Story by 2nd Lt. John Graham
CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, UNITED STATES
Picture by Lance Cpl. Anakin Smith
2nd Marine Plane Wing
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. – U.S. Marines with 2nd Low Altitude Air Protection (LAAD) Battalion, Marine Air Management Group 28, 2nd Marine Plane Wing (MAW), carried out a scenario-driven coaching for counter-unmanned plane techniques (UAS) aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, April 15-17.
The aim of the coaching was to evaluate, refine, and validate counter-UAS techniques, methods, and procedures and to construct confidence amongst 2nd LAAD Battalion Marines in conducting counter-UAS missions. Occasions comparable to this give 2nd LAAD Battalion the chance to coach, educate, and ultimately present subject-matter specialists in assist of building counter-UAS packages throughout 2nd MAW. These counter-UAS packages can be vital for 2nd MAW’s potential to establish and defeat adversary intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and concentrating on platforms, contributing to counter-reconnaissance efforts and enabling stand-in forces to persist within an enemy’s weapons-engagement zone. Counter-UAS is core mission important activity for 2nd LAAD Battalion. Second LAAD Battalion will search to proceed to evaluate, refine, and validate their techniques, methods, and procedures to satisfy the calls for of the fashionable battlespace within the ever-changing UAS atmosphere and the proliferation of unmanned plane techniques.
“In the present day’s coaching offers LAAD a strategy to develop techniques, methods, and procedures for us to conduct lively air protection in opposition to small UAS after we are built-in with the infantry,” mentioned 2nd Lt. John Osment, a local of Charlotte, North Carolina, and the unit readiness coordinator for 2nd LAAD Battalion. “It additionally offers the infantry an opportunity to see customary working procedures that we make use of in order that when LAAD just isn’t there to assist them, they’ll conduct pressure safety on their very own with weapons which are natural to the infantry battalion.”
Throughout this coaching, Marines have been examined on their potential to shoot, transfer, and talk in a counter-UAS state of affairs whereas straight participating single-person operated drones with direct fireplace weapons, comparable to shotguns, machine weapons, and rifles, whereas conducting patrols and occupying defensive positions. The Marines have been offered with three totally different situations. After a drone was detected within the subject of fireside from an unknown location, the Marines have been required to course of studies for monitoring the drone, take up their designated firing positions, and have interaction with the drone till it was destroyed or the course of fireside was accomplished.
The Marines credit score their success to the planning and rehearsals they acquired main as much as the live-fire portion of the coaching. Earlier than the live-fire portion of the coaching occasion, the Marines spent a number of days conducting sand-table workouts and immediate-action drills, familiarizing themselves with the vary’s terrain and conducting dry-fire rehearsals to construct their confidence earlier than firing stay ammunition. Small-unit leaders have been tasked with making certain their Marines have been totally ready to place their coaching into apply and conduct their counter-UAS mission.
“The proliferation of UAS employment in trendy battle necessitates our Marines to shoot, transfer, and talk in a UAS-dominant atmosphere,” mentioned Lt. Col. Bradley Creedon, commanding officer of 2nd LAAD Battalion and a local of Albuquerque, New Mexico. “In the present day’s coaching offers us the chance to place our CUAS techniques, methods, and procedures to the check and construct the arrogance of our Marines in conducting CUAS gunnery.”
