III Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Bases Japan April 6, 2007 www.okinawa.usmc.mil Marine Corps Okinawa Marines fi rst to receive new body armor; modifi es rifl e initial reviews positive for Corps’ next vest qualifi cation Cpl. Warren Peace OKINAWA MARINE STAFF CAMP FUJI — Officials with the Marine Corps Marksmanship Cen- ter of Excellence are implementing many changes to rifle qualifications throughout 2007 including major changes to the scoring system, Marine officials said. Several of these changes have already been implemented and were announced in Marine Administrative Message 225/07, released March 26. The rapid fire portion of the Table 1 known-distance course of fire no longer requires Marines to conduct a magazine change after firing five rounds. Marines now fire a single magazine of 10 rounds in 60 seconds instead of two five-round magazines in 70 seconds. “We were teaching a bad technique Tactical Applications Group instructor Don Zarnes Jr. checks configurations on Modular Tactical Vests issued to for exchanging magazines during rapid 3rd Marine Logistics Group Marines March 29 on Camp Foster. Instructors with TAG, the company that designed fire that we had to un-teach Marines the vest, and Protective Products International, the manufacturer, trained 1,000 3rd MLG Marines, who were during the training in Tables 2-4,” issued the vest last week, how to properly configure, wear and care for the MTV. Photo by Sgt. Ethan E. Rocke said Capt. Kyle Patton, the officer-in- charge of the Marksmanship Programs and Doctrine Section Marksmanship Center for Excellence. “We added the magazine exchange training to Table Marines want their MTV 2 with speed reload drills.” Sgt. Ethan E. Rocke Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics “The overall capabilities of The hammer pair drills Marines EDITOR Group on Camp Foster were the the vest are excellent,” said Pfc. fired during the Table 2 “field fire” first of about 60,000 Marines Anthony A. Thelin, a parachute portion of the qualification course CAMP FOSTER — Okinawa scheduled to receive the new rigger with Security Company. “I have moved to Table 3. The drills Marines received the first 1,000 body armor by October. give it a nine out of 10.” require Marines to fire two rapid, units of the Corps’ latest improve- Marine officials are touting a All the Marines surveyed said successive shots to the chest. ment in battlefield protection laundry list of improvements over they preferred the new vest for a Marines engage targets from 25 March 29-30, and initial reviews the Outer Tactical Vest currently myriad of reasons. At the top of yards during Table 2, and Patton said of the new Modular Tactical Vest fielded to most Marine units, the list of improvements were marksmanship doctrine states ham- suggest Marines throughout the and a random survey of junior some of the initial requirements mer pairs should be used on targets Corps will soon be saying, “I Marines and noncommissioned the Corps set out to address, 15 yards away. Table 3 supports target want my MTV.” officers from CLB-4’s Security including increased protection, engagements from 5 to 25 yards. Marines from Combat Logis- Company, including Iraq war vet- improved load carriage and more SEE RIFLE PG 9 tics Battalion 4, Combat Logistics erans, affirmed those claims. SEE VEST PG 10 WHAT IS JEOPARDY! PUT TO THE TEST FLOWER POWER A Jeopardy! search team screens III MEF Marines and sailors train for Marines from Camp Fuji join service more than 300 game show hopefuls combat scenarios on the final day members from Naval Air Facility in Okinawa and narrows the field to of a month-long pre-deployment Atsugi and Yokosuka Naval Base to six potential contenders. training evolution on Camp Schwab. organize cherry blossom festivals. INSIDE pg. 7 pg. 9 pg. 12 OKINAWA MARINE | NEWS | APRIL 6, 2007 3 Around the MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. | A Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 goes into a defensive posture March 16 during a battle drills exercise in preparation for an upcoming For more Marine Corps stories and photos, deployment. Photo by Cvisit http://www.orpmarines.mil S Sgt. Duke Omara MANRIPO BEACH, Republic of Korea | Republic of Korea Marines assault a landing zone from U.S. Marine Corps CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 during Exercise Foal Eagle March 29. Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Jeremy L. Wood CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq | Marines with Dam Security Unit Three, 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, and sailors assigned to Riverine Squadron 1, attached to II Marine Expeditionary Force, keep warm next to a fire along the banks of the Euphrates River March 15. Photo by Sgt. Michael Kropiewnicki MARINE CORPS BASE KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii | A Marine attending Sergeants Course draws his sword during a drill session March 13. Photo by Sgt. Sara A. Carter OKINAWA MARINE | OPINION & EDITORIAL | APRIL 6, 2007 5 Think Okinawa’s boring? Get up, get out Lance Cpl. Richard Blumenstein believed. I can remember sitting in my barracks Okinawa’s public transportation system, room disheartened, staring at the ceiling, think- organizations such as Single Marine Program ince arriving in Okinawa, I have noticed ing I had made a poor choice in coming here. and Marine Corps Community Services often that many Marines complain that there is But while I was complaining one day about sponsored trips. Snothing to do here; but that is not the case how there is nothing to do, a co-worker said The suggestion that there is nothing to do at all. Service members on Okinawa have been something to me that completely changed my on Okinawa misleads Marines and starts them given the opportunity of a lifetime. Okinawa way of thinking. He told me that if I really off on the wrong foot. It causes many to spend offers numerous theme parks, historical battle wanted to get out of the barracks, all I had to their weekends either holed up in the barracks sites, scuba diving and a chance to experience do was go out and search for something to or frequenting the same bars and night clubs an entirely new culture. explore. that give Marines tunnel vision, locking them At my military occupational specialty It’s the truth. Finding things to do can be into a habitual pattern and making them miss school, I was asked where I would like to be as simple as a Google or Yahoo! search. You the countless other activities and attractions stationed. I eagerly replied overseas. When I can find great locations to explore and learn a available here. received orders to Okinawa, I was thrilled. number of ways to get there. So, if you are a Marine who feels stuck in When I arrived, I was met with large neon Since then, I have tried various Japanese the barracks, or if you are just arriving on lights and signs in Japanese. I couldn’t wait to and Okinawan cuisines, seen numerous histor- island, get up and get out. This could be the get out and explore this great new place. ical sites and visited Okinawan theme parks. last time you get to experience this culture. But after a short period of time in the Joint There have been many occasions when I have How do you want to remember your time on Reception Center, I asked my fellow Marines, been bored in my room and, after a quick Inter- Okinawa? “What is there to do here?” To my dismay, they net search, found a way to explore Okinawa. Blumenstein is a staff member of the replied “nothing.” And for a while, that is what I And for Marines apprehensive about Okinawa Marine newspaper. Freedom means more than doing what we want, when we want Navy Lt. j.g. Kevin Bemel Egyptian slavery, an important ery. But for the purpose for which mind and emotions, rather than aspect of Passover. We blessed the Jewish people were freed, unrestrained instinct, that person reedom. The word is part and ate matza, a thin, dry, crack- service to God, there would have is truly free. of the foundation of our er-like bread that is made in the been no exodus. During the Passover Seder, country. Yet, how often do kind of haste of one running for In Judaism, there are 613 com- we performed many rituals, but Fwe take time to reflect on its his life. Matza is called the “bread mandments that govern every the theme that linked them all meaning beyond the vague idea of of affliction” so that we will try to aspect of our lives, from what we together was that by following being allowed to do what we want feel what it must have been like to say at the moment we wake up what God has instructed us to do, when we want? do back-breaking labor under the until what we do before we fall we revel in being free from the On the evening of April 2, desert sun. asleep. How, then, do we recon- animal side of our nature. Jews and oth- In popular culture, we recall cile the idea of freedom with such Next time we consider doing CHAPLAIN’S ers around the the words God commanded a rigorous set of rules? Perhaps something impetuous or wild, let CORNER world joined Moses to say, actually spoken by freedom means something more us consider whether giving into together to his brother Aaron: “So said the than doing what we want when our instincts is truly an expres- celebrate the God of the Hebrews, send out my we want.