MWCG-38 Marines conduct force protection training with Army unit

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq (July 24, 2008) - Marines from Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), participated in a force protection and anti-terrorism exercise here July 24 with the soldiers of the Army’s 507th Corps Support Group from Fort Bragg, N.C.

The Marines and soldiers rehearsed establishing fields of fire, setting up perimeter defenses and manning firing points within a secured area. The training afforded the 507th and the Marines the opportunity to practice protocols for identifying suspicious activities and securing suspect vehicles and individuals.

“This is good training for the Marines in learning the protocols for identifying and securing a suspicious vehicle,” said Staff Sgt. Sara McTeigue, the intelligence officer and force protection/anti-terrorism officer with MACG-38. “With the Marines in a deployed environment, it’s good for them to refresh the skills taught to them from Marine Combat Training.”

The sergeant of the guard continually relayed information to the other Marines participating in the exercise.

“The Marines performed very well during the exercise,” said Sgt. Angel Santoyo, sergeant of the guard for MACG-38. “The idea of the training is to keep Marines up to speed on what could happen while deployed and ensure they know what to do if a suspicious vehicle situation were to ever come up.”

The exercise isn’t the first time the Marines have worked with 507th CSG, according to Army Capt. Mary Rummery, the safety officer with the unit. The Marines have previously assisted in improvised explosive device exercises and medical evacuation training, added Rummery.

“We have learned a lot from working with the Marines,” said Rummery. And both units look forward to future joint training exercises.