeFilippisAL ASAD, Iraq

Logistics BattalionProvidesVital Support toWing

In addition to their efforts at the fuelstorage area and arrival and departurepoint, almost every service provided herehas CLB-2 Marines and sailors behind it.From postal services and medical care, todisbursing and mortuary affairs, the supportfrom the logistics battalion improves thequality of life for all service members andDepartment of Defense employees here.

“We have roughly 200 different mili-tary occupational specialties across thebroad spectrum of operations,” Brennansaid. “Our job is to support the war fighter,and we want to do everything we can toprovide the best combat logistics possible.”

Not only is the battalion supportingthe air base, the Marines and sailors are responsible for running convoys that distribute food, water and supplies to the forward operating bases in the Al Anbar province.

“We already have a lot of miles under

our belts,” said Cpl. Benjamin P. Burns,loadmaster and native of Henderson, Nev.“We are busy everyday. If we aren’t on theroad, we are performing maintenance. Ifwe aren’t doing maintenance we are plan-ning and preparing for our next convoy.”

With some convoys traveling up to500 miles round trip, the Marines of thebattalion’s transportation company areovercoming mines, improvised explosivedevices and horrible road conditions toensure service members at the remoteposts have the essentials.

“These Marines drive into the face ofdanger everyday,” Nickel said. “In light ofthat, they get the mission accomplished.”

“The motivation of these Marines and sailors is remarkable,” Brennan said.“They honestly care about what they aredoing because they know the importanceof their tasks. A lot of people depend onthem, and they always come through.”

33r everyday, they get the mission accomplished.”

Lance Cpls. Gustaw D. Sasiadek and Leon M. Jarvis, bulk fuel specialists with CLB- 2, work to attach a fuel line to one of the fuel farm’s 50,000-gallon bladders.The bulk fuel Marines redesigned the fuel farm to minimize damage from possible enemy rocket attacks. Photo by Cpl. Rocco DeFilippis

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JP-8 Jet Fuel

Specifications:

• JP-8 is made by refining crude petroleum.

• The primary ingredient in JP-8 iskerosene, which is about 99.8% by weight.

• JP-8 also contains very small amounts ofmany other substances, such as benzene,and various additives to inhibit icing, prevent static charge buildup, avoid oxidation, and decrease corrosion.

Information pulled from www.brooks.af.mil

FactFile:Iraq Insurgency Ordnance

Captured Iraq Insurgency Ordnance

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1. 82 mm Motar Shipping Containers: Variants of the 82 mm mortar rounds shipped in these containers have been used fordecades. The Soviets and their allies have used them since the 1960s and today Marines are finding the weapons in caches all across Iraq and Afghanistan. For more information visit www.sinodefence.com/army/crewserved/mortar_82.asp.

2. AT-4 Launcher: The AT-4 is a Swedish-manufactured,shoulder-launched antiarmor weapon designed to defeat modernthreat main battle tanks. It fires an 84 mm rocket with a shapecharged head. For more information visit www.marines.mil/factfile.

3. PG-7M Rocket Propelled Grenade: A favorite of insurgents and terrorists around the world, the RPG-7 is lightweight, shoulder-fired, muzzle-loaded and recoilless. Its grenades are used for antitankand antipersonnel purposes. The PG-7M fires a 70 mm grenade from a 40 mm smooth bore tube. For more information visit www.defense-update.com/products/r/rpg.htm.

4. PG-7G Rocket Propelled Grenades: These Soviet made weaponsfire an 85 mm grenade form a 44 mm tube. Like the PG-7M, it is aninsurgent favorite and frequently encountered by Marines in Iraq. For more information visit www.globalsecurity.org.

5. M-36 UK Hand Grenade: The British Model 36 hand grenade or“Mills Bomb” was in action from WWI to the 1960s. Unlike moderngrenades, the user had to screw in the M-36 fuse manually. Weighing18 ounces, the high-explosive M-36 has a friction-ignited time fuseand is surrounded by precut, cast-iron casing. For more informationvisit www.militariadirect.com.au/product_info.php?products_id=33.

6. 82 mm High Explosive Mortars: The Soviet 82 mm HE mortar is a vintage “medium” mortar with a range of nearly 3,000 meters.Primary models include the M-1936, M-1937, M-1941 and M-1943.Each weighs 114 pounds and has a 1,200 mm barrel length and 15-25 rpm fire rate. The 82 mm rounds weigh nearly three kg and are impact detonated. For more information visit www.skysoldier17.com/vc_weapons.htm.

7. 57 mm Russian Aircraft Rockets: Used by insurgents for roadsideimprovised explosive devices, the 57 mm S-5 Rocket was developedby the Soviet Air Force in the 1970s for use with its aircraft. It is 4.62feet long and weighs 11 pounds. Warheads include antiarmor, highexplosive fragmentation, smoke and incendiary. For more informationvisit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-5_rocket.

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PMET here are some things Marines with combat experience know to be

“must-haves.” The following 20 items are from the Marines of 3rd Platoon,

C Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment:

1. Advanced Combat Optical Gun Sight orBinoculars: “When you’re on post, you cantell what individuals walking down the street(blocks away) are carrying,” said Cpl. MichaelFredtkou, an M-203 gunner. “The enemydoesn’t expect you to see them that far away.”

2. Energy Bars: (not pictured) “They’re light-weight, easy to get to,” said Staff Sgt. LuisLopez, platoon sergeant. “Plus they’re not as bulky as MREs.”

3. Kevlar Cushions: (not pictured) “The old(helmet) padding gives you a headache afterwearing it for a few hours,” said 1st Lt. TravisFuller, platoon commander. “After a few minutes with the cushions on, you can’t even tell it’s there.”

4. Elbow & Knee Pads: “If not for thesethings, my knees would be completely cut upby now,” said Lance Cpl. Tim Riffe, a machinegunner. “You can only take so much jumpinginto a defensive position without them.”

5. Personal Role Radio: “Communication has been a huge key in our operations,” saidCpl. Tyrone Wilson, 2nd squad leader. “Whenmy squad was across the street in a defensiveposition, the platoon was able to let me know insurgents were in the building next to us. Who knows what would’ve happened if they couldn’t contact me.”

6. Global Positioning System: (not pictured)“I’m able to pinpoint our location within 10meters when calling in position reports andmedevacs,” said Lance Cpl. William Woolley, a radio operator. “We’ll never get lost as longas we have it.”

7. Extra Socks: (not pictured) “My feet arenice and dry right now,” said Lance Cpl. KalebWelch, a squad automatic weapon gunner.“I’ve gone without changing my socks beforeon three to four day training exercises and I always regretted it later.”

8. Gloves: “They’re clutch because whenyou’re climbing over a wall you don’t have toworry about broken glass cutting your hands,”said Cpl. Gabriel Trull, 1st squad leader. “Youalso don’t burn your hands when changing (M-)240 Golf barrels.”

9. Baby Wipes: “A multiuse piece of gear,”said Petty Officer 3rd Class Irving Ochoa, a Navy corpsman. “You don’t have much time out here for personal hygiene, so it’s the best alternative.”

10.Three-Point Sling: (not pictured) “Whenyou’re jumping over rooftops you don’t wantto worry about dropping your weapon,” saidCpl. Dave Willis, 3rd squad leader. “At anytime you can just reach down and grab it.”

11. Alice or Day pack: (not pictured) “Withoutthese I don’t know how I’d carry all of mygear,” said Lance Cpl. Geoffery Bivins, a SAWgunner. “It displaces all of the weight aroundmy body, so I’m not uncomfortable. When you’re running with 100 pounds on your back, that’s important.”

12. Night Vision Goggles: “Wearing these at night gives you the advantage over theenemy,” said Lance Cpl. Marquirez Chavery, a combat engineer. “When you’re on a rooftopat night you can see everything.”

13. Personal Hydration System: “Water isone of the things you always need to makesure you have,” said Seaman Hugo Lara, aNavy corpsman. “Instead of struggling to getyour canteens out, the cord is there withinyour reach. Plus it holds more water as well.”

14.Watch with Compass: “You get callswhere you have to lay down suppressing firein a certain direction and instead of wastingtime to ask which way is north or south, youcan just look at your wrist,” said Lance Cpl.Lonny Kelly, a machine gunner. “Knowing the time is important because everyone pullsshifts for guard duty or standing post.”

15. AA Batteries: “You use them for yourNVGs and handheld radios – both of whichcontribute to more effective fighting,” said Cpl. Bryan Morales, 1st squad 1st fire teamleader. “You wouldn’t want either of thoseitems dying on you, so having a spare set of batteries around is very important.”

16. Poncho & Poncho Liner: (not pictured)“The temperature at night is extremely differ-ent from the day,” said Lance Cpl. JonathanEtterling, machine gun team leader. “If youdon’t have some sort of protection at night,you end up freezing because you’re cammiesare still damp from sweating during the day.”

17. Ballistic Goggles: “I was the (assistant)driver of one of our convoys and we got hit by an (improvised explosive device),” saidLance Cpl. Anthony Johnson, an assault man. “Shrapnel bounced off of my glasses,saving my vision.”

18. Multipurpose Portable Tool Kit: (not pic-tured) “It’s like carrying a combat knife, ham-mer and screwdriver in one hand,” said LanceCpl. Evan Fernandez, an assault man. “Cuttingopen MREs, cleaning your weapon, tighteningscrews on your gear; it has a thousand uses.”

19. Carabineers: (not pictured) “Anything thatyou might have to grab at a moments notice,you don’t want to be digging through yourpockets to try and find it,” said Pfc. JasonKurtz, a SAW gunner. “With these you canattach anything to your flak and have right atyour fingertips.”

20. High Powered Flashlight: “It does wonders,” said Cpl. Chris Williams, 2nd squad, 1st fire team leader. “After you throw a fragmentation grenade into a room it’s difficult to see because of all the dust floatingaround. No one can hide from them.”

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Combat Veterans Top 20 ‘Must-Haves’

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Compiled by Sgt. Clinton Firstbrook

Soar Today, Sore TomorrowFirst-time Snowboarders Brave Sunny, Icy Slopes on Single Marine Program TripStory and photos by Lance Cpl. Dorian Gardner, MCRD SAN DIEGO

Agroup of Marines from the Single Marine Program here played hooky Jan. 28 and set out for a long week-end of skiing and snowboarding in the mountains of

Big Bear Lake, Calif. Packed and ready, the 14 Marines and program coordinator

Britney O'Connor left the depot in two vans headed 140 milesnortheast.

The group hit the slopes early Saturday morning and foundthey were not the only Marines in the neighborhood. FortyMarines from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., and20 others from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., were also

Lance Cpl. Dallas Duncatell gives an enthusiasticshout as he, Sgt. David Walters and Cpl. David

Kusinitz catch a lift to the top.The SMP is managedby Marine Corps Community Services. Each majorMarine Corps installation has an established SMP

council composed of unit representatives fromthroughout the command.To find out how

you can get involved with the SMP visit the MCCS Web site at www.usmc-mccs.org.

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enjoying the slopes. Thetoasty weather made it hardfor skiers and snowboardersto keep on their jackets, butthe hard-packed snow madethe jackets nice for padding.

It was the first time manyof the Marines had snow-boarded, and the veteranboarders knew that the firstday is the longest. Falling,

and falling hard, became rou-tine for many first-timers,including Cpl. Hamlet Tavarez.

“I fall gracefully,” saidTavarez, a depot armorer, afterpicking himself up.

Despite the falls, the tripwas amazing, said Tavarez.“The Marines who were sup-posed to go out and didn’t,definitely missed out.”

“Snowboarding was reallyfun, but now that I'm back,I’m just really sore,” saidLance Cpl. Roger L. Talbot,Headquarters Company.

Some younger Marinessaid this trip would have beenimpossible for them becauseof prices, but O’Connor man-aged to get lift tickets, trans-portation, and lodging for $80,

with a huge discount andextended time on rentalequipment. Marines with theirown equipment paid $65.

“Prices were good com-pared to what we paid andthe amount of time we spentup there,” said Talbot. “It waswell worth it.”

Sgt. David Walter catches air coming down the mountain. Being new to snowboarding, he soon discovered he wasn’t quiteready for the big air andcratered when he landed.

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MarineReading

ProgramRevamped

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By Sgt. La Toya T. GraddyMARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va.

The Marine CorpsProfessional ReadingProgram got a booster

shot Feb. 9 in what the Corps’top leader calls the first steptoward reinvigoration of a keyelement of Marine profession-al military education.

In All Marine Message007/05, Commandant of theMarine Corps Gen. MichaelW. Hagee released thenewest Professional ReadingList and addressed the impor-tance of physical and mentalsharpness and the need forfurther education in the Corpsof tomorrow.

“Warfighting excellencedemands that our Marines notonly maintain physicalendurance and technical profi-ciency, but, just as important-ly, they also continue to devel-op intellectual adaptabilityalong with effective problem-solving skills,” said Hagee.

The revised list empha-sizes warfighting and isdesigned to instill wisdomand judgment in military leaders, in keeping with thewishes of the 29th comman-dant, Gen. Alfred Gray, whostarted the reading list andsought to promote the

pursuit of lifelong learning,said the commandant in the ALMAR.

“This represents the logi-cal next step in the evolutionof our program to perpetuatewarfighting excellence into an increasingly uncertainfuture,” Hagee said.

The revision began lastNovember, when a panel ofretired and active dutyMarines came together to vet the program’s requiredreading list.

The reading list is tied toPME and shared across theranks. Using Gray’s original list as a starting point, thesmall working group deletedseveral books that wereadded over the past decade.Books that were not in printor not reasonably availablewere also removed from the list.

“There are 112 separatebooks on the required readinglist; 45 books on the enlistedreading list and 83 books onthe officer reading list,” saidCol. Jeffery Bearor, Trainingand Education Command'schief of staff. “There are 16books shared between theenlisted and officer lists.”

Books that span rank structure and military occupa-tional specialties offer com-manders the opportunity forenlisted Marines and officersto share PME based on thereading list.

“Dialogue and discussiongroups can facilitate the criti-cal thinking skills necessaryfor the professional growthand creativity of Marines,regardless of rank or MOSbackground,” said retired Maj.Gen. Donald R. Gardner, thepresident of Marine CorpsUniversity.

Reading books on pastAmerican wars, the three lev-els of war, and major battle-field functions will also helpMarines gain knowledge andan understanding of war,which in turn will enhancetheir ability to make timelyand sound judgments, saidBearor. Understanding what is read and relating it to whatis learned in training will onlybenefit Marines in wartime.

“Today’s warfare continual-ly demands flexibility and splitsecond decision-making skillsfrom Marines at all levels,”Gardner said. “Thus, the pro-fessional reading program

serves as a mechanism todevelop the individualMarine’s intellectual frame-work and tactical calcula-tions.”

Marine Corps Universitywill continue to support allMarine schools’ efforts in utilizing the program. VisitMCU’s Web site: www.mcu.usmc.mil for more informationon the reading program andthe updated reading list.

Tell it to Marines

If you’ve read a book onthe Commandant’s ReadingList and would like to write a review of that book, we’dlike to have it. Reviews mustclearly state your opinion ofthe book, they must be 500words or less, and they mustcontain all relevant book information, including title,author and publisher. A “star”rating on a scale of one tofour must also be provided.

Send your reviews to:MCNews@hqmc.usmc.mil.

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Microsoft’s Combat FlightSimulator 3 (for PC) is the closest a player can get to

aerial combat without actually strappinginto a war bird.

Set in the European theater duringWorld War II, CFS3 offers 34 variations of 18 different meticulously detailed aircraft from the United States, GreatBritain and Germany.

CFS3 offers so much it can’t possiblyall be covered here, but there are severalfeatures that illustrate the incrediblecapacity of this game.

First and foremost, a flight simulatorshould have good flight dynamics. CFS3delivers amazingly realistic flight modelsof military aircraft. Its options allow playerselections ranging from simple and easyto handle, to uncompromisingly real.

CFS3 also offers breathtakinglydetailed environments in which to fly.Realistic weather, 3-D volumetric clouds,lavishly covered landscapes and remark-able special effects provide endless eyecandy. Players can even watch spentshell casings fall from the planes as theypass over the buildings of completelydetailed cities.

Dynamic operations round out CFS3with missions that are never the sametwice. Instead of giving only repeatingstatic scenarios, CFS3 missions offerobjectives with randomly generated vari-ables such as enemy strength and troopplacement. Every time a pilot takes tothe skies, he finds something new.

The game’s campaign mode allowsplayers to choose what missions they fly,and the battlefield reacts to the mission

choice. Missions are prioritized by theirpotential impact on the campaign, whilethe battlefront between London andBerlin shifts, based on which missionsplayers choose and how successfully the missions are flown.

Whether you want to fly aroundEurope blowing up stuff, or embark in acampaign for the fate of the world, CFS3delivers the best platform from which tolaunch. The only thing you’ll need morethan a high-performance computer to flyCFS3 are fearless nerves of steel.

Minimum System Requirements: Windows 98,ME, 2000, XP; 128 MB RAM, 400 MHz processor;16 MB 3-D video card; 900 MB hard drive space;sound card and speakers; joystick.

Answer to Boondoggle/MRE Soup on page 48:

The correct definition of ‘STOM’ is B. – Ship-to-Objective Maneuver.

By Staff Sgt. David L. Crockett, HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS, Washington

Microsoft’s Combat Flight Simulator 3: Battle for Europe (for PC) offers richlydetailed environments in which to fly. Realistic weather, 3-D volumetric clouds,lavishly covered landscapes and remarkable special effects provide endless eye candy.

Top 5 Flight Simulators

1. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004

2. Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 3: Battle forEurope

3. Crimson Skies

4. Apache vs. Havoc Helicopter Combat Simulator

5. Jane’s F-18 Simulator

Combat Flight Simulator 3: Battle for Europe (for PC)

OverThere

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M arines Over There know firsthand the value of leadership. They’ve led

their Marines through doors into harm's way and stood in lines to give

blood when Marines were injured. Our reputation for unparalleled

leadership was not idly given. It was earned by those who bore the title before us

and by the men and women who are today on the front lines of the war on terror,

becoming the leaders of tomorrow.

pl. Donald P. Farmer, 23, of San Diego, waits to donateblood while Navy corpsmen draw blood from Cpl. Chris

L. Reighard, Nov. 17. Farmer and Reighard both donated blood to help a patient in critical condition at the Surgical/Shock Trauma Platoon. The SSTP, part of the 1st Force ServiceSupport Group, is one of three major immediate surgical and trauma care teams assigned to Marine forces operating in Iraq. In the first six days of combat in Fallujah, the 63 surgeons, nurses, corpsmen and other personnel of the SSTP treated 157 patients and operated on 73 of them. Photo by Staff Sgt. Jim Goodwin

Taqaddum,

IraqC

Blood Brothers

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Southern Coastline of

Sri LankaCH-46 with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (SpecialOperations Capable) carries humanitarian aid supplies

from USS Duluth to an airfield where Marines await to distribute them Jan. 10. The 15th MEU (SOC) provided desperately needed humanitarian aid to cities and villages along the country’s southern coastline following a tsunami Dec. 26, 2004.Photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Ward

A

Salerno,

Afghanistangt. Jon Gonzalez, with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rdMarine Regiment, tosses a horseshoe during the horseshoes

competition at Salerno Day March 5. Other competitions included basketball, volleyball, weightlifting, soccer, dominoes, tug-of-war, a stress shoot competition and an iron man and iron woman competition. The event was designed to allow the Marines, sailors,soldiers and airmen to get together for one day and enjoy friendly competitions and build esprit de corps,Photo by Army Staff Sgt. Bradley Rhen

SRegiment Ringer

Airborne Aid

pl. Ratheon Mitchell, a Philadelphia native and mechanic with Headquartersand Service Battalion, 2nd Force Service Support Group (Forward),

works beneath a humvee in the motor pool March 11. Mitchell and five othermechanics are responsible for maintaining nearly 70 pieces of equipment including seven-ton Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacements, humvees and 400-gallon potable water tanks.Photo by Cpl. C.J. Yard

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Camp Taqaddum,

IraqPit Stop

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OverThere

t. Col. Michael H. Gellick, a civil affairs officer with 1st Force Service Support Group (Forward),

passes bags of humanitarian aid supplies to Iraqi children during a civil affairs mission to Al KabaniMarch 5. During the mission the Cleveland native and other Marines from the 1st and 2nd FSSGs, alongwith soldiers from the Army’s 2nd Battalion, 112thArmor, 36th Infantry, distributed humanitarian aid supplies to the more than 60 homes in the town. They also surveyed the site for possible future civil affairs projects and paid an existing contract within the village. Photo by Cpl. John E. Lawson Jr.

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Al Kabani,

Iraq

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Helping Hand

Lance Cpl. Anthony J. Kondziella prepares to fire a .50 caliber sniper rifle during a familiarization firing

exercise March 8. The 20-year-old Fond du Lac, Wis., nativeis a member of Marine Wing Support Squadron 271’sImmediate Reaction Team, a unit of Marines and sailors that provides security for explosive ordnance disposal.Photo by Cpl. Rocco DeFilippis

LAl Asad,

IraqSniper Support

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CorpsShots

MCAGCC TWENTYNINEPALMS, Calif. — “And

that's why I'm the sergeant!”Sgt. James Hazel knocks

Lance Cpl. Michael Boyd off his jousting post during theCombat Center Challenge at

Victory Field Dec. 3. BothMarines are heavy equipment

mechanics with MaterialReadiness Company, CombatService Support Battalion 10.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Evan M. Eagan

TAMPA, Fla. – “Oh, say can you see…” Maj. Shane Tomko, the commandingofficer for Recruiting Station Portsmouth, N.H., sings the national anthem forthe opening of the 2005 Outback Bowl.The Marines were at the game to helpboost recruiting efforts and increase overall exposure for the Corps.Photo by Staff Sgt. Marc Ayalin

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MCB CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. –“All together now!” Marines fromMarine Medium Helicopter Squadron261, currently scheduled to deploywith the 22nd Marine ExpeditionaryUnit, learn the basics of firefightingduring a four-day course in March.Sailors from the Navy’s Ferrier FireFighter School at Norfolk, Va.,where the Navy trains its own firefighters, taught the course.Photo by Sgt. Jemssy Alvarez Jr.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – “Thanks and come home safe.” Lance Cpl. Michael Berninger, a motor

transport driver with 2nd Radio Battalion, displays asign wishing for the safe return of 2nd Radio Battalion

and Lance Cpl. Conrad Carson, a vehicle commanderwith 3rd Battalion 2nd Marine Regiment, holds up a

sign thanking the Cleveland Browns during SuperBowl XXXIX.The Cleveland Browns donated 30 Super

Bowl tickets to the II Marine Expeditionary ForceMarines through their Hats Off to Our Heroes

program – a program honoring members of the military for the protection of the country.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Edward L. Mennenga

ARLINGTON, Va. – “Honoring those who have gone before us…” A bugler with the Marine Band plays taps atop the

Marine Corps War Memorial during a ceremony to rememberthose who fought and died during the Battle of Iwo Jima.The Feb. 19 ceremony marked the 60th anniversary of the

Marines landing on the island. Martin C. Connor, a veteran of the36-day battle who attended the ceremony with his wife, Janet

Connor, said he is glad to see the traditions of bravery and honorstill alive and well with Marines of today serving overseas.

Photo by Staff Sgt. David L. Crockett

SavedRounds

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Pentagon leaders andCapitol Hill legislators want

to increase the current avail-able combined governmentdeath benefit for families of fallen Marines and other service members by about$250,000.

If enacted, the proposedchange would nearly doublethe $262,000 now available tofamilies of service memberskilled in wartime operations,said David S.C. Chu, undersec-retary of defense for personnel

and readiness, in his testimonyFeb. 1 before the SenateArmed Services Committee.The issue has been understudy for two years.

Senior defense leadersbelieve the sum should benearer to $500,000, Chu toldthe panel. The increase wouldcome by increasing the maxi-mum coverage offered by the Servicemembers’ GroupLife Insurance program andraising the separate death gratuity payment.

The current survivor’s death gratuity payment, whichis tax-free, is about $12,420.Additionally, survivors of service members killed in war operations can nowreceive $250,000 in maximumSGLI coverage.

Department of Defenseand Senate proposals wouldincrease the death gratuitypayment to $100,000, andboost maximum SGLI cover-age to $400,000. ThePentagon would pay the pre-

miums for the extra $150,000in SGLI coverage when partici-pating service members aredeployed in a combat zone.

A plan under discussion, if approved by Congress andthe president, would beretroactive to Oct. 7, 2001, the day Operation EnduringFreedom began in Afghanistan.

The proposed increase insurvivor’s monetary benefitswould also provide “greaterrecognition” of the sacrificesAmerica’s service membershave made during the globalwar on terrorism, noted Sen.John Warner of Virginia, chair-man of the SASC. DoD offi-cials reported Feb. 1 that 1,415 Americans have died in Iraq and 156 others died in Afghanistan and otherwartime theaters during theglobal war on terror.

“There is nothing in thefinancial sense that we can do to replace a lost servicemember,” Chu said. Yet, thegovernment can provide “theappropriate financial tools,” to comfort surviving spousesand families so they can goforward.

More Money Sought for Families of Fallen MarinesBy Gerry J. Gilmore, AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE, Washington

Foreign Service Officers Needed Compiled by Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington

Think you have what ittakes to be a U.S. diplo-

mat? Registration for the 2005Foreign Service Written Examis now open. The exam meas-ures candidates’ knowledge ofthe subjects necessary for per-forming the tasks required offoreign service officers.

The exam is free and iscomprised of multiple-choicequestions that cover suchareas as the structure andworkings of the U.S. govern-ment, psychology, American

culture, management andfinance. The exam includes ajob knowledge section, anEnglish usage section, a bio-graphic inventory, and anessay exercise.

Candidates must be U.S.citizens between 20 and 59years old, and be available forworldwide assignment.

Visit www.careers.state.gov/officer/join/examinfo.htmlfor information on how to register and where to find thetesting center nearest you.

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An initiative launchedMarch 3 offers childcare

assistance to National Guard,reserve and active duty military families with servicemembers serving in the Global War on Terror.

The initiative, dubbedOperation: Military Child Care,will provide financial relief and assistance locating quality childcare for eligible military families who do not have access to theDepartment of Defense on-base childcare options. The program will serve families and child guardians of service members mobilizedor deployed for GWOT.

The joint effort betweenDoD and the NationalAssociation of Child CareResource and Referral

Agencies will be administeredby NACCRRA.

“It can be a challenge for any parent to locate afford-able, quality childcare in their community,” said LindaSmith, executive director of NACCRRA.

“For the spouse of adeployed Guard or reserveservice member who maynow be looking at a reducedincome with a larger need for childcare support, theprocess can be even moreoverwhelming,” she said.“Operation: Military Child Carewill bridge the gap to provideaffordable, quality child careoptions for these families.”

The largest employer-sup-ported childcare program inthe nation, the DoD’s childcareprogram serves more than

200,000 children. Whilethe program has beenhailed as a model of child-care quality, a large num-ber of military families,particularly Guard andreserve, are not locatednear bases and need tofind comparable care intheir own communities.

A network of NACCR-RA member agencies willwalk families through theprocess of locating a qualifiedcare provider. Once approved, NACCRRA will provide finan-cial support directly to theprovider on behalf of DoD, so that service members’ fees can be reduced.

The amount of financialassistance will vary for eachfamily and depend upon factors such as total family

income, geographical location,military services childcare fee policies and available funding, as well as certainfamily circumstances.

Eligible families can call the Child Care Aware hotline at 1-800-424-2246 or go onlineat www.childcareaware.org for help with applying for the subsidy and location assistance.

Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. announcedits “Heroes Salute” to honor the U.S.

Armed Services by offering free single-dayadmission to its SeaWorld and BuschGardens parks through Dec. 31, 2005.

“In our own small way, we’re giving something back to the brave men andwomen and their families who make sacrifices every day for our country,” saidAugust A. Busch IV, president, Anheuser-Busch Inc. “As a saluteto America’s heroes,we wish to extend a message of thanksand an invitation.”

Any active duty, active reserve, readyreserve service member or National Guard is entitled to free admission under the pro-gram. He or she need only register, eitheronline at www.herosalute. com, or in theentrance plaza of participating parks, andshow a Department of Defense photo ID.

As many as three direct dependents of military personnel also are entitled to free admission. Dependents may take

advantage of the offer without their service member, though an adult must accompany minor dependents.

For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com

Operation Cares for Military ChildrenCompiled by Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington

Beverage Company Offers Free Admission to Service MembersCompiled by Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington

98 (4%)Non-Lethal Weapons

123 (5%) Manipulation ofWeather

210 (8%)

ElectromagneticPulse Weapons

that disrupt electronics

176 (7%)Robotics

119 (4%)Orbital Kinetic

Weapons that drop from

space onto targets

243 (9%)

Personal Digital Assistants

250 (9%)

Satellites forCommand& Control

268 (10%)Laser

Weapons

481 (18%)Air &GroundUnmannedVehicles

679 (26%)Stealth &Optical

Invisibility

What’s Your Opinion?

In a recent Marines online survey respondents were asked to pick the future (or developing) technology that will have the greatest impact on the battlefield of the future. Stealth and Optical Invisibility is ”clearly”

the technology that Marines think will have the greatest impact on the Marine Corps’ effectiveness on the battlefields of the future. Here's how the voting panned out …

Total Number of Respondents: 2,647

For a glimpse of the Marine Corps’ vision of war fighting in the future, see the “Tomorrow’s Technology Today” on page 10.

Kevlar Cookin’

T he designers of MREs may think they’re meals-ready-

to-eat, but Marines knows better. In the field Marines

mix and match ingredients from the various MREs for

dishes with some surprisingly tasty results. The recipe for

this concoction was submitted to www.marines.mil.

Peanut Butter & Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:1 - Pound Cake 1 - Coffee Creamer Packet 1 - Peanut Butter Packet 2 - Sugar Packet1 - Cocoa Beverage Powder Packet

Directions:Choose a pound cake of preferred flavor. Top the cake with athick layer of peanut butter. Next, mix a cocoa beverage powderand a pack of coffee creamer. Use the cocoa beverage pouch as a mixing bowl. Add water to the cocoa and creamer a little at a time until the mixture is similar to a pasty icing. Spoon a layer of “icing” on the cake to preferred thickness. Top off the creation with sprinkles of sugar.

Submitted by: Cpl. Ryan Skaggs, from Metairie, La., with Marine Forces Reserve

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Marines provides some possible answers for STOM, what do you think it means?A. Strategic Omnipresence; A joint force commander’s ability to be aware of and control every aspect

of a mission in real time by the use of satellite technology.

B. Ship-to-Objective Maneuver; Employs the concepts of maneuver warfare to project a combined arms force by air and surface means against inland objectives.

C. Synchronized Timing of Maneuver; The coordination of artillery, air assets and ground forces within a designated area of the battlefield.

D. Superior Tactical Offensive Mobility; The coordination and use of mobile assets to gain advantage over the enemy.

Answer on page 37. If you know of an unusual or odd military acronym, please send it, along with its correct meaning to Marines at MCNews@hqmc.usmc.mil.

Illustration and infographic by Seth Sirbaugh, Bates Creative Group

SemperFidelis

TailendCharlieCAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti — Cpl. Jenifer A. Altman, a small

computer specialist demonstrates the leg sweep on her training partner,

Army Spc. Fallan C. Adams, during the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program

gray belt training held here Oct. 26, 2004.The soldiers, sailors and airmen

of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, take advantage of such

opportunities offered by their Marine hosts.The course will count as an

official military school for Adams, a postal clerk, and she will receive

promotion points for the training. She will also be allowed to wear her

gray belt while with the task force. Photo by Staff Sgt. David L. Crockett