Special ops require jacks-of-all trades

On a typical Marine deployment, the communications portion of a unit has numerous Marines trained in different types of communications: data network specialists, field radio operators, radio technicians and more.

But when a Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command communicator deploys, he may be the only one on the team trained in communications.

To better train and equip those MarSOC communicators, the unit has created an intensive 10-week course combining skills and equipment from a variety of jobs.

During the 451-hour MarSOC network operators course (MNOC), Marines are tested after each training block, leading up to a final field evaluation in which they are evaluated on everything they've learned and all equipment in the MarSOC inventory, said Master Sgt. Ron Homes, MarSOC communications operations chief and MNOC staff noncommissioned officer in charge.

"The MarSOC communicator is required to become an expert on every piece of (communications) gear organic to MarSOC," Holmes said.

But no training combining data and radio communication existed previously in the Marine Corps.

"This course is the start of us validating the quality communicator that we send forward deployed," he said.

The first class of 21 Marines graduated in January. The second class - which included two sailors and an airman - graduated Thursday.

Opening the course up to students from other services gives MarSOC validation for their training, Holmes said, but also gives communicators from other services "a better understanding of what MarSOC is capable of in the communications world."

Sgt. Marc Garcia of Marine Special Operations Advisory Group was the winner of the recent class's communications leadership award. He called the course "the best training I've ever received in the Marine Corps."

Everything in the course is meant to be a surprise, Garcia said, so the students learn on the fly. Students are tested on land navigation, communication planning, radio procedures and other communications-related knowledge and skills.

"It's an amazing preparation for a communications operator for MarSOC," he said. "I can't imagine being out there without this training."

Cpl. Mathew Drayer, with the Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based Marine Special Operations Support Group-Detachment West, was the class honor graduate.

Drayer is trained as a radio technician but said operating the radio - usually the job of a field radio operator - was a "completely new experience."

During the course, instructors were constantly changing the situation to see how the students would react and peform under the added pressure, he said.

"These guys know what MarSOC needs," he said. "They've been there, doing this."

Petty Officer 1st Class Ennis Rios was one of the two sailors in the class. Rios is stationed in Coronado, Calif., with Naval Special Warfare Group 1, Mobile Communications Team.

For Rios, the course taught not only how to use the equipment, but also how Marines operate. That will be helpful in the field, he said, when service members may work together on missions.

"The way it's taught and the way they employ it in the field during training is way different," Rios said. "Learning it here was pretty awesome."

The course will eventually become a requirement for MarSOC communicators, Garcia said, but he was happy to be able to participate in one of the first classes.

"It's an honor and privilege to be here in one of the beginning classes that's paving the way for the future," he said.

Contact interactive content editor Jennifer Hlad at jhlad@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8467. Visit www.jdnews.com to comment on this report.