MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan "To deter, detect and defend against terrorist threats is the mission of the Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team Company" a lightweight, rapid-reaction force capable of executing a large number of anti-terrorism and physical security missions.
FAST Marines are a force multiplier and the final barrier that can prevent damage or compromise of many assets vital to national security and personnel.
For the Pacific Fleet area of operations, that means a platoon of highly trained and specialized Marines are standing ready at all times for whatever the commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet deems critical. It might be anything from protecting an aircraft with sensitive equipment stopping over or working in an unstable environment, to protecting, visiting, boarding or searching and seizing a vessel with special cargo heading into a high-threat area.
"In high-threat areas we will roll into the overall force protection plan, often directing the effort of intercepting boats, clearing vessels which come alongside, providing explosive and chemical detection, manning the guns, providing a more robust entry control point and a healthy reaction force," said Capt. Justin W. Dyal, commanding officer of 1st Platoon, 1st FAST Co., Marine Corps Security Force Battalion. "On United States Naval Service Ships/Military Sealift Command, or other unarmed vessels, we can protect them similarly."
For these Marines, the road to FAST starts immediately after Recruit Training and the School of Infantry, when they form as a unit right after Basic Security Guard School.
Most are 19-21 years old and on their first enlistment. They have an enormous amount of training they must complete before being sent to a FAST Deployment Program site such as Yokosuka, where FAST platoons rotate approximately every six months.
"The possible terrorism scenarios they must prepare for are endless," said Gunnery Sgt. Steven Walls, detachment staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge/liaison officer to FAST FDP in Yokosuka.
"For this reason it is imperative that the Marines know not only what decision is to be made in a certain situation, but just as importantly why the decision was made. No two situations will ever be alike, and every Marine in FAST has to be competent enough and knowledgeable enough to make life and death decisions independently."
FAST Plt.'s training is extremely intense, as is their operational tempo, noted Walls.
"These Marines get thrown into the fire very quickly and must learn to rely on each other in order to have any real degree of success," said 33-year-old Walls, a native of Seminole, Okla.
The FAST Marines fire an enormous amount of ammunition and must be proficient in using every weapon, from the M9 Beretta pistol to the .50-caliber machine gun. These Marines must also fire and qualify while utilizing both strong and weak hands with the M9, M16A2 service rifle and M4 carbine, according to Walls.
Unlike the standard known distance courses that most Marines fire on, FAST Marines concentrate more on quick reaction training and firing on the move.
Extensive training in escalation of force and having the judgment as to when the threat is appropriately neutralized is another basic FAST tenet that many basic infantry Marines don?t always get to spend time on.
Additionally, each unit is trained in standardized packages such as Enhanced Military Operations in Urban Terrain, combat lifesavers, media training, non-lethal techniques, convoy operations, patrolling, advanced weapons training, situational escalation of force exercises, site security, shipboard clearing and maritime security.
Individuals also undergo training in Close Quarters Battle, high-risk personnel, evasive driving tactics, various terrorism courses, martial arts instruction, non-lethal weapons instruction, designated marksman, sniper school, squad leader school, advanced machine gun leader school, helicopter rope suspension training, hazardous material certifier and embark.
"A standard rifleman in a line platoon just does not have access to this training at the individual level, the amount of ammunition necessary or the focus on individual skills that we do," said 29-year-old Dyal of Jacksonville, Fla.
"The FAST mission requires each Marine to be able to stand post as an individual, armed with anything from a pistol to a .50- caliber and be an effective deterrent that can respond immediately to difficult situations. I wish that every Marine had access to the training that the FAST Marines do."
"I've known since seventh grade that I was going to be a Marine," said 20- year-old Cpl. Ian Jaurigue of Los Angeles. "I knew I wanted to be a grunt, and my recruiter told me that FAST was a Marine SWAT team. We may not be a Marine SWAT team, but we are highly-trained and ready at all times."
Before their six-month tour in Yokosuka came to an end, 1st Plt., 1st FAST Co., trained more than 600 Sailors in anti-terrorism/force protection aboard numerous Naval vessels, providing protection for the commander of the 7th Fleet in Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong.
Additionally, they participated in a mobility exercise and cross-trained Explosive Ordnance Detachment Mobile Unit 5 in Guam.
"These are just ordinary Marines who have been given many skills and are expected to perform a difficult and timely mission," said Dyal.
Picking up in Yokosuka where 1st Plt. left off is 4th Plt., 1st FAST Co., Marine Corps Security Force Battalion, Norfolk, Va.
For them, said Dyal, "The strength of the Pacific Fleet Area of Operation and the wide variety of potential missions" embassy reinforcements, airfield security, maritime security, riot control "only increases as this region continues to experience turbulence and terrorism."