CENTRAL TRAINING AREA, OKINAWA, Japan -- Clouds hang low in the sky as loud booms echo off the mountains. The continuing rain makes the ground a thick and unrelenting trap, entangling Marines’ boots as they make their way to the demolition site.
Marines with Combat Engineer Company, Combat Assault Battalion, worked through inclement weather conditions to execute basic demolitions and urban breaching training May 13-14 in the Central Training Area.
“The training helped to reinforce the Marines’ demolition skills and reaffirm the building and placing of shots,” said 1st Lt. Andrew B. Fernando, a platoon commander with Combat Engineer Company, CAB, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “For the Marines (who are not combat engineers) , it was cross-training, so that they received a better understanding of all the preparation that goes into demolitions.”
The basic demolitions portion of the training incorporated TNT, composition C-4, M1A2 Bangalore torpedoes and shape charges. To properly time the demolitions, the Marines had to cut both detonation cord and the time fuse to specific lengths, depending on the charge. The Marines used a bunker to protect themselves from the blasts because the explosive weight of the charges exceeded more than five pounds.
“The best part of the training was the shake from the explosions – it rattles you,” said Cpl. Drake A. Bequette, a combat engineer with the company.
Not all the charges were ready-made. The Marines needed to create some of the explosives by hand, such as expedient Bangalore torpedoes , before they were taken to the demolitions area.
An expedient Bangalore torpedo is made by placing composition C-4 inside materials available on hand; during this portion of the training, engineer stakes were used. The expedient Bangalore torpedoes can then be used to clear the way through enemies’ obstacles, such as barbed or concertina wire.
The Marines were situated closer to the explosions during the second day of training as they learned urban breaching.
“At (their military occupational school), the Marines learn basic demolition,” said Staff Sgt. William R. Schultz, a platoon sergeant with the company. “Urban demolition is learned from the senior Marines in their unit so they can learn the necessary skills for their (job) field.”
During urban demolitions training, the Marines blasted through doors and fences to simulate the breaching of enemy compounds.
“I feel proud that I did my job correctly and well,” said Lance Cpl. Cody L. Arroyo, a combat engineer with the company. “I helped to get the Marines to their objective.”
Due to the smaller explosions, the Marines did not have to use a bunker to remain unharmed. Instead, they used a blast blanket to protect themselves as the charges placed on the obstacles detonated.
“The Marines gained confidence in their work after standing so close to the detonation of the urban breaches,” said Bequette, a Sullivan, Mo., native.
After each squad detonated their charges, Schultz gave them feedback about their demolitions and what needed improvement.
Once the training concluded, the Marines cleaned up the range, packed up their equipment, and headed home.
“The training was a success,” said Schultz, a Detroit, Mich., native. “We were able to teach and supervise the Marines performing the basic skills needed to execute a breach, which will be able to provide a means of entry for the infantry.”