U.S. Marines assigned to Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, utilize smoke to conceal their movement while crossing an open area during a non-combatant evacuation operation exercise, as part of Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 2-21, at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., April 16, 2021. The WTI course is a seven-week training event hosted by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One, providing standardized advanced tactical training and certification of unit instructor qualifications to support Marine aviation training and readiness, and assist in developing and employing aviation weapons and tactics. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Patrick Katz)
Last week, we reported on a military exercise taking place on the Twentynine Palms Marine base, in which the Marines were training to “rescue” civilians out of a foreign country. Managing editor Tami Roleff has more information about the non-combatant evacuation operation…
“Basically we are told this country, they need help, and they have a lot of US citizens that they need to evacuate. So it’s our job to basically come here, secure this landing zone, without being harassed by protesters. And it’s our job to basically ensure that all Americans get evacuated.”
SSgt Damian Salaman said Marines are sent in to help with evacuations overseas for a variety of reasons: including civil unrest, military uprisings, environmental concerns, and natural disasters. The evacuations are recommended (or ordered) by the Department of State, and the Defense Department sends in the Marines. The NEO training was part of Weapons and Tactics Instructors course at the Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, and the Integrated Training Exercise 3-21.
U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Jacob Parker, a rifleman, assigned to Echo Company, to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, posts security during a non-combatant evacuation operation exercise, as part of Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 2-21, at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, in Twentynine Palms, Calif., April 16, 2021. The WTI course is a seven-week training event hosted by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One, providing standardized advanced tactical training and certification of unit instructor qualifications to support Marine aviation training and readiness, and assist in developing and employing aviation weapons and tactics. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Patrick Katz)
U.S. Marines assigned to Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, utilize smoke to conceal their movement while crossing an open area during a non-combatant evacuation operation exercise, as part of Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 2-21, at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., April 16, 2021. The WTI course is a seven-week training event hosted by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One, providing standardized advanced tactical training and certification of unit instructor qualifications to support Marine aviation training and readiness, and assist in developing and employing aviation weapons and tactics. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Patrick Katz)
