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MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. (4/3/2012) -- The sound of
weapons firing and incoming mortars filled the city streets. Amidst
the chaos stood a fire team of Marines stacked against the wall at
the bottom of a stairwell. Uncertain of what was awaiting for them
at the top, the Marine's hearts raced as sweat dripped down their
dirty faces. The second man in the stack counted down from three and
the fire team turned the corner and charged up the stairs where it
eliminated two enemy insurgents.
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2nd Lt. Justin Kistner, 5th Platoon, Alpha Company, The Basic School, asks a question over the scheme of maneuver during a training exercise on military operations in urban terrain at Camp Barrett, March 27,
2012. Fifth platoon was given the objective of clearing and securing the buildings of all enemy insurgents. Photo by
USMC Lance Cpl. Emmanuel Ramos
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This was the scene as Marines with Alpha Company, The Basic School,
conducted a training exercise on military operations in urban
terrain at Camp Barrett, March 27.
“It takes a lot to plan an
offensive attack in an urban city,” said 2nd Lt. Joseph King,
platoon commander for this exercise. “You have to know where the
enemy is, how many there are and the most effective way of taking
them out.”
Fifth platoon was given the objective of clearing
and securing the buildings of all enemy insurgents. The building
would then be used to set up communications and help advance
operations.
As platoon commander, King developed a plan for
the best way to infiltrate the city.
“Given the information
at hand from my |
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leader's recon, I developed avenues of approach and directed my
machine gunners where they would be most effective,” King said after
briefing his platoon. |
King's plan was straightforward, using the high
explosives his squad had, he would weaken the enemy's
defensive positions and punch through to the first set of
buildings.
Once the house was secure, the fire team
would wave a glow strap out the window to signal to the next
fire team that the house was secure. They would then pop
smoke grenades and provide covering fire for the incoming
fire team.
They would continue to do this until all
enemy insurgents were killed or captured, and the city
secured.
The task proved harder than expected for
5th platoon, as they took heavy casualties and became
combat-ineffective.
“Unfortunately some of my guys,
including me, got caught up in the heat of the moment,” King
said. “There were a few times where we went gung-ho and
didn't think it through. That's what cost us a lot of guys.”
Defending its position 3rd platoon, Alpha Company, had a
hard time fending off 5th platoon's attack.
“There's
a lot going on at the same time,” said 2nd Lt. Robert
Mortenson, a machine gunner, 3rd platoon, Alpha Company,
TBS. “You never know what's in the next room or around the
corner.”
Although 5th platoon was not successful in
completing its mission, there were plenty of lessons
learned.
“Even though it wasn't real combat,
experiencing that fog of war here makes me better,”
Mortensen said.
With military battles moving away
from the traditional battlefield and into urban terrain, The
Marine Corps will continue to train its Marines for what
tomorrow has in store.
By USMC Lance Cpl. Emmanuel Ramos
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2012
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