Marines, Army train in urban combat, route clearing

Photo By Cpl. Abigail Brown | A Marine from 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 1st Brigade, Special Troops Battalion, rush a building after clearing their current location during urban breaching and operations training, Sept. 16-19.  

OKINAWA, JAPAN

09.24.2010

Story by Cpl. Abigail Brown 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

OKINAWA, Japan - Marines from 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, trained together during urban breaching and operations training and a demolition range, Sept. 16-19 at Rodriguez Live Fire Complex, Republic of Korea.

The training was broken into two separate training packages of two days each.

The urban breaching and assault included training on demolitions, patrolling and military operations in urban terrain.

"They were trained on how to move in urban terrain, use live demolition and use special operations teams," said Staff Sgt. Garrett Wain, combat engineer, 1st Brigade, STB.

"The three types of demolitions the students learned during the training were dynamic, meaning an actual charge, manual, where the breacher uses part of his body, and mechanical, which uses a tool of some sort."

The Marines and soldiers also employed special operations teams to conduct combat air support, support by fire, snipers, personnel and weapons search teams, sensitive site exploration and aid and litter teams, he added.

During the practical application portion of the training, the students rushed through a combat town.

They encountered mock casualties, smoke, background noise and mock insurgents as they moved through the town and secured an objective.

The Marines and soldiers were given blank rounds and a charge to breach an obstacle while moving through the town.

"My Marines don’t normally get to do this combat oriented training, so it was a good opportunity for us to be able to piggy-back on the Army’s training and learn some of their techniques," said 2nd Lt. Jessie Sims, engineer detachment officer-in-charge, 9th ESB. "It’s good for them to participate in [Military Operations on Urban Terrain] training because it’s representative of the current war we are fighting."

The demolitions range gave Marines and soldiers the opportunity to practice using tree cutting, grape shot, crater and improvised Bangalore torpedo charges. Students demonstrated their demolitions proficiency on trees, concrete barriers, steel beams and concertina wire.

"It’s important for engineers to practice breaching and clearing mobility courses," said Lt. Col. John Harris, commanding officer, Special Troops Battalion. "When we fight and train together we are able to learn new tactics, techniques and procedures while sharing resources."

The Marines and soldiers participating acquired new skills and gained valuable experience.

"Anytime we are able to practice demolitions, it makes it that much easier to do it for real," said Pfc. Jesse Frye, combat engineer, Company A, 9th ESB. "The urban breaching was also good training since it’s all ‘muscle memory’ that takes practice and now we have a better understanding of the Army’s standard operating procedures if we’re ever placed with [an Army unit]."

• Date Taken: 09.24.2010
• Date Posted: 09.26.2010 22:29
• Story ID: 57027
• Location: OKINAWA, JP