NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY NORTHWEST ANNEX, Chesapeake, Va. -- NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY NORTHWEST ANNEX, Chesapeake, Va. – Students who attended the Close Quarters Battle Course 2-17 were able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, as they transitioned into the Operation’s Phase, the culminating 24-hour exercise, from May 31 to June I, after completing the rigorous seven-week training, aboard NSA Northwest Annex, Chesapeake, Va
This course was held for infantry Marines and provides them the techniques and tactics required to defeat a threat when breached, or prevent access, damage or removal of vital assets from a secured facility. Students attending the course become skilled in the employment of the M9 pistol and M4 service rifle and learn the ins and outs of interior tactics. In order to graduate, they are required to be physically and mentally capable of enduring the stresses of close-quarter combat.
According to Staff Sgt. Joseph Pistone, lead instructor, CQB 2-17, Training Co., U.S. Marine Corps Security Force Regiment, Operations Phase is the culminating event that encapsulates all of the critical skills students have learned throughout CQB and tests their ability to demonstrate those skills through realistic scenarios.
Throughout the seven-week period, CQB students are taught advanced marksmanship, low-light engagement, breaching, coordinated entries, clearing enclosure such as L-shaped rooms, constricted spaces and hallways, occupancy control, advanced clearing, and securing objectives. The instructors stress the importance of these teachings to excel during the final exercise.
The CQB 2-17 class began with approximately 30 Marines. As the students gathered to begin their final exercise, only nine Marines remained.
“Seeing what we’ve been trained to do and putting it into action with realistic situations really allows us the opportunity to think on our feet and apply the techniques the best we can in situations as close to close-quarters battle setting. This either really boosts our confidence, or adversely, opens our eyes on things to improve upon so we don’t make mistakes in real life,” said Sgt. Samuel Alvey, CQB student, MCSFR.
Operations Phase begins with the students on post in their reaction force facility awaiting an alarm to sound, and will then respond to a chain of security alerts. Students receive normal meals; breakfast, lunch and dinner, but sleep is taken at their discretion. Students have full control of the organization of their team, as long as they’re on the alert, ready for the next call.
“[Operations Phase] replicates the Marines being on the Recapture Tactics Team back at their battalions. The students are vigilant while on post waiting for security threats to arise. These security alerts range from show of force patrols, active shooter insider threat, assets under attack and full profile recapture scenarios,” said Pistone.
After each scenario, instructors actively engaged the students for an evaluation on proficiencies and deficiencies to point out errors and discuss more successful avenues of approach. Additionally, instructors give the students proper recognition of productivity.
“During this phase, we (instructors) see a lot of mistakes that are a direct result of the use of force-on-force scenarios. Force-on-force adds a completely different dynamic to clearing operations so when faced with a living, thinking and capable fighting force, it really changes the attitude of the assault,” said Pistone. “We see the mindset shift once the first round gets fired in their direction. This can be dangerous but through repetition and properly executed tactics, these issues will slowly fix themselves.”
Pistone explained that these skills are perishable and if Marines do not take it upon themselves to do outside research and run progression training, the seven weeks of training will have gone to waste. Marines will not have an actual mission to respond to 99% of the time, but that 1% chance does exist.
This course had a very unique ending. The assets the students had to recapture and protect during this exercise were their graduation shirts. Upon the successful acquisition of their “assets” during their last scenario, the realization that they had successfully completed CQB sunk in.
“Because of the importance of our jobs as CQB instructors, we dedicate these weeks of intense training for that one percent chance. Some would say that if it’s only one percent, then why train so much? To that I say it’s because it’s the only 1% of their entire lives that these Marines cannot mess up,” said Pistone.
The nine Marines that completed this course became 8154s, Marine Corps Security Force Close Quarters Battle Team Members, and will return to their units with the skills and knowledge they’ve gained during this training and apply it to their daily teachings for their Marines.