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Volume 76, editioN 9
Gl be The
ServiNg CAmp LejeuNe ANd SurrouNdiNg AreAS SiNCe 1944
Far-off Northern lands:
2nd Supply Bn. begins Norway operations | 3A
CLB-26 change of command ceremony| 7A
ThurSday, mArCh 6, 2014
www.LejeuNe.mAriNeS.miL CAmp muduBugu, BuruNdi
Marines conduct
with Burundi National Defense Force photo by Sgt. ed galo
A Marine with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 14.1, observes soldiers with the Burundian Army shoot a live-fire range aboard Camp mudubugu, Burundi, recently. Special-purpose mAgtF Africa 14.1 strengthens u.S. marine Corps Forces europe and Africa and u.S. Africa Command’s ability to assist partner nations in addressing their security challenges. Sgt. ed gALo
Special-Purpose marine airGround Task Force africa
W
hile in support of the theater security cooperation mission in Burundi, Marines and sailors with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 14.1 have been training a group of soldiers with the Bu-
rundi National Defense Force. The training began in late January 2014 and is designed to prepare the BNDF to deploy in support of the African Union Mission in Somalia. The latest period of instruction was basic marksmanship. The Marines taught the BNDF basic weapons handling skills, basic weapons safety and conducted a live-fire exercise where the Burundian soldiers shot their weapons. “We ran modified table one,
fired from the prone, sitting and kneeling,” said Cpl. William Sierzant, a hygiene equipment operator, with the team training the BDNF. “The language barrier definitely made it difficult, a lot of them will speak a little English.” Luckily, the Marines have planned for that situation and have contracted local civilians who speak English as well as the local languages. Even with the challenges faced, Sierzant said he enjoys
what he does while training with his Burundian counterparts. “I like seeing the guys improve and actually moving and adjust their sights, they’ve never done that before,” he said. “They’re pretty good,” he added. “A bunch of good guys, who are really eager to learn from us. They pay attention in class very well. They are very familiar with their weapons even though they haven’t shot them very much — assembly and dis-
assembly, they’re great at that.” According to Sierzant, the BDNF have excelled at learning several portions of the training very well. “They loved the (combat lifesaving) training we gave them,” he said. “They took the land navigation we gave them pretty well, too. You can tell they’re getting a little more comfortable with being put under a little bit of stress, so I think they appreciate that.”
2nd CeB tests new combat earthmover CpL. miChAeL dye 2nd marine division
Marines with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, familiarized themselves with a new and improved piece of equipment, Feb. 26, that will better help them stay in the fight aboard Ma-
rine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. The M9 Armored Combat Earthmover is a highly mobile, armored tracked vehicle that provides combat engineer support to frontline Marine forces. Its capabilities include eliminating enemy obstacles, maintaining and repairing of roads and supply routes and construction of fighting positions.
The pre-existing ‘Legacy ACE’ has been torn down, re-mapped, redesigned and turned into the modernized M9 ACE. “The new M9 ACE has an upgraded hull, improved hydraulic system, bigger engine and an added front camera system, so now the operator can see what is going on in front of him,” said Capt. Gregory B. Procaccini,
photo by Cpl. michael dye
Sgt. robert Kubach, the operations chief for 2nd Combat engineering Battalion, familiarizes himself with the improved m9 Armored Combat earthmover, Feb. 26. the m9 ACe is the improved version of the Legacy ACe, it has an upgraded and reinforced hull, more powerful engine and improved hydraulic system.
the M9 ACE project officer with of Marine Corps Systems Command in Quantico, Va. “I believe the Marines are going to enjoy the way this equipment operates and how much easier it is going to be to maintain.” Procaccini went on to say it took six to eight years to fully develop the upgraded system. “The M9 ACE is a lot better than the old one,” said Sgt. Robert Kubach, the operations chief for the battalion. “The upgraded engine really gives this machine more power, and it’s able to move dirt more efficiently.” With more power, the M9 ACE is able to keep up during convoy operations and does not require being loaded onto a truck, which gives it more of a tactical use. Also, with an added camera, the M9 ACE is able to be more exact with its movements. “On the old system it was pretty much done by feel,” said Kubach. “You would have to know your machine, how it feels, how it’s sitting, the sound of the engine; everything played a factor when you were moving dirt. Now with the camera system, it takes a lot of the guess work out of it and gives it more of an exact feel.” The Legacy M9 ACE machines are currently on a rotational schedule to be turned into the production site in Albany, Ga., so they can make the transformation into modernized M9 ACE. The first four M9 ACE systems off the production line are currently at Camp Lejeune. Three are for 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion and one is for 8th Engineer Support Battalion. This is the first new equipment training course for the modernized ACE, and with this past training event being such a success, it won’t be the last. SPMAGTF Africa consists of several Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune units.