Eleventh Marine Expeditionary Unit conducts urban training

Photo By Lance Cpl. Claudia Palacios | Cpl. Brandon Ogden inspects a vehicle during an exercise focused on running an efficient checkpoint Dec. 14. Ogden, 24, who hails from San Antonio, is a heavy equipment mechanic with Combat Logistics Battalion 11, which provides logistics and services for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The Camp Pendleton, Calif., based 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit deployed from San Diego Nov. 14 aboard USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor and arrived in Singapore Dec. 12 as part of a regularly scheduled deployment to the western Pacific and Middle East regions.  

MURAI, SINGAPORE

12.14.2011

Story by Sgt. Elyssa Quesada 

11th Marine Expeditionary Unit   

MURAI, Singapore - The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted urban terrain training in Murai, Singapore, Dec. 13-14 during a 10-day round-robin.

More than 90 Marines and sailors from the unit's command, ground combat and logistics elements attended classes, patrolled through a training town and interacted with Marines role-playing as town leadership and local aggressors.

Mortarmen with the ground combat element, Battalion Landing Team 3/1, taught patrolling, firing positions and weapons handling.

"They were able to understand the basics of patrolling and then use them," said Sgt. Ramon Rodriguez, a section leader with the mortar platoon.

Clad in body armor and carrying small-arms weapons, the Marines and sailors divided into squads and fire teams to patrol the training town, all while gathering information about the town and its hostile enemy forces.

Each patrol was different, with varying factors such as simulated improvised explosive devices, enemy fire and suffered casualties.

"I think they did an outstanding job and accomplished the mission," said Sgt. Curney Russell, scout section leader with the team. "During the patrol, we maintained good communication. We moved well, and we were able to clear each room efficiently."

"It's amazing to have the opportunity to come out and train in a different environment and to interact with a foreign military," said Russell, 27, who hails from Manchester, N.H.

The Camp Pendleton, Calif., unit deployed from San Diego Nov. 14 and arrived in Southeast Asia Dec. 11 as part of a regularly scheduled deployment.

• Date Taken: 12.14.2011
• Date Posted: 12.15.2011 00:25
• Story ID: 81388
• Location: MURAI, SG