Something to illustrate to you guys..
*Basically, you're trained by Marines Special Operations chaps in
CARAT.
Marines Test Singapores Sea Soldiers
Story Number: NNS070726-11
Release Date: 7/26/2007 11:50:00 AM
By Lance Cpl. Juan D. Alfonso, Commander Task Force 73 Public
Affairs
FIBUA VILLAGE, Singapore (NNS) -- Marines and Sailors with III
Marine Expeditionary Forces Special Operations Training Group
(SOTG) tested the Republic of Singapores Navy sea soldiers combat
skills on July 19 in Fibua Village.
The exercise was part of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training
(CARAT) 2007, and took place during the practical application
portion of a Force Protection Anti-Terrorism package with the
Navys Mobile Security Squadron (MSS) 7, Coastal Warfare Group
1.
Training with the sea Changi Defense Squadron (CDS, also known as
sea soldiers) was a very unique experience, said Marine Staff Sgt.
Freddy Arencibia, the staff noncommissioned officer in charge of
the CARAT SOTG Detachment. We were there to probe their defensive
posture so weaknesses could be identified. Our training with them
resulted in a seamless final exercise with Singapores Navy.
Before the exercise against the Marines, instructors with MSS-7 led
the sea soldiers during a two-week course designed to teach them
the basic skills used in a counterterrorism operation, such as
counter surveillance, water-side security and handling vehicle
control points.
During the event, the Marines role-played as a terrorist cell
attempting to infiltrate the forward operating base by means of
rioting, suicide bombers and surprise attacks at every possible
angle of their perimeter.
The whole purpose of this event is to validate the training we
gave them, said Chief Boatswains Mate Martin L. White, MSS-7.
Theyve been trained on how to conduct these types of operations
by U.S. troops before. Were building on that foundation and making
sure they use proper techniques when they're attacked by the
Marines.
After the Marines bombarded the sea soldiers with a series of
suicide bombers and riots, Marine Sgt. Aaron Smith, noncommissioned
officer in charge of the SOTG Detachment, decided to give them what
seemed like a break.
We had hit them three times in a row so we decided to hit them
when their guard was down, Smith said. Once we thought they let
it down, we attacked and discovered that they were only getting
better the more we went at them. They started communicating more
and it made them a harder target.
After an hour of rest, the Marines launched a complicated surprise
attack, beginning with a vehicle borne improvised explosive device
and ended with several smoke grenades used to simulated actual
explosives, thrown at their forward operating bases rear and right
flank.
After a half hour of fighting off the Marines, the sea soldiers
emerged victorious, completing their two-week training evolution
with the U.S. Navy.
This was exciting training for all my troops, said Singapore Navy
Capt. Teo Lawrence, the training officer for CDS. We do a lot of
things the same way but there are minor differences. We learned a
lot from the Marines and Sailors who participated and hope to use
their ground experience to improve our own tactics in the
future.
CARAT 2007, which also involves Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines and Thailand, is designed to build relationships and
enhance the operational readiness of the participating forces.
CARAT is an annual series of bilateral maritime exercises between
the United States and five Southeast Asian nations.
http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=30790
