Training exercise teaches desert tactics By SILVIO J. PANTA, Staff Writer
Tuesday, January 15, 2008 11:40 PM PST
TODD KRAININ PHOTO
FROM LEFT: U.S. Marines Staff Sgt. Sean Perry and Major William Simmons learn from Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Gerald Nunez how to track footprints in the desert sand off Interstate 8, near the Mexican border on Tuesday.
The desert sand of Iraq is half a world away, but to the group of Marines learning the finer points of foot tracking Tuesday, the terrain along Brock Research Center Road is no different.
Mastering the technique can take years, but agents with the U.S. Border Patrol are currently teaching a cadre of 24 Marines the basics that could save a life before their eventual deployment.
Traditional tracking involves identifying footprints found in the sand, while tactical tracking calls for a more heightened awareness involving the search for a fugitive, which elevates the “threat level” and may warrant the use of firearms, said Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Gerald Nunez.
“We’re teaching them both because we don’t know where they’re going to be,” he said. “(Tactical foot tracking) changes the dynamic of the entire tracking operation. It’s two different animals.”
To the Marines who fielded questions from the media the instruction adds one more piece of knowledge that could be useful during their duty.
Training the Marines on tracking in desert sands could help them estimate the distance or whereabouts of enemy combatants.
Marine officials didn’t allow the media access to the training site, but Border Patrol officers and a few Marines showed what they’d learned at a site just off Interstate 8, about 30 miles east of El Centro.
The Marines who take part in the training come from Miramar and Camp Pendleton in San Diego County and the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma. Instruction takes four days at eight hours per day; the Marines were in their second day of instruction on Tuesday.
“It’s been extremely effective,” said Staff Marine Sgt. Sean Perry. “We’re learning things that would normally take the Border Patrol weeks to learn.”
In addition to foot tracking, the Marines are receiving instruction on how to conduct vehicle checkpoints. Members of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Search and Rescue Team and the Search Trauma and Rescue team also helped in the instruction.
“We’re hoping that every little bit helps,” said Border Patrol Agent Bo Mendoza.
If one Marine absorbs everything that he’s been taught during the exercise, the Border Patrol would have done its job, Nunez said.
“It’s all about saving lives,” he said. “We’re not teaching them to be experts.”
" Abelito - After reading your post about the census numbers I would say it just proves that the United States was more successful in it's conquest than Spain was. "
breakinbones wrote on Jan 17, 2008 8:42 AM:
" It is indeed sad, mexictodabone, that there are still a few bigots out there. It's even worse when those bigots begin to express their racist, ill-informed viewpoints. And you appear to be one of those few. "
ricocafe99 wrote on Jan 16, 2008 11:41 PM:
" abelito...I know this is not the politically correct thing to say but with my publically educated eyes the natives in Mexico appear to have had a more sophisticated society than did their cousins in what is now the USA. Plus with the Spaniards cross breeding with the natives far more than the British/French/other no Euros did in the USA it is logical that more of the native indigenous customs and words would still survive today. Thats just my observation. "
abelito wrote on Jan 16, 2008 10:36 PM:
" Last census, Mexico (500 years after the conquista)Tot. Population 100 million,30% full blooded Native American; 60% mestizo; and only 10% euro and other. US of A (400 years since Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock) Tot. Population 300 million; Native American full blood and mestizo combined)3%.
Mexican Spanish still has over 4000 Aztec words incorpoated in its language. Many of the customs are Native American. Who's the real HYPOCRITE here??The numbers (of NA's alive today)speak for themselves. "
ricocafe99 wrote on Jan 16, 2008 9:40 PM:
" Mexictodabone reveals his own personal bigotry with his use of the term "coconuts". By the way Imperial County is 76% Hispanic not 90%. "
lacosta wrote on Jan 16, 2008 8:26 PM:
" Your right Shogun 30.But you'll never get a Mexican to admit that they gave everything up when the Spaniards conqured them. The gave up their language,heritage and customs.Mextodabone,This is the North American continent but when did they start calling Canada or Mexico the Americas? Try telling a Cunuck he's an American.Maybe you better take a refresher corse in history, that's US HISTORY! PS, What the hell is a coconut? LOL "
mexictodabone wrote on Jan 16, 2008 7:00 PM:
" If you read what the hell I said you would'nt be trying to educate me for something I already know... "
shogun30 wrote on Jan 16, 2008 5:45 PM:
" Mexictodabone - let's not forget that what is now Mexico was forcibly taken (conquered) by the Spanish. So for the radical activists and the Mexican Government to say that the U.S. is bad, is hypocritical. By that logic one could make the argument that modern day Mexican Citizens stole their country from the Aztecs and other native tribes of Mexico. Mexico is a sovereign nation regardless of the way it became so. I won't pass judgement on it's history of existence. I have a feeling you will/do pass judgement on the way the United States came into existence. "
mexictodabone wrote on Jan 16, 2008 5:20 PM:
" Let me add one more thing, just in case you guys forgot Imperial Valley is 90% Mexican or Mexican Americans...thats including the coconuts...In my opinion we don't migrate here we already here, their are 3 countries that makes us all Americans, that CANADA, U.S.A. AND last but not least MEXICO not including south and central america. It is sad that there is still a few biggots among the majority... "
shogun30 wrote on Jan 16, 2008 4:41 PM:
" Well to some of you who just don't know, the Border Patrol has some of the best trackers around hands down. In fact, the U.S. Border Patrol gets worldwide requests to provide training in these and other areas. The Border Patrol is routinely called out to track people in the Imperial Valley whether they be lost citizens, illegal aliens, or escaped prisoners. "
hmmned wrote on Jan 16, 2008 4:23 PM:
" What did Ireland do to us except make us schizophrenic? I wish I could be in the Armed Forces, but I did the next bext thing a schizophrenic could do which is to become an LEO. That course looks like fun.
I hope there is never a civil war in the USA, but if there is, I could see people getting nasty against the American Latinos, and not just the latinoamericanos. I want no part of the hostility against latinos in this country; when I was a CBP Officer it was never personal when I found an illegal, I was just doing my job trying to enforce the law and keep the bad ones out. We actually do keep a lot of the bad ones out, no matter what anyone says. I for one am a big fan of Mexican Americans and am grateful for the work they do and the places they go like VietNam, Iraq and Calexico. "
abelito wrote on Jan 16, 2008 3:13 PM:
" Wesley, Whatsa matter? Baby got his feelings hurt and now he has to default to "Xeno" mode? Auw, (tsk tsk).Pobrecito. "
wesley wrote on Jan 16, 2008 2:19 PM:
" Hey Mex, how do you reconcile the fact that Mexican American Border Patrol agents are arresting and deporting so many of your paisonos? mexictodabone, hmmm, I take it you are proud of being Mexican. What exactly has Mexico done for you? What exactly makes you a proud Mexican? I'm proud to be American because the USA is the best country in the world. That's why so many Mexicans immigrate here, legally and illegally. You won't be able to answer any of my questions you'll just utter some incoherent insult. "
Prov3 wrote on Jan 16, 2008 12:39 PM:
" I agree, mexictodabone, it is great that one of our American Border Patrol agents is instructing the U.S. Marines in foot tracking. "
mikegino wrote on Jan 16, 2008 9:24 AM:
" Good work BP! Semper Fi! "
ricocafe99 wrote on Jan 16, 2008 8:33 AM:
" mexictodabone...huh? you drinking while you post again? "
mexictodabone wrote on Jan 16, 2008 4:58 AM:
" The good thing is that you little of whats really going on...truth to the fact is were not going nowhere so you might wanna go back to Heckville Alabama. "
wesley wrote on Jan 16, 2008 4:48 AM:
" You know what's even better? Hispanic BP officers arresting and deporting the criminals that illegaly enter this country from Mexico everyday. "
mexictodabone wrote on Jan 16, 2008 12:57 AM:
" You got love it, when the Hispanic BP officer is teaching the best of the best The Marines... "
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Shogun30 wrote on Jan 17, 2008 5:46 PM: