MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- The Parris Island Provost Marshal's Office augmentees participated in a Familiarization Fire with MCAS and Depot Military Police personnel at the Beaufort County Range Aug. 24.
The training, with the Benelli M1014 semi-automatic shotgun and the Beretta M-9 pistol, increased the shooters' comfort level with weapons that they may have to use in the line of duty at the Random Vehicle Inspection site.
"In today's day and age where terrorism awareness is in the forefront of everyone's conscience, presenting a hard target here at Parris Island is extremely important," said 1st Lt. William Butters, officer-in-charge of Military Police District Parris Island.
In light of this, the Provost Marshal's Office has begun to train the augmented Marines in much the same manner as the MPs.
"Our MPs at the Air Station already carry shotguns on base," said Staff Sgt. Terry Dennis, training chief at the Provost Marshal's Office, MCAS Beaufort. "The ones at Parris Island are going to be carrying them. So, they need to get some familiarization and training with the shotgun before they go out there, and if they have to use it they will know how."
The augmentees also participated in the firing of pistols, but that was more of a motivational training situation, said Dennis.
"It is pretty motivating for the other Marines who have never dealt with shotguns or done any training like this," said Sgt. Jeff Walding, a PMO augment. "Most of them are supply [Military Occupational Specialty's] or things like that. This training will make them a lot
more familiar with it and give them a general understanding of how it works and how to [employ] it."
Since the augmentees work the same hours as the MPs, a working relationship is essential to achieving positive communication and teamwork between the full-time and part-time personnel, said Butters.
The interaction with the MPs they are working with in a training environment is very positive, he added.
"It is a tough, tedious, monotonous job for them up there," said Butters. "They do have a tough job and everybody needs to recognize that. So if [someone] gets pulled over into a RVI site when they are late for work or late for a meeting, they just need to understand that those guys are just doing their job, ensuring the safety of the Depot."