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Photo Information

Marines practice proper procedures for escorting prisoners on each other at the Naval Consolidated Brig Chaser class, April 10. Chasers guarantee the safety of the prisoners while transporting them.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Sarah Cherry

Marines attend chaser course

30 Apr 2013 | Lance Cpl. Sarah Cherry Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort

Marines responsible for escorting prisoners to and from the brig at Joint Forces Base Charleston are called chasers, and are responsible for more that just the transporta­tion of that prisoner. Chas­ers must be thoroughly trained for any situation, ensuring that the prison­er in their care is safe and treated fairly.

“Whenever a prisoner has to go somewhere, whether it be to legal or a medical appointment, whatever the case may be, chasers are obligated by their command to come out, pick that prisoner up, and drive him to where he needs to be,” said Sgt. Cody Prickett, a correc­tions specialist at Joint Forces Base Charleston and teacher for the Naval Consolidated Brig Chaser Class. “It’s important to us to make sure they’re qualified to handle and deal with a prisoner, whatever qualification of custody he is.”

Each unit has chasers and is responsible for the Marines in their own unit incarcerated in the brig. The course to become a chaser is intensive, teach­ing Marines everything from ethics, to safely cuff­ing a prisoner while pro­tecting themselves.

“I think it’ll be inter­esting to experience the [military police] side of the Marine Corps a little bit,” said Cpl. Mark Ca­son II, a recent graduate of the Naval Consolidated Brig Chaser Class.

Cason is an infantry­man with some back­ground transporting ene­my combatant detainees, but he doesn’t think he’ll have trouble switching to transporting Marines.

“You still take some of the same precautions,” said Cason.

To protect themselves from sudden aggressive actions from detained enemy combatants, Ma­rines keep detainees unbalanced by putting slight pressure on the back of their leg. When escorting Marines to the brig, personal safety is still a concern.

“When you [are escort­ing] a detainee, you want them off balance. With this, you just put your foot behind their foot so they can’t kick you,” said Cason. “You treat them with respect. They’re adults.

“You’re just there to help them safely get from point A to point B. They should be able to rely on you,” he said.