Making a more cunning Marine
By: MARK WALKER - Staff Writer
New program teaches troops how to be the hunter and not the prey | ∞
CAMP PENDLETON -- Great hunters have an uncanny ability to spot what's out of place and where a target is hiding. View a Video
In a new program at Camp Pendleton, infantry Marines who will lead rifle patrols in urban environments in Iraq are learning the skills to keep them from being the prey.
"We think we are being hunted out there on the battlefield and we want our Marines to be the hunters," said Col. Clarke Lethin, chief of staff of the 40,000-strong I Marine Expeditionary Force. "A Marine that is confident can make better moral and ethical decisions in the irregular warfare that we face, and those going through this program will never look at the world the same."
One of those Marines gaining that new level of confidence is Sgt. Adam Bosley, who heads out later this year for his third tour of duty in Iraq.
On Thursday, he was one of more than three dozen Marines taking part in a new "Combat Hunter" exercise to arm him with the skills necessary to make what one commander called a "more tactically cunning Marine."
The training taking place at a newly opened mock Iraqi village. It employs big game trackers, former police officers and a former Iraqi army special operations soldier to teach Marines the latest techniques in identifying potential enemies mixed into an urban civilian population.
Bosley said that when he leaves for Iraq in September, he and his troops should be less likely to fall victim to a sniper's bullet.
"It's some of the best training I've ever received," said Bosley, an infantry squad leader, moments after reviewing a scenario involving a sniper attack. "Instead of just looking at everybody as a threat, this gives us a better way of looking at a situation, evaluating possible threats and taking steps to neutralize the threat."
The Marines had observed the interaction of Iraqi role players from camouflaged positions several hundred yards away.
As three men portraying Iraqi police officers walked through the village and mingled with civilians, a shot rang out and one of the "officers" was hit.
The watching Marines' job was to identify as many of the 29 possible anomalies included in the scenario that led up to the assassination as they could, including spotting the sniper and determining whether other insurgents were among the people on the streets.
The scenario was one of 15 the Marines will encounter during the training, all with the goal of enhancing their ability to sense all the possible threats.
An outgrowth of a seed planted by Gen. James Mattis during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the Combat Hunter program was developed by the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab. The Marines going through the training this week are among the first to get the full experience.
Thursday's lead instructor was Greg Williams, a blunt-talking former police officer.
"Being more observant means you die less," he said. "This training works from Kansas to Kandahar."
Williams repeatedly stressed that a Marine's most important weapon isn't raw firepower but rather brains and eyes. The skills being taught will work in Iraq, Afghanistan or any other trouble spot where troops might find themselves, he said.
As he conducted a debriefing of the exercise with the Marines, Williams said a key part of their job was to think like the enemy while exercising cunning, patience and planning in dealing with a threat.
He also walked the Marines through the proper action to take after spotting a possible insurgent or anything else that may look out of place.
If someone represents an immediate threat, such as aiming a weapon, the Marines have the authority to shoot on sight. If a person is just carrying a weapon, a common sight in Afghanistan and Iraq, there is no authority to shoot.
"We never do trigger time unless we do brain time first," Williams said.
While the goal is to train as many Marines as possible in the Combat Hunter techniques, the reality is that only a few hundred can take part per month. With that in mind, the Marine Corps has designated rifle team leaders such as Bosley to get the training, which they can then impart to their men.
The Marine Corps also has placed former police officers in every infantry battalion to enhance the environmental awareness training, Lethin said.
By giving the troops more training in cultural awareness as well as spotting potential trouble before it happens, commanders said the training could also pay off in fewer civilian casualties.
"We want them to have a laser beam focus on their surroundings," said Col. Fred Padilla, commanding officer of Camp Pendleton's School of Infantry. "We're not just teaching profiling or tracking, we're teaching how to be much more tactically aware. By doing so, Marines are able to make much better decisions."
Williams was more direct on why the training is necessary: "This isn't 'Dancing with the Stars'," he said in reference to the popular reality TV show. "It's combat and it's hunting."
-- Contact staff writer Mark Walker at (760) 740-3529 or mlwalker@nctimes.com.
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Chris wrote on Feb 29, 2008 11:05 AM:Seeing as how our military made such a bloody mess out of Iraq I don't need to see these Marines playing war on the front page of my newspaper. Let's just bring them home instead of showing them how much better they can shed more Iraqi blood. Enough of tooting the horn for the Marine Corps.
real american wrote on Feb 29, 2008 11:30 AM:people like you don't have the right to breath american air.you'... who hides behind our brave marines and talk crap about thier service. put up or shut up ... god help us IF the day comes and liberal ... like you are in charge of this county for which i love and served. so if you don't like reading about our young DEVILDOGS look me up in Oceanside CA ,and i'll teach you some respect for MARINES and AMERICA . to our MARINES keep up the good work ...SEMPER FI. MSGT. R.GOMEZ (RET)
Chris wrote on Feb 29, 2008 12:04 PM:Yes just imagine what would happen if Liberals like me took over. There would still be wars in other parts of the world but it wouldn't affect us. We would have a balanced budget. So basically we could live in peace and prosperity. Now of course people like you would have to get a real job instead of going around the world and sticking your nose into other peoples affairs wich has done nothing but run us into bankruptsy and bring forth many enemies so that you would have an excuse to go after them.
AW4cryinoutloud wrote on Feb 29, 2008 12:07 PM:I'd like to add that a Marine who had been trained to do what this course teaches, and beyond, now serves 15 years for doing what he was ordered to do; lawfully, according to the UCMJ, according to 'Warfighting' by General Krulak. If Blog Editor must verify my statement try 'Commander's Intent'. One sentence that could help clarify this article, might have been added. It can be verified through article titled "Combat Hunter, Developing Program Improving the Tracking & Surveillance Skill of the DO Squad". It can be found at ... The sentence, quote: "?Always the hunter, never the hunted.? That's the tagline for a new Marine Corps program, Combat Hunter, designed to teach Marines how to better observe, communicate, and act in their effort to ?find, fix, and finish? the enemy." The operative word;"FINISH". The upper echelon of the military seems to have forgotten that they themselves have trained those below them in rank to fight a war to win it, Not police it. They bear responsibility for whatever a junior commander faces and the outcome of it. That's why they call them Leaders! To verify, read 'Warfighting' by General C. Krulak.
Chris wrote on Feb 29, 2008 12:53 PM:Let's see. We go into a country that has done nothing to us and never was a threat to us. We go in a kill or cause to be killed hundreds of thousands of people who did nothing to us and now we call them the ENEMY. Why are they the ememy. Because we say so. So as I said let's bring the troops home, they have done enough damage. By the way as I write this hundereds of Iraqis are protesting our raids into their neighborhood. One resident said “We condemn the US forces’ acts, they raided houses at midnight, exploding doors of houses and roofs. Houses of peaceful families. They raided them for the sake of nothing, arresting women. They are believers in democracy as they say, so why did they do this?” Let's bring the troops home and put people like R. Gomez out of a job.
AW4cryinoutloud wrote on Feb 29, 2008 1:02 PM:To Chris: OMG! There will be wars in other parts of the world but they won't affect us if liberals like you take over? Uh Oh! Can you verify that? Are you sure it's not libelous? Where's the PROOF Chris? I'll wait. No! I won't. That one's going to take too much time and none of us are IMMORTAL!
To Chris wrote on Feb 29, 2008 1:25 PM:Chris, I would first like to say that if it weren't for the US Marines and our sister services you would not enjoy the freedom of speech you have today. With that being said, this country regardless of who is in charge will always need the capability to protect itself at a moments notice, and who does the Nation always call on first? The US Marines. Voice your opinions cautiously for one day you may just regret them when you are personally effected by the loss of a friend or love one at the hands of some extremist that regardless of or political leaders hates us for our religion and what the US stands for. Semper Fi. Long live the Marine to protect the rights of ignorant people like you!
Bewildered wrote on Feb 29, 2008 4:16 PM:In response to Chris, I have to assume that he has not had the opportunity to serve his country. I was only a child during WWII and had six uncles serve and two died fighting for our freedom. I have a brother who served in the USAF and a son who served in the USMC during the Iranian hostage taking. This war is different. There are no dividing lines between us and the enemy. They walk among our fighting men and women dressed as civilians. If the DOD and all commanding generals on down stopped being politically correct and supported the troops whom they have taught to kill put down their pencils and lofy ideas and donned the fighting gear and walked alonside our Marines and other services in Iraq, they surely will understand the Rules of Engagement when someone is aiming a gun at them. This is war. The insurgents certainly aren't court martialing any of theirs for killing our troops! They don't have to look around and figure who the GI's are. They are right, front and center! By the way, whatever happened to Blackwater? Not one of theirs has been tried for killing Iraqi's or sitting in jail like our Marines How come you don't see the press following up on that! Doesn't that say volumes.
To all Marines..my love and Semper Fi
Chris to to Chris wrote on Feb 29, 2008 4:17 PM:There you go again with this fiction about the military protecting my freedom of speech. You have seen enough of my blogs to know that is pure bunk. You can't name me one military adventure that had anything to do with my freedom of speech so why do you keep bringing this ridiculous nonsense up. The deployments of our military has allways been done in order for the U.S. to project its empire and never for protecting my speech or protecting our country.
Chris to AW4cryinoutloud wrote on Feb 29, 2008 4:24 PM:Just name me one instance in our history, other than the American revolution, where this country had to use the military to defend itself. Now I will admit that WW11 was a case where we had to answer an attack on us but eventhen our country was not in danger of being invaded and conquered. Just name one. Even the attacks on us in 9-11 were caused by a handfull of angry people who were angry at our adventures into their country. If we had not set up bases in Saudi Arabia 9-11 would not have happened.
Chris to Bewildered wrote on Feb 29, 2008 4:31 PM:The so-called enemy, called that because we decided to call them that, would not be walking among our fighting men and women dressed as civilians if our men and women weren't over in their country, would they. Why would the insurgents court martial any of theirs for killing American troops. After all they are fighting American troops who are occupying THEIR country. So like it or not the insurgents have every right to do what they are doing.
AW4cryinoutloud wrote on Feb 29, 2008 4:47 PM:Your priorities are misplaced. You are spitting the venom you feel against the government toward our military. Why aren't you spitting at those who "send" the troops to battle? Why aren't you spitting at the those who "make" the rules yet can't seem to live by them? If we had no military do you think the Japanese, Germans or Russians, etc, would have assured your freedom of speech, regardless of how obnoxious it may be? Do you really believe that any Jihadist will assure your freedom of speech if it opposes their beliefs? You have a vast knowledge of history. You should spend less time trying to create your own version. Those who have the guts to serve this country and put themselves in harm's way for it, do so because they want their loved ones to live FREELY in the greatest country in the world. Being protected, living freely, gives you the ability, the right, to speak freely. How dense can you be? Oh! Don't forget to wear blue on fridays to show support for those who DO assure you freedom of speech. AW4.
Bewildered wrote on Feb 29, 2008 5:42 PM:Chris: Me thinks that AW4 gives you too much credit for your "vast knowledge" of history. The military does not make war. Our President and the Congress are the ones who delcare war then send our military (our sons and daughters) to do the dirty work. You write that during WWII we were not in danger of being invaded. Surprise, there were enemy subs off the coast of California and the eastern seaboard. If we had not finished them off, you could very well be speaking German and eating sauerkraut. Be grateful that you live in this country where you can share your opinion even though most of us don't agree with it.
Kathi wrote on Feb 29, 2008 6:09 PM:To Bewildered..
Thank You.. What you wrote and the story you told was beautiful. You caught my attention, and I'm sure many others.
Keep up the Good Work!
With all that I am...
Kathi ...
P.S. Look on YouTube for him if you would like. Thanks again for your comments.
With all that I am,
Kathi ...
Hunters- wrote on Feb 29, 2008 7:21 PM: I talked to a bunch of REAL HUNTERS up in Michigan and they said they would kick --- and do what the Marines can,t do! In fact they said that this war would be over a long time ago if all the REAL hunters from Michigan went over to IRAQ. I am not a hunter and not from Michigan. Funny thing , none of the "HUNTERS" were ever in the military. But in the beginning of this ARTICLE-first sentence explains how much better hunters are than the untrained oridinary infantry Marine! I think calling the Marines "Combat Hunters" leaves a bad connotion.
Marine Mom wrote on Feb 29, 2008 7:37 PM:We still have a voluntary military and if you dont like what is going on then volunteer. Serving our country IS a real job. The most HONORABLE there is. As for Iraqis protesting our troops being there....is this your personal knowledge? Have you been to Iraq? My son has a he told me "Mom you would not believe how thankful and appreciative they are that we are there." I think, enough said.
The Few , The Proud wrote on Feb 29, 2008 7:38 PM:Now we can call them the Combat Hunters! "Cunning Combat Hunters"! Join the US Marines the "Cunning Combat Hunters"! Trained by big game hunters for urban combat. And this training will enhance the moral and ethical decision process in urban battle. I guess the house to house fighting in WWII through Italy, France Germany taught us nothing, now we need the big game hunters to show us how. Just level the place with a B-52 bomber and get out of Iraq! I know it is not for the oil? And, if we dont win the War, they will follow us home! Go Devil Dogs, but watch out NCIS!
Chris to Bewildered wrote on Feb 29, 2008 7:49 PM:Let's see. So a handfull of submarines were going to be able to conquer this contry. Great thinking. Now I realize that the military does what it is ordered to do by the criminals in Washington. However the conduct of the war is determined by the members of the military. It was bad enough that we invaded Iraq but the conduct of the military in many cases is nothing less than Criminal. The violation of the Geneva conventions by taking out the civilian infrastructure, the bombing and use of cruse missles in a heavily populated city, the looting and vandalism carried out by some of the military, the attack on the Palistine hotel and Al-Jazera, torture, lying only to name a few. But the main thing I have beside the military doing the work of the devil is their unending attempt to fool the people that they are doing the lord's work and like real American above comming out here and telling us that without them we are doomed.
Featured Photo wrote on Feb 29, 2008 7:56 PM:How cunning are they ? Look at the photo. A policeman has just been shot by a sniper and no one is taking cover or returning fire or trying to locate where the sniper is! Police training?
Chris to Marine Mom wrote on Feb 29, 2008 8:30 PM:There have been many polls and by a large majority the Iraqis want the U.S. to leave. As I write this now there are hundreds of sunnies outraged by the raids in their neighborhood. Why dosn't your son ask the over four million Iraqis, who lived in peace in their own houses before the invasion, that are refugees how they love what we have done. Or how about the Iraqis who are disfigured or have had family members killed or disfigured how they love Americans. How about the Iraqis that don't have clean water or electricity. I am sure they love the U.S. military.
Mom of A Marine wrote on Feb 29, 2008 9:33 PM:Oh..boy....Sounds like TIGMOTHER has come around with a few more names....I'm not wasting my energy here. The Marines are the best trained US military force. Further training won't hurt anything. All that is needed to win this war is to let the Marines do their jobs without the threat of prosecution....and to stop paying reparations to insurgents "so called family members" getting killed. Civilians should get the hell out of the way....And if the insurgents hide behind them...That's on them (the insurgents). There are obvoiously more ... on here that think they know what they are talking about. Have any of you ... had a snipers bullet fly by your head. Have any of you been IED'd...I think we all know the answer. 'Nuff said...
Chris wrote on Feb 29, 2008 10:02 PM:Again if the Marines hadn't INVADED someone els's country they wouldn't have to worry about IEDs or snipers. I realize that it was our president that sent them over there but the point is don't start looking at the Iraqis as this enemy. They have done nothing and are completely innocent. At least they are in their own country wich is more than I can say for our military.
Mr Chris wrote on Feb 29, 2008 10:07 PM:I would say they want us to leave them alone. We can not even secure our own borders. And, one in one hundred people are in prision or jail in this country! We have big problems in our own country. Look up what Retired Marine Anthony Zinnie has to say about Iraq. And to mom, sure you are proud, but many in Iraq would just as quickly blow your son up with a road side bomb!
Chris wrote on Feb 29, 2008 10:08 PM:I just love how Mom of a Marine says for the civilians to just get out of the way. How are they to know that when they go to bed that our flyboys are going to drop a bomb on them. Or when they are going down the street there will be an incident that they are in the middle of and can't get to safety quick enough. Of course the reality is that these military supporter don't care how many innocent civilians get it. For them it's just onward and upward.
Dennis wrote on Feb 29, 2008 11:09 PM:Chris, I guess you haven't seen all the news stories about how the military is helping build schools, water plants, and power plants. Oh wait that wouldn't make good news, not enough blood and guts to get the viewers to tune in. Until you go over their a see for yourself, or personally talk to the soldiers that been over there you only know what the mainstream media tells you. I have 3 friends over there now, and many more that have gone and come back. Almost all of them agree the media is not showing the good things that are happening over there.
AW4cryinoutloud wrote on Feb 29, 2008 11:28 PM:To Chris: Guess I forgot to put 'To Chris' at 4:47PM. The comments were meant for you. Not that hard to figure out though. I'm fascinated at the way you ask me to name one instance where our military had to defend itself and then you name one for me and ask me to ignore that one. Here's one (actually number two): Mexican-American War. Mexico against annexation, POTUS positioned U.S. forces near their border, and "they" attacked our forces. Here's another one (actually number three): Spanish-American War; the USS Maine entered waters of Havana Cuba in case we had to rescue Americans. The USS Maine was blown up. I think that qualifies as an attack on us. 'Bewildered' is correct about 2 things. 1. I gave you too much credit for your knowledge of history. It must have been another Chris. 2. Your mocking comment to her that she might believe a couple of subs were going to conquer this country. How uneducated can you be? Those subs had the capability to NUKE us. What did you think they were going to do, shoot BB's? Uh Oh! I just read your last sentence where you accuse the military of doing the work of the devil??? SEEK HELP! ...
Chris to AW4 cryingoutloud wrote on Mar 1, 2008 9:16 AM:First of all in the Mexican American war our military was trespassing on Mexican territory and not only that but they were building a fort on the Rio Grand. The Mexicans warned our military to leave but they wouldn't so the Mexicans attacked out troops. The Maine was not attacked but was blown up because of spontanious combustion in the coal bin. I suggest you do some research before you make statements.
Chris to AW4cryinoutloud wrote on Mar 1, 2008 11:47 AM:First of all in the Mexican American war our military was trespassing on Mexican territory and not only that but they were building a fort on the Rio Grand. The Mexicans warned our military to leave but they wouldn't so the Mexicans attacked out troops. The Maine was not attacked but was blown up because of spontanious combustion in the coal bin. I suggest you do some research before you make statements.
Chris to Dennis wrote on Mar 1, 2008 12:10 PM:How many schools have we built. Not many. It has been said that not much has actually been built. Now what we are building was destroyed by us so if I burn your house down and rebuild some of it will you be greatfull? Why after all this time why are the Iraqis limited to a few hours of electicity and hardly any fresh water. It is time to expand your horizons from Fox news and the photo ops in the paper.
To Chris wrote on Mar 1, 2008 12:36 PM:I do want to get into this lovely argument you guys are having because it is obvious nothing is going to change your mind Chris. Watch this trailer with an open mind and then let me know. This movie was not made by Americans and the majority of the people interviewed are not Americans. ...
War is not just going to disappear if we just keep are troops within our borders. I have spent the majority of my life living outside of the US and it always amuses me how countries are always asking for our help when we are not there. Saying it is our job as the worlds superpower to help them. Then when we go there and give them millions of dollars and help them and they hate us and say we are not doing enough and need to go back home. The world loves to hate us. The fact is we are not an organization like the UN that sits around and pretends things like genocide are not occurring. I could go on but I have argued with many people like you Chris and most of the time it is wasted air because you cant understand until your there, not getting your information from books and papers and the news, but there seeing it happen, and understanding the whole story.
To Chris wrote on Mar 1, 2008 2:41 PM:It wont post my link but google obsession the movie
Chris to to Chris wrote on Mar 1, 2008 3:22 PM:I have put out many many bloggs and explained everything to you and others. In short the U.S. is the main reason for world unrest and many wars that we think have nothing to do with us do. I just am not going to go over everything with you again. You criticize people who get information from books. You don't know what is going on by just BEING THERE because you don't know what is going on behind the scenes. But it is obvious that you and others are simply not going to blame the U.S. for anything and will just close your eyes and mind and keep trying to promote the fiction that we are the innocent victims and are just trying to set all things right. Until you are willing to seriously question what you think you know and are willing to do as I do and put the blame on much of what goes on in the world at the feet of the perpetrator, the U.S. then you will never understand what is going on.
esteban wrote on Mar 1, 2008 4:20 PM:So Chris..you never answer my question that I have presented you in the past...If you hate the US so much, why would you stay here if it makes you so miserable???? What country meets your standards? You are just a gutless hate spewer and no one really takes you seriously. I say GO MARINES!!!! GET SOME OVER THERE!!!! and take Chris with you.
Asteroid wrote on Mar 1, 2008 10:12 PM:To Chris wrote on Mar 1, 2008 12:36 PM: Its obvious Chris has never lived or traveled outside his current zip code, but there are copious sources of opposing views that debunk the hateful spiteful trash he incessantly spews, but he doesn’t want to hear any of it. You’re correct; arguing with someone like Chris is a waste of time, and that’s an understatement. But thanks for the tip about the movie Obsession, I’ll check it out.
AW4cryinoutloud wrote on Mar 3, 2008 11:29 PM:To Chris: I was at Camp Pendleton over the weekend and missed your usual. Frankly, I could care less what America was doing at the Mexican border. You asked me to name you one instance where we had to use the military to defend ourselves. WWII, American-Mexican war, and USS Maine. We did not attack Mexico; they attacked us. As for the Maine, I suggest YOU go back and re-read the history of it. We thought it was destroyed by a mine underneath set by Cuba. "Later" they thought it may have been caused by an explosion in the coal bin. All of these years later NO one has been able to prove exactly what caused it for sure. We thought we were attacked. We reacted. If you can't handle the answers to the questions, then don't ask them! You should tell "whole" story Chris, not just the part that suits your agenda. You remind me of the prosecution and NCIS; Never any proof, but a neverending amount of inuendo.
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