Protection: Battalion In Amphibious Rescue Exercise

The 11th Marine Riflemen Battalion conducted a multi-phase hostage rescue exercise-covering river crossing, maritime insertion, and bush infiltration-as part of its monthly Operational Readiness Training cycle. The drill rehearsed procedures for freeing a high-profile individual, part of their security remit and wider duty to protect the population. Once the enemy camp’s position was confirmed, the Riflemen commenced a rescue operation with a live-firing and combat exercise under the strict direction of the instructor, Lieutenant Junior Grade Abessolo Meka Jean, Commander of the Intervention Support Company. He notes that such missions are typically “life and death”. The instructor emphasises that the “life and death” element extends beyond enemy contact. It encompasses exposure, equipment failure, faulty intelligence, or a split-second decision taken when fatigued. There must be no ambiguity because confusion kills. Every variable that could prove fatal is assessed. During the operation, each person’s life depends on the Marine beside them fulfilling their duty. The ethos Abessolo Meka Jean says is “stark and uncompromising: accomplish the mission, protect each Marine, and maintain your honour.” Yet all understand that the first two can come into conflict. That is the burden of the operation, Lieutenant Junior Grade Abessolo underlined. The process began with a rivercrossing exercise using a rope known as the anchor line. It is a method for traversing a wet gap-in this case, a river- whilst on the move. During the exercise, a soldier’s weapon fell into the river, and deep divers were on hand to retrieve it swiftly. Although a bridge was nearby and could have eased passage, the instructor said standard procedure dictates that bridges be avoided. “They may well be mined. It is safer to assume they are compromised. We therefore train to cross the watercourse instead. That is our doctrine,” the Commander of the Intervention Support Company explained. At sea level, they embarked aboard two military patrol boats. The objective was to disembark an...