DVIDS Hub works best with JavaScript enabled

2/8 conducts MOUT training

Photo By Staff Sgt. Ashley McLaughlin | Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment maneuver to the next building during a...... read more read more

CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES

10.03.2017

Courtesy Story

II Marine Expeditionary Force

Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment conducted military operations on urbanized terrain training using simulation rounds on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Oct. 2-4.

The Marines conducted the training in preparation for the battalion’s upcoming deployment to Japan.

“We’re going through our modified urban package,” said Sgt. Matthew Earle, a platoon sergeant with the battalion. “Being able to utilize different multi-storied buildings, different interior and exterior movements inside the buildings, utilizing hallways and doorways, and then how to get from building to building on a small scale and a large scale.”

Training is commonly done with blanks, which makes it hard to tell who was shot and where. With simulation rounds, Marines focus more on utilizing cover through the entire exercise.

“Simulation rounds are just a 9mm projectile filled with paint. What it offers is both the attacker and the defender a way to get immediate feedback,” said Earle. “I’m shot in the leg, I’ll put a tourniquet on, stop the bleeding and I’m still in the fight. I still have a job to do.”

The Marines conducted several dry runs from the fire team level up to the company sized level, clearing buildings that contained improvised explosive devices and Marines roleplaying as enemy combatants.

After the dry runs, the Marines conducted similar runs using simulation rounds which enabled them to realistically practice the appropriate treatment of the patients, calling casualty evacuations, all while still carrying on with the mission.

“The more training we can get, the more rehearsals we can get, that’s all we could ask for,” said Lance Cpl. Larry Beauchamp, a squad leader with the battalion.

After each run, the instructors gathered with the teams, providing feedback and discussing how the operation could have been run differently. Ensuring that each Marine knew what was executed properly and what to improve on in subsequent runs.

“Coming out here, what we call suffering together,” said Earle. “Being away from our families and forced into tight living spaces, but being together as a unit. The more you work together, the more lethal you become on that battlefield.”