As a former Marine who did a deployment on an LHD for a MEU, it always amazed me how Marine E2s and E3s (E3s often team leaders in the infantry) would be trusted with a combat load out (to include grenades) on ship quicker than a Junior Naval Surface Warfare Officer. While crossing the Atlantic, we would run a zero or CQB range on the flight deck where a butter bar Marine Platoon Leader was the OIC, but 3 year E4s would tell him what needed to be done if the Platoon Sergeant couldn't be bothered to be present. Meanwhile, Navy LTs (O-3s) would sit back and marvel that ANY enlisted were trusted to actually possess live rounds on ship, much less fire them.
Of course this was '05 and we were sailing our way to Iraq, so the times may have been a bit different. I do know that they gave enlisted Navy sentrys live rounds on the dock while in Port at Jordan during that MEU. They subsequently dropped their rifles and ran aboard ship when a rocket exploded 1 click away.
Of course this was '05 and we were sailing our way to Iraq, so the times may have been a bit different. I do know that they gave enlisted Navy sentrys live rounds on the dock while in Port at Jordan during that MEU. They subsequently dropped their rifles and ran aboard ship when a rocket exploded 1 click away.
