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Photo Information

Lance Cpl. Kenneth K. Trotter Jr., a station combat correspondent, struggles to count the fingers in front of him after being sprayed in the face with Oleoresin Capsicum spray during an OC course at the Provost Marshal’s Office here Jan. 20. The training noncommissioned-officer who sprayed the service members in the face with OC forced them to count his fingers to ensure the liquid took effect.

Photo by Cpl. Claudio A. Martinez

OC course builds confidence, ability to fight through burning pain

27 Jan 2011 | Cpl. Claudio A. Martinez Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

Approximately 20 service members with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron participated in two-day Auxiliary Security Force training at the Provost Marshal’s Office here Jan. 19 and 20.

The Marines and sailors received their certification in an oleoresin capsicum course during the climax of the ASF training.

During the course, the service members were sprayed in the face with OC spray, fought through the burning sensation, and battled through an obstacle course.

“No one gets used to OC, but (the course teaches) them how to fight through the effects,” said Staff Sgt. Bryce Good, the PMO non-lethal weapons instructor during the ASF training. After the course, they won’t be caught off guard if sprayed and will be able to accomplish their mission, he added.

The pain-filled yells and screams of the service members echoed through the streets around PMO as the OC flamed in their eyes. One by one the Marines and sailors battled his/her way through the fire and raged against punching pads while blindly holding off attackers.

“It burned,” said Pfc. Manuel Valencia-Cantu, a station preservation packaging and packing clerk. “At first it tasted really sweet. I was thinking this isn’t so bad, then before I got to the first pad it was burning, burning really bad.”

Valencia-Cantu said he now feels confident he can effectively fight his way through a confrontation involving OC spray.

The Auxiliary Security Force training is done quarterly to prepare Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron service members in the event they are called upon to aid military police in providing security.