Photo By Sgt. Victor Ayala | Soldiers with Bravo Company, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne...... read more read more
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. – Paratroopers from 2nd Platoon, Company B, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, trained for military operations on urban terrain, April 2. The training was in preparation for the unit's upcoming deployment to Iraq as part of the Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team.
The day's training began with the Soldiers zeroing in their weapons and practicing reflexive fire techniques. Reflexive fire training improves a Soldier's ability to quickly and accurately engage a hostile target and suppress it.
The platoon then conducted combat operations in a shoot-house, which is a special structure where Soldiers can safely practice the dangerous work of clearing buildings.
As the platoon moved through the house, the Soldiers were required to quickly and efficiently handle any scenario they encountered. In some rooms, targets represented hostiles to be eliminated. Other rooms incorporated non-hostile targets, testing the Soldiers' abilities to make split-second decisions regarding targets.
The platoon performed both day and night iterations of the training.
1st Lt. Christopher S. Brantley, 2nd Platoon leader and Bay Village, Ohio, native, was confident the training was having positive effects on his Soldiers.
"This builds confidence in their equipment, personal skills and skills as a team," Brantley said.
As military operations on urban terrain are all too common for the modern Soldier in theater, it is critical that Soldiers be ready to handle the many factors of MOUT. One of the biggest factors in an urban environment is the presence of civilians in combat zones.
Sgt. Alexander Maynard, squad leader and Inez, Ky. native, said the training helped to reinforce that important fact to the younger Soldiers.
"This isn't about just kicking in doors and clearing rooms," Maynard said. "It's about identifying our targets and making sure we're not hurting the wrong people. We're trying to win the hearts and minds of the people. We don't want to make new enemies while fighting another."
The Soldiers of the 504th PIR have also been conducting convoy, respond-to-ambush and respond-to-contact training in anticipation of their deployment to Iraq at the end of the year.
| Date Taken: | 04.02.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 04.07.2009 13:04 |
| Story ID: | 32128 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 292 |
| Downloads: | 270 |
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