MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Sergeants and senior leaders from Combat Logistics Company participating in Exercise Dragon Fire 2013 attended a Range Safety Officer class aboard Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, July 9.
“This class ensures the safety and meeting of the requirements for the Camp Fuji ranges,” said Sgt. Evan Rosado, a radio operator with CATC Camp Fuji and range scheduler. “We’re out here as ambassadors, so we have to maintain the safety of all personnel and also to hone in on our skills and training; this class entails all that. This isn’t just a check in the box. It’s something that’s going to help them train their units.”
Participants watched an informative brief detailing all the rules and regulations of an RSO, which focused on maintaining good order and safety for all Camp Fuji ranges.
With such a heavy amount of effort stressed on safety when it comes to weapons handling, even those who have already taken the RSO class are required to re-attend and pass a written test before being recertified.
“I haven’t done this for a while, so it’s very important to get back into the loop of all the training and the safety concerns,” said Staff Sgt. Guillermo Santiago Jr., a motor transportation maintenance chief for CLC-36. “Being a range safety officer is motivating, because you get to participate with the junior Marines and allow them to get to do what they love to do: shoot weapons and have fun, but safely. You have to make sure of everyone’s safety; not just the people using the weapons, but all those around. The most important thing, overall, is all the Marines safety. Making sure they all come back in one piece with their training.”
Santiago added an anecdote from one of his previous experiences as a range safety officer.
“When we were doing a live fire one time, we had a Marine flag half the line; that Marine was tackled,” said Santiago. “If that RSO hadn’t been that up-to-point to stop what might have happened, that Marine might have killed some people.”
Dragon Fire 13 is CLC-36’s annual Battle Skills Training exercise that focuses on improving individual and collective combat skills of CLC-36 Marines and sailors with an emphasis on weapons familiarization training.
The purpose of DF13 is to increase CLC-36's ability to function in a combat environment, build esprit de corps and facilitate engaged leadership.