Devil Dogs

Submitted by: 26th MEU
Story Identification #: 20057194474
Story by Gunnery Sgt. Mark E. Bradley

ABOARD USS KEARSARGE (July 18, 2005) — As many Marines and sailors of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) continue operations ashore throughout the Central Command theater, those who maintain the MEU’s “force in readiness” status aboard ship are active daily in training to keep them mentally and physically fit.

One example of this is the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. There are currently 36 Marines from Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment engaged in this intense program as they prepare for their gray belt test. The gray belt is the second of five belts a Marine can achieve in the MCMAP program.

The Marine Corps Martial Arts program began in October of 2000 and has since become ingrained in the warrior ethos of the Marine Corps. The program is designed around the three pillars of mental, physical and character development.

Aboard USS Kearsarge, lead instructor Staff Sgt. William D. Sudbrock, with Weapons Company, BLT 2/8, does his best to teach his class while they train aggressively in a small opening on the hangar deck of the ship.

The limited space aboard ship is a major challenge, Sudbrock said. Since the program includes extensive throws and grappling techniques, much of the student’s time is spent on the ground.
At Camp Lejeune, large grassy or sandy areas are used for training. The cement-type non-skid surfaces found throughout the ship however, make it necessary to confine the training to three large wrestling mats.

Sudbrock said due to that limited space, he breaks the group into smaller ones and uses a lot of round-robin rotations. This gives everyone the opportunity to practice their skills on the mats under the direct supervision of Sudbrock and other instructors, he said.

From a time perspective, he said it is easier to accomplish the required training aboard ship because of the captive audience and extra time available for training.

“There is more time in the evening hours than in the rear since the Marines don’t secure at the end of the day. We also don’t have a lot weapons shoots when we are on ship,” Sudbrock said.

In the rear, he may get in one or two classes a week, but on ship, the Marines train every day except Sunday, he said. His favorite part of the training is when the flight schedule allows the Marines the time to train on the flight deck. “You get a nice ocean breeze and have the Harriers as a backdrop,” he said.

The Marines usually train for two hours a day and have been at it for the last three weeks. Their next step in the program is the gray belt test scheduled in the coming days.

The Marines and sailors of the 26th MEU (SOC) are embarked aboard the ships of the Kearsarge Strike Group in the northern Arabian Gulf conducting distributed operations in the region while serving as the strategic reserve for Central Command.

Marines have several generic nicknames, mildly derogatory when used by outsiders but complimentary when used by Marines themselves. They include “jarhead” (it was said their hats on their unifom made them look like mason jars), “gyrene” (perhaps a combination of “G.I.” and “Marine”), “leatherneck,” referring to the leather collar that was a part of the Marine uniform during the Revolutionary War period, and “Devil Dog” (German: Teufelhunden) after the Battle of Belleau Wood.

The Marine Corps was originally created as the ” Continental Marines” during the (The revolution of the American colonies against Great Britain; 1775-1783) American Revolutionary War, were formed by a resolution of the (The legislative assembly composed of delegates from the rebel colonies who met during and after the American Revolution; they issued the Declaration of Independence and framed Articles of Confederation) Continental Congress on November 10, 1775, and first recruited at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They served as landing troops for the recently created Continental Navy. The Continental Marines were disbanded at the end of the war in April 1783 but re-formed on July 11 1798. Despite the gap, Marines celebrate November 10 as the Marine Corps Birthday.

Submitted by: MCB Camp Butler
Story Identification #: 2005717204625
Story by Lance Cpl. T. J. Kaemmerer

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan (July 15, 2005) — The Marine Forces Japan Rifle Team is setting its sites on the 44th Annual Interservice Rifle Championship Match.

The event, which takes place in Quantico, Va., July 18-26, will match Marine marksmen against the other military services’ best riflemen.

The rifle team’s training also gives the Marine Corps a pool of experienced marksmen who can instruct and reinforce the fundamentals of Marine Corps marksmanship for their individual units, according to Chief Warrant Officer Martin W. Dankanich, range officer and captain of the rifle team.

“This competition exemplifies the Marine Corps’ ethos ‘Every Marine a Rifleman’,” said Dankanich. “The reality of this level of competition is that it improves an individual Marine’s fundamental marksmanship skills, confidence, and combat survivability.â€?

Dankanich has been training two junior Marines for this level of competition since the marksmanship season here started three weeks ago. Both shooters competed with air guns in high school.

Another younger Marine who recently joined the team is also preparing for competition.
Lance Cpl. Roberto Zepeda III, an aircraft recovery specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, became interested in joining after he read “Silent Warrior�, a book about legendary Marine sniper Gunnery Sgt. Carlos Hathcock.

Zepeda expressed his interest in joining the team to his boss, Gunnery Sgt. Mark A. Facey.
“My Gunny asked me what I shot on the range, and when I told him I shot a (perfect score), he got me right out here,� Zepeda said. “Marksmanship is a big part of the Marine Corps, and I take a lot of pride in it.�

Dankanich said he believes the competition and camaraderie can positively affect the individual Marine’s morale and motivation, which ultimately increases the Marine Corps’ retention rate.

Dankanich said he remembers one junior Marine he trained who was determined to leave the Marine Corps. The corporal had made up his mind, or so he thought.

“(His mind) changed after he fired the 1,000-yard team match and his performance contributed to the success in winning that match,� he said. “Shortly after return, the newly promoted sergeant reenlisted. According to the Marine, his experience with the team and this level of marksmanship had a role in his change of heart. Recharged and motivated, he stayed Marine.�
Dankanich is upset by the lack of support for marksmanship even though, “No enemy has ever been killed by a basketball, softball or football.�

He said he worries that marksmanship competitors have been labeled as hobbyists because these competitions receive too little attention and participation in the Marine Corps.

Dankanich said he finds it difficult to show the units how valuable the program is, because many don’t want to look past the occasional high costs, which accompany sending the Marines.

“All I can promise is that there will be a tangible return on that investment,� he said.
instructor, or a Marine who has a renewed sense of motivation and dedication. The benefit is real.�