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Street Fighting Paratrooper Style

Multi-National Force-Iraq

Sunday, 14 January 2007
Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070114-20
Jan. 14, 2007

Street Fighting Paratrooper Style
2nd BCT, 82nd Abn. Div. Public Affairs

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – Camp Buehring, a flat, endless network of tents, barriers and containers stretching into the desert, is far removed from the chaotic sprawl of a city like Baghdad. So, how do Soldiers train for urban warfare when they’re stuck in the desert?

They make the city come to them.

At Camp Buehring, urban warfare training, known as Military Operations in Urban Terrain, is conducted at a specially-constructed complex that replicates urban conditions. Paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team trained at the site Jan. 12.

Urban warfare training is a top priority for the 2nd BCT, which is expecting to be deployed into Baghdad soon to help reclaim neighborhoods controlled by insurgents. Paratroopers from the 2nd BCT’s 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment say they are ready for that fight, but that constant training is the only way to stay prepared.

“MOUT skills are muscle memory – the more you use them, the stronger they get. That’s why we do this stuff every time we get a chance,” said Sgt. Bert Lyons, of Shreveport, La., and a team leader with Company C, 1st Bn., 504th PIR.

The MOUT facility at Camp Buehring is a city block-long stretch of buildings, streets, and courtyards. Inside each building, life-like mannequins stand in for enemy fighters or civilians. Clearing the site requires split-second reaction times, synchronization and constant situational awareness.

“It’s a 360-degree environment. It’s totally dynamic. So, we just have to be ready for whatever comes at us,” said 1st Lt. Ian Edgerly of Austin, Texas, a platoon leader with Co. C.

When it was Co. C’s turn to run through the exercise, the paratroopers, who had been joking and laughing with each other, instantly switched on their game faces. Moving in squad-sized elements, they methodically entered and cleared each room. Each time a squad bounded across the open areas, another would provide over-watch, scanning the windows and rooftops for snipers. As they moved, noncommissioned officers made sure their troopers were keeping 360-degree security and watching their sectors of fire.

Staff Sgt. Jack Butler, of Huntsville, Ala., a platoon sergeant with the company, said the experience of his NCOs – some on their third and fourth deployments – and the intensive training the platoon underwent before deploying ensured that his troopers were highly proficient at MOUT tasks and drills.

“We’ve been training like this for the past eight months. These guys know MOUT like the back of their hands,” said Butler. “We’re ready to carry the fight to the enemy.”

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FOR MORE INFORMATION OR HIGH RES PHOTOS, CONTACT MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION – BAGHDAD PUBLIC AFFAIRS NCO IN CHARGE, MASTER SGT. DAVID LARSEN BY E-MAIL AT: DAVID.J.LARSEN@US.ARMY.MIL ; OR BY PHONE AT COMMERCIAL: (914) 822-8174, OR IRAQNA: 011-964-790-192-4675.