1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,750 (dramatic music) 2 00:00:26,547 --> 00:00:28,491 - [Narrator] Marine Corps Center of Detachment, 3 00:00:28,491 --> 00:00:31,874 Fort Sill, Oklahoma, develops the training continuum 4 00:00:31,874 --> 00:00:34,984 for artillery occupational field 0800, 5 00:00:34,984 --> 00:00:38,401 and military occupational specialty 2887. 6 00:00:38,952 --> 00:00:40,744 The detachment serves as the focus 7 00:00:40,744 --> 00:00:42,616 of artillery training issues, 8 00:00:42,616 --> 00:00:45,187 validates training and education requirements, 9 00:00:45,187 --> 00:00:47,104 assists in the drafting of doctrine, 10 00:00:47,104 --> 00:00:50,021 tactics, techniques and procedures, 11 00:00:50,063 --> 00:00:52,462 as well as programs of instruction. 12 00:00:52,462 --> 00:00:55,686 It also provides subject matter experts and instructors 13 00:00:55,686 --> 00:00:59,038 to conduct entry-level training, sustainment training, 14 00:00:59,038 --> 00:01:01,126 and mentorship to artillery Marines 15 00:01:01,126 --> 00:01:04,543 and the U.S. Army field artillery school. 16 00:01:05,342 --> 00:01:07,702 The detachment provides entry-level training 17 00:01:07,702 --> 00:01:10,663 ^in the military occupational specialties of 18 00:01:10,663 --> 00:01:13,080 ^0802 Field Artillery Officer, 19 00:01:14,326 --> 00:01:17,076 ^0803 Target Acquisitions Officer, 20 00:01:18,350 --> 00:01:20,933 ^0811 Field Artillery Cannoneer, 21 00:01:22,318 --> 00:01:25,318 ^0842 Field Artillery Radar Operator, 22 00:01:26,886 --> 00:01:30,053 ^0844 Field Artillery Fire Control Man, 23 00:01:31,486 --> 00:01:34,819 ^0847 Field Artillery Sensor Support Man, 24 00:01:35,958 --> 00:01:38,958 ^0848 Field Artillery Operations Man, 25 00:01:40,374 --> 00:01:42,207 ^0861 Fire Support Man, 26 00:01:44,230 --> 00:01:47,730 ^and 2887 Artillery Electronics Technician. 27 00:01:49,999 --> 00:01:52,898 The detachment also provides career-level training 28 00:01:52,898 --> 00:01:56,962 via the Marine artillery operations chiefs course, 29 00:01:56,962 --> 00:02:00,129 the fire support center chiefs course, 30 00:02:00,466 --> 00:02:03,716 and the cannon crewman advanced course. 31 00:02:05,378 --> 00:02:07,972 Marine Detachment Fort Sill also serves as 32 00:02:07,972 --> 00:02:11,385 regional area command for Marine Corps representative 33 00:02:11,385 --> 00:02:14,736 technical training center, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, 34 00:02:14,736 --> 00:02:16,538 provides entry-level instruction for 35 00:02:16,538 --> 00:02:18,703 ^the military occupational specialty 36 00:02:18,703 --> 00:02:20,870 ^0613 Construction Wireman. 37 00:02:22,215 --> 00:02:24,458 Additionally, it provides instructors 38 00:02:24,458 --> 00:02:25,791 for interservice training in the 39 00:02:25,791 --> 00:02:27,919 cable antenna splicer course 40 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:30,586 and advanced switching networks. 41 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:33,700 Marine representative defense nuclear weapons school 42 00:02:33,700 --> 00:02:36,223 Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, 43 00:02:36,223 --> 00:02:38,943 provides nuclear weapons core competencies 44 00:02:38,943 --> 00:02:41,727 and response training for weapons of mass destruction 45 00:02:41,727 --> 00:02:44,974 and chemical, biological, radiological, 46 00:02:44,974 --> 00:02:47,758 and nuclear incidents to Department of Defense, 47 00:02:47,758 --> 00:02:49,479 national laboratories personnel, 48 00:02:49,479 --> 00:02:53,146 and other federal, state and local agencies. 49 00:02:57,399 --> 00:02:59,695 - I'm the Staff Sergeant William Edward Horton IV. 50 00:02:59,695 --> 00:03:01,534 - I'm Staff Sergeant Michael Clarke. 51 00:03:01,534 --> 00:03:02,854 - I'm Staff Sergeant Calvin Torres. 52 00:03:02,854 --> 00:03:04,974 - Captain Michael Jeffrey Wish. 53 00:03:04,974 --> 00:03:06,230 - I am a platoon sergeant. 54 00:03:06,230 --> 00:03:08,322 - I am currently serving as an 55 00:03:08,322 --> 00:03:09,716 enlisted gunnery school instructor 56 00:03:09,716 --> 00:03:11,913 for the Marine artillery operations chiefs course. 57 00:03:11,913 --> 00:03:12,798 - The Marine artillery electronics 58 00:03:12,798 --> 00:03:14,418 maintenance course instructor. 59 00:03:14,418 --> 00:03:16,398 - And I'm a gunnery instructor at the 60 00:03:16,398 --> 00:03:19,529 ^Marine artillery detachment aboard Fort Sill, Oklahoma. 61 00:03:19,529 --> 00:03:21,896 ^- The mission of the Marines awaiting training platoon 62 00:03:21,896 --> 00:03:25,936 ^is to transition the Marines from MCT and boot camp 63 00:03:25,936 --> 00:03:27,906 and start to get them ready for the fleet. 64 00:03:27,906 --> 00:03:30,224 So before they can even pick up their MOS school, 65 00:03:30,224 --> 00:03:32,776 we're training them both physically and mentally 66 00:03:32,776 --> 00:03:35,947 to prepare them for the rigors of their school. 67 00:03:35,947 --> 00:03:39,690 As far as the 0811 course, it's a basic cannoneer school. 68 00:03:39,690 --> 00:03:42,677 It's a five-week program of instruction. 69 00:03:42,677 --> 00:03:46,844 It consists of just your entry-level basic cannoneering. 70 00:03:47,385 --> 00:03:49,746 They start to learn their shell-fuse combinations, 71 00:03:49,746 --> 00:03:51,538 start to learn their weapons, 72 00:03:51,538 --> 00:03:55,705 as well as being physically fit for that specific MOS, 73 00:03:56,417 --> 00:03:58,473 because they have to actually pass an MOS-specific 74 00:03:58,473 --> 00:04:00,281 physical standards assessment, 75 00:04:00,281 --> 00:04:04,364 which that is 115-pound cling and press overhead, 76 00:04:04,449 --> 00:04:06,949 a mark 19 lift press overhead, 77 00:04:07,689 --> 00:04:11,856 the 5x155 millimeter projectile loading procedures, 78 00:04:12,619 --> 00:04:15,119 the 5x155 ammunition resupply, 79 00:04:16,713 --> 00:04:18,796 and a 25-yard dummy drag. 80 00:04:20,977 --> 00:04:23,897 Our expectations with our Marines upon graduation, 81 00:04:23,897 --> 00:04:26,249 wherever it is that they're going to serve, 82 00:04:26,249 --> 00:04:28,209 we want to see them exceed. 83 00:04:28,209 --> 00:04:31,705 They can't just be a basic, mediocre Marine. 84 00:04:31,705 --> 00:04:33,305 They have to be that better person, 85 00:04:33,305 --> 00:04:36,244 they have to actually get out there to support the fight. 86 00:04:36,244 --> 00:04:38,049 Whether it be cannoneering, 87 00:04:38,049 --> 00:04:39,996 whether it be fire direction control, 88 00:04:39,996 --> 00:04:41,729 whether it be scout observing. 89 00:04:41,729 --> 00:04:44,432 The fleet needs some Marines here from the school house. 90 00:04:44,432 --> 00:04:47,873 They have to get out there and support that main effort, 91 00:04:47,873 --> 00:04:49,729 and our main effort is obviously to support 92 00:04:49,729 --> 00:04:53,370 all of our Marines down range and keep them safe. 93 00:04:53,370 --> 00:04:55,787 We're not only artillery men. 94 00:04:55,985 --> 00:04:58,474 When the mission changes, we get down there, 95 00:04:58,474 --> 00:04:59,745 we get in the front lines. 96 00:04:59,745 --> 00:05:02,113 We can do the provisional infantry missions. 97 00:05:02,113 --> 00:05:03,761 We can do the civil affairs missions. 98 00:05:03,761 --> 00:05:06,225 We can do the EOD route clearance missions. 99 00:05:06,225 --> 00:05:08,953 We're a jack of all trades, and that's what we strive to be. 100 00:05:08,953 --> 00:05:10,881 You can't just be one Marine. 101 00:05:10,881 --> 00:05:12,897 You have to have the whole Marine concept, 102 00:05:12,897 --> 00:05:16,314 whether that be in garrison or in combat. 103 00:05:18,225 --> 00:05:19,981 ^- Mission of the enlisted gunnery school 104 00:05:19,981 --> 00:05:23,690 ^is to train Marines both career-level and entry-level 105 00:05:23,690 --> 00:05:26,690 on everything that goes into cannon, 106 00:05:26,770 --> 00:05:29,020 mortars and rocket gunnery. 107 00:05:29,658 --> 00:05:32,594 So from here, the entry-level students leave as 0844's, 108 00:05:32,594 --> 00:05:35,730 which are field artillery fire direction control Marines. 109 00:05:35,730 --> 00:05:39,194 The advanced-level students we have leave as 0848's. 110 00:05:39,194 --> 00:05:41,924 That is a Marine artillery operations chief. 111 00:05:41,924 --> 00:05:44,507 The entry-level 0844's will be, 112 00:05:45,171 --> 00:05:47,818 they'll operate inside a fire direction center, 113 00:05:47,818 --> 00:05:51,068 either at the battery, battalion or regiment level. 114 00:05:51,068 --> 00:05:54,494 The 0848's are responsible for supervising those Marines, 115 00:05:54,494 --> 00:05:57,872 as well as other Marines within the artillery community 116 00:05:57,872 --> 00:06:00,122 as their operations chiefs. 117 00:06:00,191 --> 00:06:04,164 We also do practical exercises to allow the Marines, 118 00:06:04,164 --> 00:06:08,331 before they leave here, to actually perform their MOS 119 00:06:08,500 --> 00:06:10,478 in a less stressful environment, 120 00:06:10,478 --> 00:06:12,476 so they can work up to be able to do that 121 00:06:12,476 --> 00:06:15,260 in the fleet while firing live rounds. 122 00:06:15,260 --> 00:06:17,580 So for an operations chiefs course, 123 00:06:17,580 --> 00:06:19,676 it's about five and a half months long. 124 00:06:19,676 --> 00:06:22,324 They do it in two separate schools. 125 00:06:22,324 --> 00:06:26,491 They learn target acquisition to include artillery survey, 126 00:06:26,653 --> 00:06:28,570 neurological and radar, 127 00:06:29,708 --> 00:06:30,752 and then they come over to us 128 00:06:30,752 --> 00:06:31,994 at the enlisted gunnery school, 129 00:06:31,994 --> 00:06:35,504 and we teach them both manual and automated gunnery, 130 00:06:35,504 --> 00:06:38,440 so that they can be that technical expert 131 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:39,847 within that fire directions center 132 00:06:39,847 --> 00:06:41,915 to put rounds down range. 133 00:06:41,915 --> 00:06:43,744 It's important to train these Marines 134 00:06:43,744 --> 00:06:45,827 on all aspects of gunnery 135 00:06:46,344 --> 00:06:48,200 so then they can go out to the fleet, 136 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:51,577 and able to use those skills learned here 137 00:06:51,577 --> 00:06:54,600 to effectively provide timely and accurate 138 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:57,017 fire support to the maneuver. 139 00:06:58,595 --> 00:07:00,457 ^- The mission of our school is to basically train 140 00:07:00,457 --> 00:07:03,769 ^Marine artillery electronics maintenance technicians 141 00:07:03,769 --> 00:07:05,269 with the MOS 2887. 142 00:07:05,771 --> 00:07:07,074 So our course is a follow on course from 143 00:07:07,074 --> 00:07:09,857 the basic electronics course in Twentynine Palms. 144 00:07:09,857 --> 00:07:11,299 When the Marines arrive, they're going to be 145 00:07:11,299 --> 00:07:13,882 basically trained 2800's, and we are going to 146 00:07:13,882 --> 00:07:16,805 train them to be artillery electronics technicians. 147 00:07:16,805 --> 00:07:18,853 Marines can expect to be challenged, 148 00:07:18,853 --> 00:07:21,532 but it's nothing that they are not capable of handling. 149 00:07:21,532 --> 00:07:23,316 So the Marines need to be able to think on their feet, 150 00:07:23,316 --> 00:07:24,460 understand how the system works, 151 00:07:24,460 --> 00:07:26,381 and apply those critical thinking skills 152 00:07:26,381 --> 00:07:30,548 to get the radar or whatever system back in the fight. 153 00:07:33,973 --> 00:07:36,789 Our Marines I would say are crucial to the nagtap, 154 00:07:36,789 --> 00:07:40,397 especially the ground side, and artillery, obviously. 155 00:07:40,397 --> 00:07:43,176 Any time a system goes down, they look to our Marines 156 00:07:43,176 --> 00:07:47,094 to help troubleshoot, get that system back in the fight. 157 00:07:47,094 --> 00:07:50,192 Without these basically trained 2887's, 158 00:07:50,192 --> 00:07:52,929 who is going to keep the radar in the fight? 159 00:07:52,929 --> 00:07:55,397 When we're out there in Syria, 160 00:07:55,397 --> 00:07:58,609 and we need to return fire, if the radar's down, 161 00:07:58,609 --> 00:08:01,213 then we have no means of getting proper location 162 00:08:01,213 --> 00:08:04,163 on that target, unless we have a forward observer out. 163 00:08:04,163 --> 00:08:06,445 These Marines are primarily tasked with 164 00:08:06,445 --> 00:08:09,542 repairing those systems, and the school house 165 00:08:09,542 --> 00:08:13,625 provides them with that basic knowledge to do so. 166 00:08:14,222 --> 00:08:15,746 ^- The mission of our school here 167 00:08:15,746 --> 00:08:18,673 ^is to train well-rounded artillery officers, 168 00:08:18,673 --> 00:08:21,821 and with that comes three different aspects of that mission, 169 00:08:21,821 --> 00:08:24,637 which is to create fire direction officers, 170 00:08:24,637 --> 00:08:27,089 so they can run a fire direction center, 171 00:08:27,089 --> 00:08:29,614 fire support officers, so that they can brief 172 00:08:29,614 --> 00:08:31,477 fire support plans to maneuver, 173 00:08:31,477 --> 00:08:33,877 and then also as platoon commanders, 174 00:08:33,877 --> 00:08:37,960 so that they can run a gun line out in the fleet. 175 00:08:38,821 --> 00:08:39,829 I think the most innovative method 176 00:08:39,829 --> 00:08:41,412 that we use is our simulations. 177 00:08:41,412 --> 00:08:42,877 So predominantly the school starts 178 00:08:42,877 --> 00:08:44,719 with classroom instruction, 179 00:08:44,719 --> 00:08:46,741 where really the Marines show up 180 00:08:46,741 --> 00:08:47,757 and they just need to learn some of the 181 00:08:47,757 --> 00:08:48,974 language about artillery, 182 00:08:48,974 --> 00:08:51,502 some of the definitions, some of the terms. 183 00:08:51,502 --> 00:08:53,574 Once we actually get into some of 184 00:08:53,574 --> 00:08:55,895 the more deeper instruction, then we really implement 185 00:08:55,895 --> 00:08:58,101 a lot of practical exercises, 186 00:08:58,101 --> 00:09:01,237 both in the class and outside of the classroom. 187 00:09:01,237 --> 00:09:03,469 So on the fire support aspect of it, 188 00:09:03,469 --> 00:09:06,512 they'll be out on lanes, calling for fire, 189 00:09:06,512 --> 00:09:08,749 and then on the fire directions center side, 190 00:09:08,749 --> 00:09:10,789 then they'll be receiving missions from students 191 00:09:10,789 --> 00:09:12,372 once they swap out. 192 00:09:12,568 --> 00:09:14,565 They'll be receiving real calls for fire, 193 00:09:14,565 --> 00:09:16,118 and they'll be processing missions, 194 00:09:16,118 --> 00:09:17,474 and then they'll also have the opportunity 195 00:09:17,474 --> 00:09:19,494 to be on the gun line and actually 196 00:09:19,494 --> 00:09:21,534 fire those systems themselves, 197 00:09:21,534 --> 00:09:24,016 and again, it's all students in all three 198 00:09:24,016 --> 00:09:26,183 of those functional areas. 199 00:09:28,326 --> 00:09:29,934 It's incredibly important for the staff NCO's 200 00:09:29,934 --> 00:09:31,054 to work with the lieutenants, 201 00:09:31,054 --> 00:09:32,926 because they're the subject matter experts. 202 00:09:32,926 --> 00:09:34,365 So the lieutenants, while they're here, 203 00:09:34,365 --> 00:09:35,671 they get a broad view of everything, 204 00:09:35,671 --> 00:09:38,501 of fire support, of FDC operations, and on the gun line. 205 00:09:38,501 --> 00:09:40,469 But at the end of the day, the staff NCO's, 206 00:09:40,469 --> 00:09:42,711 they're the ones that have the expertise, 207 00:09:42,711 --> 00:09:44,446 so when a lieutenant checks into the fleet, 208 00:09:44,446 --> 00:09:45,390 you know, he's going to be assigned to 209 00:09:45,390 --> 00:09:47,173 work with a chief in a fire direction center, 210 00:09:47,173 --> 00:09:48,613 and that chief's been in that primary MOS 211 00:09:48,613 --> 00:09:50,493 for 12 or 13 years, and so 212 00:09:50,493 --> 00:09:52,806 when they're here at the school house, 213 00:09:52,806 --> 00:09:54,417 for them to be able to actually have the opportunity 214 00:09:54,417 --> 00:09:56,350 to work with real chiefs who are here 215 00:09:56,350 --> 00:09:58,872 for the advanced course, and kind of be able to mentor them 216 00:09:58,872 --> 00:10:00,159 before they get out there, 217 00:10:00,159 --> 00:10:01,541 then they have a realistic expectation 218 00:10:01,541 --> 00:10:03,870 of what's going to be required of them as officers 219 00:10:03,870 --> 00:10:06,233 when they actually check into their units. 220 00:10:06,233 --> 00:10:07,958 I think the Marines are excited to get out to the fleet, 221 00:10:07,958 --> 00:10:10,317 and we expect them to have a bias for action, 222 00:10:10,317 --> 00:10:12,984 we expect them to be a little bit humble, 223 00:10:12,984 --> 00:10:14,769 that when they get there, that they are going to be 224 00:10:14,769 --> 00:10:16,801 partnered up with a staff NCO who knows more than them 225 00:10:16,801 --> 00:10:18,200 and that is more experienced, 226 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:21,473 but that they dive into that job right away 227 00:10:21,473 --> 00:10:22,773 and they make it their entire life, 228 00:10:22,773 --> 00:10:25,185 and they live and breathe artillery and they 229 00:10:25,185 --> 00:10:27,829 eventually become subject matter experts themselves. 230 00:10:27,829 --> 00:10:29,753 So, we expect them to come out of the school house, 231 00:10:29,753 --> 00:10:31,961 we've given them the baseline knowledge that they need, 232 00:10:31,961 --> 00:10:33,196 and then they're obviously expected 233 00:10:33,196 --> 00:10:35,520 to get out there and fill the gaps, 234 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:37,635 and really just start to make this a profession, 235 00:10:37,635 --> 00:10:39,968 and not just a job for them.