Marines


II MEF News
Photo Information

Marines of 2nd Platoon, Force Reconnaissance Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force, are inserted and extracted from the water during dive training in Curacao, Nov. 1, 2010. The Royal Netherlands Marines were present at the training to provide boat support for the training.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Daniel A. Wulz

Force Recon dives with Royal Netherlands Marines

7 Nov 2010 | Lance Cpl. Daniel A. Wulz II Marine Expeditionary Force

In their third week on Curacao, Marines from Force Reconnaissance Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force, were assisted in training operations by the Royal Netherlands Marines.

The Marines of Force Reconnaissance Co. participated in a five-day dive training evolution that began Nov. 1, 2010. The event included dive operations, scout swimmer operations and full mission profile dives.

“The Marines start out every day with physical training to warm up for the dives,” said Staff Sgt. Ryan J. Kuperus, a team leader for 2nd Platoon, Force Reconnaissance Co. “After PT, the [Royal Netherlands Marines] used their boats to take us out into the water to conduct scout swimmer operations.”

In all of the training events, Royal Netherlands Marines were present to provide boat support for the divers. This boat support assisted the Marines diving and provided additional safety for the Marines.

“The Dutch are providing support for inserting teams and assisting the Marines in this bilateral training,” said Staff Sgt. Christopher G. Alison, the communications chief for 2nd Platoon, Force Reconnaissance Co. “It would take a lot more time to get the training done if the Dutch weren’t out here, because we would only have one zodiac for support instead of the four Dutch boats that can insert our scout swimmers and divers, and provide all around coverage for safety.”

Over the five-day training evolution, the Marines had the opportunity to gain both knowledge and experience in their diving procedures.

“The dive team itself learned quite a bit,” said Cpl. Thomas J. Brown, a Marine with the dive team from 2nd Platoon, Force Reconnaissance Co. “Not only did we learn about diving as a team, but also how to proceed operationally with the technology that we use.”

The dive training plays a significant part in preparing the Marines for combat as well as the upcoming Tri Deux Colours competition against the Royal Netherlands Marines scheduled for next week.

“I don’t know if we’re going to be doing any dive missions in the competition, but if we are, I feel fully confident that our team will be able to complete orders in a successful and safe fashion,” said Brown.