Training for Urban Terrains

[unhappycamper]

Training for Urban Terrains
February 13, 2009
Marine Corps News|by LCpl. Jeffrey Cordero

CAMP FUJI, Japan — On a cold, rainy afternoon, Marines and Sailors were tasked with clearing houses during a combat operation. Insurgent activity was reported high, and enemy contact was imminent.

This was the training scenario Marines and Sailors with 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, were tasked with during Military Operations on Urban Terrain training at the MOUT complex at the Combined Arms Training Center, Camp Fuji, Japan.

“With today’s combat environments, it is increasing more and more that Marines are going to find themselves in urban terrain, so the training helps Marines become well rounded,” said Staff Sgt. Derrick Hammond, the regimental training chief for 12th Marines.

The Marines and Sailors cleared houses, using blank rounds to face off against mock insurgents. If a participant was "shot," he was considered “dead” and could no longer participate with his team.

“It was definitely realistic,” said Lance Cpl. Roddie A. Plaisance, a fire direction controlman with the regiment’s operations platoon. “Even though they were blanks, it helped us understand how a real scenario would play.”


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/marine-corps-news/training-for-urban-terrains.html