Ravenex

by Mne Pienaar

Ravenex is a Special Operations Forces (SOF) exercise hosted by Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) in the USA’s southern states. For our US counterparts, it serves as their consolidation exercise before they become operationally deployable. The exercise consists of three ten day phases, with the second phase taking place in Mississippi and Louisiana, where J Coy from 42 Cdo RM participated, supported by ranks from 47 Cdo RG RM, 29 Cdo Regt RA and 3 Cdo Bde RM HQ.

We ranks spent the first two weeks training alongside J Coy in CQB, advanced Med, Comms, tactical site exploitation, discreet convoy moves and in other specialist areas. In week three we delivered a full WADER package to all exercising troops on the Pascagoula River. There had been very little rainfall in the area, leading to the river being the shallowest it had been for years. This was a factor we had to overcome on every amphibious action we undertook and was a great experience for us LCs.

The exercise consisted of three main actions. The first action involved capturing an IED maker from a compound near the Pascagoula River. This was a surprise task and was constrained by us not being granted a recce. We received approval to use the USMC ’s boats just before the action, giving us just 40 minutes to prepare. We rigged the boats quickly with paddles and towing lines, anticipating potential grounding and possible engine failures. One kilometre from the target, we grounded out with two Inflatable Raiding Craft (IRCs) in tow. As Bootnecks do, we adapted: ‘Engines up, we’re paddling, lads’, came the call from the Boss as we continued towards the target, single file, hugging the left bank illuminated by moonlight. Fifty metres from shore, the lead boat called to beach, and we all turned in unison, our troops stepping into mud that resembled the knee deep conditions of a mud run back at CTC. Despite the challenging conditions, we reached the target. Things went loud and it was our chance to get the boats operational. The Boss, leading by example, waded into the alligator infested river and commanded, ‘Drop the engines and get them singing’. After 20 minutes, all five boats were back in operation, just in time for the strike team to return. Armed with knowledge of the sandbars and beaver sharks (submerged logs), we recognised the need for more time with the boats to conduct a recce and take Section ICs on the ground.