Author: SgtGrit

#MARINE OF THE WEEK // UP AGAINST AN ENEMY PLATOON

Staff Sgt. Nathan Hervey
Scout sniper section leader, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines
Helmand Province, Afghanistan
May 21, 2011
Award: Bronze Star w/ Combat “V”
After establishing an overwatch position in support of an interdiction of enemy forces in the area, then-Sergeant Hervey directed his Marines to engage with precision and machinegun fires as insurgents attempted to occupy a position to ambush a Marine squad. As the engagement continued, the enemy reinforced with heavy machine guns, recoilless rifles and rocket propelled grenades. Seeing the adjacent Marines’ situation deteriorating, Sergeant Hervey began moving his snipers north, personally sweeping for explosive devices, and attempting to establish an attack by fire position as Marine reinforcements arrived. As he continued to move, enemy forces began engaging with automatic grenade launcher fire while he discovered an explosive device in his path. With the insurgents now in platoon strength, the sniper section began prosecuting multiple targets despite intense enemy fire in order to protect an isolated and exposed adjacent unit that had struck an improvised explosive device. As the enemy began reinforcing, Sergeant Hervey coordinated with his company headquarters to provide the critical guidance for multiple aerial and indirect fire strikes that destroyed the enemy’s heavy weapons and forced the insurgents’ withdrawal. read more

The Marine Corps’ Assault Breacher Vehicle made history last year when it conducted its first amphibious landing with a Modified Full Width Mine Plow prototype during a long-range breaching exercise in the western United States.

In December 2017, Marine Corps Systems Command used Exercise Steel Knight as an opportunity to test the Modified Full Width Mine Plow prototype for the first time. Steel Knight is a division-level exercise designed to enhance command and control, and interoperability with the 1st Marine Division, its adjacent units and naval support forces. read more

“A Nation’s Call” is the latest commercial released under Marine Corps Recruiting Command’s “Battles Won” advertising campaign. It showcases the full power of the United States Marine Corps conducting an assault mission.

The commercial opens with Marines loading onto helicopters before they take off from aircraft carriers in the ocean as stirring music plays in the background. The helicopters, along with amphibious assault vehicles and other aircraft, move from ship to shore, carrying Marines toward a fight in an urban area. For a brief moment, the viewer is taken inside of an MV-22 Osprey, the Marine Corps’ assault support aircraft, and sees Marines ready for battle. The camera moves toward the rear of the aircraft where a Marine, her hair blowing in the wind, is seen making ready a heavy machine gun. That battle-ready Marine is 21-year-old Karissa Tanguay-Jones, a native of Colorado Springs, Colorado. read more

#MARINE OF THE WEEK // “We had to buckle down. There was no time to dwell.”

Sgt. Ken Rick
1st Battalion, 7th Marines
Afghanistan, June 22-23, 2012
Award: Silver Star

After the completion of an air assault into an Afghan village, then-Sgt. Ken Rick (now a Staff Sgt.) and his squad were attacked from multiple positions by high volumes of medium machinegun and indirect fire. Rick subjected himself to the enemy fire four times to employ his M4 carbine and M203 grenade launcher accurately while directing his squad’s maneuver. By his leadership, Rick’s squad served the enemy with devastating firepower and forced their immediate withdrawal. Later that day, with complete disregard for his own safety, Rick forfeited cover and ran out of their patrol base, covering 200 meters of open ground to lead a security team and recover a mortally wounded Marine. Though enemy rounds impacted within feet of his position as the security team maneuvered to the patrol base, Rick calmly directed his squad’s fires. He remained outside the patrol base, suppressing the enemy until all of his Marines were safely inside. The following day, Rick again led his squad in countering a complex ambush. The precision fire he employed from his grenade launcher destroyed two enemy fighters and oriented close air support aircraft onto their targets, ultimately leading to the destruction of the enemy.  read more

MARINE OF THE WEEK // RAIDER LEADER:

Master Sgt. Aaron Torian
2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion
Afghanistan, Jan. 29, 2014
Award: Bronze Star Medal w/ Combat “V”

During a combat operation in Afghanistan, Master Sgt. Torian’s unit came under heavy machine gun and underslung grenade-launcher fire. Maneuvering across open terrain, Torian exposed himself to enemy fire in order to establish better satellite communications and observe the enemy’s maneuvers. He then effectively coordinated multiple rotary-wing close air support missions with rockets, guns, and a hellfire missile. Two weeks later, he was killed in action. “What I admire most about Aaron was his relentless, competitive spirit; unrivaled work capacity and zest for life, family and friends,” said Charlie Goodyear, a long-time friend. “All these things made him an incredible Marine, friend, husband, and father to his family.” read more

One Marine was killed and another taken into custody after a fight broke out at Camp Pendleton’s School of Infantry on Tuesday, according to a Marine official.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the Marine was fatally stabbed.

“An NCIS [Naval Criminal Investigative Service] investigation has been opened, and is currently ongoing,” Marine Capt. Joshua Pena, a spokesman for the Corps’ Virginia-based Training and Education Command, told Marine Corps Times Tuesday. read more