Local Lance Cpl Is A Small Arms Expert—

Armorers Keep The Marines

Armed And Prepared

 By Lance Cpl Ryan M. Blaich

LEJEUNE, N.C. — Behind door number three, in a space that lodges close to 400 weapons, armorers of 2nd Radio Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force, make sure Marines get the assistance and equipment they need to train and prepare to fight.

As sounds of country music echoed throughout the armory, Lance Cpl Fredrick A. Forrester, of Newtown, a small arms repair technician, placed an M16-A2 service rifle back on the shelf. Marines throughout the battalion trust armorers with their rifles, what is often considered the single, most important piece of metal they take into battle. Every Marine is taught that the rifle is the difference between life and death, victory and defeat.

Lance Cpl Forrester has served his country for more than two years. He grew up around guns and said he always wanted to know what made them work. He spent three months of military occupational specialty school at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md.

He shares responsibilities with Lance Cpl Brencent T. Berry from Tuskegee, Ala. These two junior Marines are relied upon to keep track of weapons, repair and replace parts, transport weapons, provide security, and make sure everything runs smoothly.

“It gets a little hectic in here. Sometimes the stress level goes up when there’s a long line outside and there’s a lot of paper work to do, but whatever it is we handle it and make sure it gets done. Afterward, we’ll talk about it and figure what we can do better,” Lance Cpl Forrester said about the working environment. However, he admits, the biggest problem the two face is their choice of music.

“I can’t take that country everyday,” Lance Cpl Berry said with a smirk. “There is even a hip-hop country song about rodeo.”

The marines realize, however, that music is not a big deal when their fellows Marines are in war zones all over the world fighting the global war on terror. Lance Cpl Berry said he is not sure what to expect if he deploys later this year, but knows he has an important job to do.

Lance Cpl Forrester deployed last February to Iraq. He was able to discuss what it is like to do his job in a combat environment, including what it is like to work under the constant threat of mortars.

“Things happen a lot faster in Iraq and we fix a lot more weapons. Rifles break more often when Marines are running around and diving on the ground,” Lance Cpl Forrester recalled. Despite the long days and sleepless nights, he said he was proud to have had the chance to be a part of the war effort and looks forward to going back.

Lance Cpl Berry, like Lance Cpl Forrester, who grew up hunting and fishing, realize the importance of their job and what it means to the entire corps, but also maintain their sense of humor.

“We make the boomsticks go boom,” said Berry. “You can’t be out there throwing rocks,” he joked as he removed the Beretta 9mm pistol from his holster.

Lance Cpl Berry’s task of the day was delivering squad automatic weapons to the rifle range. “There were some Marines from our battalion getting a class, so it’s part of my job to make sure the weapons get there safely,” he said.

Weapons and their capabilities will always change. Knives will get sharper and rifles will shoot farther, but the armorers will always have the same mission — ensure the weapons are functional so that the mission of Marine Corps can continue to be accomplished.

(Lance Cpl Ryan M. Blaich works in the public affairs office of the Marine Corps base at Camp Lejeune, N.C.)