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Marines Train in Cuba for Deployment

By Sgt. Heather Brewer

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - Some people spend their lives looking for their place in the sun, but the roughly 200 Marines of Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, Camp Lejeune, N.C., have found theirs. They have also found their place in the rain, the dirt and the heat.

Operating as a part of the first Security Cooperation Marine Air-Ground Task Force to the U.S. Southern Command area of focus, this group of hard-working Marines has been training in the blistering sun and soaking rains of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

"Our goal here is to get our individually trained Marines to really come together up to the squad level," said Capt. Michael W. Manocchio, commanding officer of Fox Company. "Everything we do here gives us the building blocks we need for our next deployment and ensures that we are ready to step off when that time comes."

Marines with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines conduct live fire supported squad attack drills aboard Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. USS Wasp is currently deployed on Southern Partnership Station-Amphib with Destroyer Squadron 40 and SCMAGTF embarked. Southern Partnership Station is part of the Partnership of the Americas Maritime Strategy that focuses on building interoperability and cooperation in the region to meet common challenges.

In addition to exposure to various unpredictable weather patterns, preparing for deployment in Cuba also provides the company with other advantages by allowing them unfettered access to ranges.

"Whatever range we get is dedicated solely to us for as long as we need it. We can shoot every weapon we have, and run unscripted ranges," said Manocchio. "Whatever we can think of, we can do."

Not having to vie for a range has proven to be very helpful in accomplishing the training goals that the company has set in place for their time in Cuba.

"We aren't fighting for ranges here. We can take as much time as we need to master the objectives we're working towards," said 1st Sgt. Nicholas G. Fox, company first sergeant for Fox Company. "Our small unit leaders have more leeway here to train their squads themselves with specific goals in mind."

A Marine from Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines aims in on a target while conducting live fire supported squad attack drills aboard Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. USS Wasp is currently deployed on Southern Partnership Station-Amphib with Destroyer Squadron 40 and SCMAGTF embarked. Southern Partnership Station is part of the Partnership of the Americas Maritime Strategy that focuses on building interoperability and cooperation in the region to meet common challenges.

As part of the SCMAGTF, the company, which consists of riflemen, mortarmen, assaultmen and machine gunners, will also be participating in military-to-military cross training events with U.S. partner nations during the deployment.
"We are getting an opportunity to get on a ship [USS Wasp LHD-1], train in different locations and engage with foreign militaries in training events in other countries," said Manocchio. "We'll show them how we do things and see how they do things."

"Being a part of a MAGTF is an unusual experience for us; this is a chance for us to do something different," he added.

Even though the weather has been rough and the training schedule intensive, the Marines of Fox Company have risen to the challenge.

"Our Marines have dealt with the short notice, being on the ship, and two weeks of hard training exceptionally well," said Manocchio. "They have done an outstanding job so far."

The company first sergeant echoed Manocchio's sentiments.
"The Marines have been wonderful out here," said Fox. "Our noncommissioned officers and small unit leadership have been phenomenal. They will get some life-long experiences from this, not only because we get a unique opportunity to train and prepare for combat, but we get to do it in a non-combative foreign country; we get a chance to see the world," he added.

Wasp and the SCMAGTF are working alongside Mayport, Fl.-based Destroyer Squadron 40 during a three-month deployment to build and instill interoperability and cooperation between U.S. and partner nation naval forces through a variety of exercises as part of Southern Partnership Station.