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Midwest Marines storm through urban terrain training

US Marine Corps News

7/16/2010
By Lance Cpl. Colby W. Brown, Landing Force Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training

RODRIGUEZ LIVE FIRE COMPLEX, Republic of Korea -- More than 150 Marines from Landing Force Detachment, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment trained on the streets here during Military Operations in Urban Terrain training July 14-16.

The LF was able to enhance its urban warfare skills as part of unilateral military operations here, transitioning its focus from jungle warfare training during its participation in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training 2010 to urban warfare training.

Training included a live fire shoot house, MOUT dry runs and an assault on a mock town using Special Effect Small Arms Marking System (SESAMS) rounds against an opposing force.

“This training is going to help them,” said Sgt. Paul Tucker, platoon sergeant, 3rd Platoon, Company A, LF, native of Johnson City, Tenn. “When they are actually put into a real world situation they will be able to reach back to this training and realize not every room is the same and that will help them be more prepared.”

During the live fire shoot house, Marines cleared buildings as squads while using live rounds allowing them to become comfortable operating in an urban terrain while rounds are fired down range.

“The live fire shoot house really tests the trust the Marines have with each other because they are saying to themselves, do I trust this Marine enough for him to be firing live rounds over my shoulder as I enter this room,” Tucker said. “Live fire situations like this build that comfort level so when you enter a room you know that Marine will have your back and they get the full effect, the full concussion of the rounds going off and you get that adrenaline rush of firing live rounds – it’s the closest thing to a real fire fight.”

While working on fundamental MOUT skills the LF trained in the ‘town’, a mock town with a city square, 7-story hotel and multiple types of buildings and houses. Working as platoons, the Marines of the LF practiced a variety of scenarios including capturing or eliminating high priority targets, improvised explosive device searches, basic patrolling, sniper threats and clearing and securing individual houses.

“Being here will help the junior enlisted warriors build experience and confidence in MOUT and in their fellow team members,” said Lance Cpl. Jason Sanker, machine gunner, 1st Squad, Weapons Platoon, Company A, LF native of Clarkston, Mich. “The MOUT town is amazing because they aren’t just storage boxes, they are actual buildings made of concrete that I can touch. And the architecture of these buildings improve our MOUT skills as Marines because no two rooms are the same.”

The training evolution culminated with an assault on the city as a company sized force using SESAMS rounds. The Marines cleared and secured the city which was occupied by fellow Marines who role played as opposing forces.

Through out the three days of training the Marines had the opportunity to build confidence in their individual and team skills while operating in urban terrain.

“We were able to improve our skills in MOUT and build confidence with our team members – this is just a good opportunity to train,” Sanker said.