thedrifter
09-24-03, 01:39 PM
PUBLISHED SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2003
Eglin eyes anti-terror training
Kimberly Blair
@PensacolaNewsJournal.com
Carmen Paige
@PensacolaNewsJournal.com
Armed forces officials are considering building a multimillion dollar urban combat and anti-terrorism training center at Eglin Air Force Base.
The MOUT - an acronym for Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain - would be used to prepare Marines for building-by- building combat similar to current and recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The mock city would be constructed as part of the shift in Naval training from Puerto Rico to various locations in the United States, including Eglin.
"With the closing of Vieques is a proposal to move some amphibious training for the Marines to the Santa Rosa County side of the Eglin reserve. As part of that, the Marines have on the drawing board a MOUT," said Dan McFaul, chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Chumuckla.
"It would be very high-tech with instrumentation, cameras, lasers and sensors to track where your Marines are and where shots are fired," he said.
McFaul emphasized that the plan is still in a conceptual development phase. Moreover, the Air Force, the Navy and the Marine Corps must reach an agreement before a proposal is sent to the Pentagon.
Such a project would have a significant economic impact on the region and would help to secure Eglin's position during the next round of Base Realignment And Closure hearings in 2005, said Vann Goodloe, senior vice president of military affairs at the Pensacola Area Chamber of Commerce.
McFaul said he is unsure what the price tag for such a facility might be. A similar complex at Fort Polk, La., cost $68.2 million.
Santa Rosa County Commissioner Gordon Goodin said he recently was told by one Eglin official that "big things" are in the works for the base, but he would not divulge details.
Said base spokesman Jake Swinson: "Eglin has traditionally responded very positively to defense requirements of our nation and contributed significantly to our war-fighting capabilities. If we are under consideration, we are very proud."
If the training center is constructed, Goodloe said, "it shows that the Department of Defense values the training area here very highly, not only because of infrastructure in place and quality of life, but also because of the community support around here."
http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/news/092103/Local/ST001.shtml
Sempers,
Roger
:marine:
Eglin eyes anti-terror training
Kimberly Blair
@PensacolaNewsJournal.com
Carmen Paige
@PensacolaNewsJournal.com
Armed forces officials are considering building a multimillion dollar urban combat and anti-terrorism training center at Eglin Air Force Base.
The MOUT - an acronym for Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain - would be used to prepare Marines for building-by- building combat similar to current and recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The mock city would be constructed as part of the shift in Naval training from Puerto Rico to various locations in the United States, including Eglin.
"With the closing of Vieques is a proposal to move some amphibious training for the Marines to the Santa Rosa County side of the Eglin reserve. As part of that, the Marines have on the drawing board a MOUT," said Dan McFaul, chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Chumuckla.
"It would be very high-tech with instrumentation, cameras, lasers and sensors to track where your Marines are and where shots are fired," he said.
McFaul emphasized that the plan is still in a conceptual development phase. Moreover, the Air Force, the Navy and the Marine Corps must reach an agreement before a proposal is sent to the Pentagon.
Such a project would have a significant economic impact on the region and would help to secure Eglin's position during the next round of Base Realignment And Closure hearings in 2005, said Vann Goodloe, senior vice president of military affairs at the Pensacola Area Chamber of Commerce.
McFaul said he is unsure what the price tag for such a facility might be. A similar complex at Fort Polk, La., cost $68.2 million.
Santa Rosa County Commissioner Gordon Goodin said he recently was told by one Eglin official that "big things" are in the works for the base, but he would not divulge details.
Said base spokesman Jake Swinson: "Eglin has traditionally responded very positively to defense requirements of our nation and contributed significantly to our war-fighting capabilities. If we are under consideration, we are very proud."
If the training center is constructed, Goodloe said, "it shows that the Department of Defense values the training area here very highly, not only because of infrastructure in place and quality of life, but also because of the community support around here."
http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/news/092103/Local/ST001.shtml
Sempers,
Roger
:marine: