thedrifter
12-04-02, 05:42 PM
Realistic training key to battlefield success
Lance Cpl. G. Lane Miley
Combat Correspondent
The pilot utilized the helicopter’s full capabilities as he banked each turn and barely skimmed the glassy surface of the New River. Onboard, infantry warriors armed to the teeth with mortars, grenades and a tank’s fire power awaited the bird’s landing.
Upon landing at Tactical Landing Zone Hawk, Marines from Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment, unloaded and tactically moved through the woods to Combat Town. There, the unit used the Marine Corps’ new Multi-Integrated Laser Engagement System 2000 during a recent Military Operations in Urban Terrain exercise.
“Flying with HMH-464 gives these Marines a good chance to practice their helo-born skills and gets them used to working in sticks. It keeps our skills sharp. We are the Helo Company for the battalion, so any time we get the chance to fly is good,” said 1st Lt. D. Alistair Durant, Kilo Company executive officer. “Not only does it help us, it helps the pilots meet their training standards by flying with Marines on board.”
The Marines stayed low as they trudged through the muddy, pine-needle-covered forest floor. The grey clouds overhead continued to pelt the warriors with a cold, drizzling rain as they neared the MOUT facility.
“We have high expectations for the MILES 2000 gear,” said Durant. “It allows us to track the rounds - friendly and enemy- and with that knowledge, the Marines can develop better practices for urban fighting.”
Urban warfare produces many casualties because of its unpredictability and the fact the enemy usually has a better knowledge of the area than American warriors. The Marines acted as enemy aggressors while others simulated an attack on the town’s various buildings.
Each combatant was fitted with his personal set of the MILES 2000 gear. The gear has a beam that attaches to the Marines weapon, four sensors on both the chest and back and four more that fit onto the Marine's helmet that can indicate a hit or even a near miss.
“Anything that is going to give us an advantage for more realistic combat is always a plus,” said field radio operator Lance Cpl. Victor M. Rivas.
Rivas, a Houston native, who’s practiced urban warfare before, said this is much better than the “blank warfare” where the Marines fire blank rounds from their weapons.
Platoon sergeant Sgt. Kevin C. Poss agreed and said the combination of the blanks and MILES 2000 should prove useful for his group of men.
After the smoke cleared and the beeping of the “killed” Marines subsided, Rivas added the importance of the training.
“On a scale from one to 10, this is a 10,” he said. “This is definitely a skill infantry Marines need to hone.”
The Marines practiced movement techniques in an urban environment, including night movements, gaining a foothold in a building occupied by the enemy and room clearing techniques. For the room clearing, they used simulated ammunition called “cesms.” These paint-filled 9 mm rounds are fired from their M16s.
“We are using the crawl, walk, run method,” said Staff Sgt. Robert M. Youngblood, 2nd Platoon platoon commander. “Last week, we studied the fundamentals in the classroom. This week, we brought the Marines out here to work and evaluate each aspect of MOUT training, and we will culminate it with squad attacks.”
The Marines received immediate feedback after each run through the facility.
“We’re conducting debriefs to correct any mistakes and give them a chance to voice any discrepancies they saw,” said Youngblood, a Jacksonville, Fla., native. “It keeps the Marines from making the same mistakes twice. This is definitely preparing them well.”
Nearly everyone felt the training was helpful and said the gear was a great teaching tool.
Youngblood said the gear made the training more realistic but stressed the importance of listening to the beeps and playing by the rules.
“The main key is that they adhere to the tones,” said the platoon commander. “If it says you’re dead, be dead. The “cesms” training is going to be even better. There’s no question about it.”
The Marines took full advantage of their time at the training facility. They conducted day and night training and everyone saw both sides of the training by playing the role of the aggressor. After their time at Combat Town, the Marines hike the 12-to-15 miles back to their battalion headquarters.
ebravo@militarynews.com
Sempers,
Roger
Lance Cpl. G. Lane Miley
Combat Correspondent
The pilot utilized the helicopter’s full capabilities as he banked each turn and barely skimmed the glassy surface of the New River. Onboard, infantry warriors armed to the teeth with mortars, grenades and a tank’s fire power awaited the bird’s landing.
Upon landing at Tactical Landing Zone Hawk, Marines from Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment, unloaded and tactically moved through the woods to Combat Town. There, the unit used the Marine Corps’ new Multi-Integrated Laser Engagement System 2000 during a recent Military Operations in Urban Terrain exercise.
“Flying with HMH-464 gives these Marines a good chance to practice their helo-born skills and gets them used to working in sticks. It keeps our skills sharp. We are the Helo Company for the battalion, so any time we get the chance to fly is good,” said 1st Lt. D. Alistair Durant, Kilo Company executive officer. “Not only does it help us, it helps the pilots meet their training standards by flying with Marines on board.”
The Marines stayed low as they trudged through the muddy, pine-needle-covered forest floor. The grey clouds overhead continued to pelt the warriors with a cold, drizzling rain as they neared the MOUT facility.
“We have high expectations for the MILES 2000 gear,” said Durant. “It allows us to track the rounds - friendly and enemy- and with that knowledge, the Marines can develop better practices for urban fighting.”
Urban warfare produces many casualties because of its unpredictability and the fact the enemy usually has a better knowledge of the area than American warriors. The Marines acted as enemy aggressors while others simulated an attack on the town’s various buildings.
Each combatant was fitted with his personal set of the MILES 2000 gear. The gear has a beam that attaches to the Marines weapon, four sensors on both the chest and back and four more that fit onto the Marine's helmet that can indicate a hit or even a near miss.
“Anything that is going to give us an advantage for more realistic combat is always a plus,” said field radio operator Lance Cpl. Victor M. Rivas.
Rivas, a Houston native, who’s practiced urban warfare before, said this is much better than the “blank warfare” where the Marines fire blank rounds from their weapons.
Platoon sergeant Sgt. Kevin C. Poss agreed and said the combination of the blanks and MILES 2000 should prove useful for his group of men.
After the smoke cleared and the beeping of the “killed” Marines subsided, Rivas added the importance of the training.
“On a scale from one to 10, this is a 10,” he said. “This is definitely a skill infantry Marines need to hone.”
The Marines practiced movement techniques in an urban environment, including night movements, gaining a foothold in a building occupied by the enemy and room clearing techniques. For the room clearing, they used simulated ammunition called “cesms.” These paint-filled 9 mm rounds are fired from their M16s.
“We are using the crawl, walk, run method,” said Staff Sgt. Robert M. Youngblood, 2nd Platoon platoon commander. “Last week, we studied the fundamentals in the classroom. This week, we brought the Marines out here to work and evaluate each aspect of MOUT training, and we will culminate it with squad attacks.”
The Marines received immediate feedback after each run through the facility.
“We’re conducting debriefs to correct any mistakes and give them a chance to voice any discrepancies they saw,” said Youngblood, a Jacksonville, Fla., native. “It keeps the Marines from making the same mistakes twice. This is definitely preparing them well.”
Nearly everyone felt the training was helpful and said the gear was a great teaching tool.
Youngblood said the gear made the training more realistic but stressed the importance of listening to the beeps and playing by the rules.
“The main key is that they adhere to the tones,” said the platoon commander. “If it says you’re dead, be dead. The “cesms” training is going to be even better. There’s no question about it.”
The Marines took full advantage of their time at the training facility. They conducted day and night training and everyone saw both sides of the training by playing the role of the aggressor. After their time at Combat Town, the Marines hike the 12-to-15 miles back to their battalion headquarters.
ebravo@militarynews.com
Sempers,
Roger