MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Marines, Sailors and Soldiers with Marine Special Operations Support Group, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command recently improved their ability to identify, disable or employ foreign weapons systems during a Special Operations Training Course here. Students learned the characteristics of six foreign weapons, including the AK-47 assault rifle and the Rocket-Propelled Grenade.
“No matter what your job is, whether you turn a wrench or shoot a rifle, you will potentially come into contact with these weapons, either by enemy fire or by a cache site,” said Staff Sgt. Michael A. Ditto, the training chief for MSOSG and the instructor of the threat weapons class. “It’s imperative that everyone across the board have these basic skill sets.”
The class was part of the second Special Operations Training Course. MARSOC implemented the three-week STC course in April to give its support personnel a basic understanding of special operations.
Roughly 20 students were taught the maximum effective ranges, rates of fire, and specifications of the weapons. They also practiced disassembling and reassembling each weapon, competing against one another to see who was fastest.
“I think this is a valuable opportunity for support Marines,” said Lance Cpl. Ryan Simpson, a supply administration clerk with MARSOC. “A lot of Marines don’t get this training. I think it’s a good idea to familiarize support Marines, so if the operators ever call on us to do anything to help, we’ll be good to go.”
MARSOC support personnel deploy with Marine Special Operations companies, which is why it is critical to have an understanding of basic special operations capabilities and mission sets.
“MARSOC has a very different mission,” said Ditto, a MARSOC operator himself. “We have a very specific skill set that differs from conventional forces. When you’re attached to a special operations team or company, you need to have an understanding of special operations capabilities so you can be on par,” he said.