USMC Special Operations Training Group (SOTG)
SOTG-supervised
CQB training. Marine tosses stun grenade into
room prior to entry.
SOTG:
the training force behind 'Special Operations Capable'
LCpl. Travis A. Gannon
Marine Corps Base
Special Operations Training Group
trains two Marine Expeditionary Units and the security
element from the 31st MEU every year to certify the
MEUs as Special Operations Capable. Their courses
range from specialized demolitions and close-quarters
battle to vehicle assault and assault climbing. Collectively,
these courses piece parts of the force together, said
GySgt. Terry Langdon, SOTG. Each specialized course
trains a specified number of Marines, assuring units
have Marines trained for specialties they may need.
Upon completion of these workups, the MEU becomes
SOC-certified and is ready to deploy. The finale to
the workups is an exercise with the entire MEU, Langdon
said. They come together after being trained as individual
units and put all the puzzle pieces together. SOTG
evaluates how well they perform and interact in a
full-scale exercise. To be an instructor with SOTG,
a Marine must have been in a direct-action platoon
with a force reconnaissance company, Langdon said.
All instructors must be sergeants or above. Most instructors
teach two or three different courses.
The instructors'
greatest challenge is maintaining focus and keen evaluation
in getting students up to speed, Langdon said. The
instructor-to-student ratio is 1 to 5, Langdon said.
"They have a lot to teach in a short amount of
time. They're teaching some dangerous stuff; their
head has to be in the game at all times." The
courses are also tough for students, he said. "Usually,
if a student is trying and doing what he is told,
he won't be dropped. But some people can't make it
and have to be dropped from the course." All
courses must be taught to certify the MEU; they build
off each other, Langdon said. Students are held to
a high standard. "They crawl at first,"
he said, referring to students' progression through
the workups. "But by the end, they are up and
running."
Photo: SOTG
in Greenland
Article: 13th
MEU raiders clear first training hurdle
Article: SOTG:
Teachers of Marines
Article: Close
Quarters Battle training
Article: 24th
MEU Training
Article: More
than Capable - 31st MEU
"Flash-Bang"
stun grenade detonates.
