MARCH AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - U.S. Air Force Reserve 4th Combat Camera Squadron airmen participated in urban operations at a training site here, July 31.
Military operation on urban terrain is going into an area such as a city, village, town, or other site of future conflict and using military operation objectives such as room clearing and utilizing night vision goggles and other equipment provided in order to effectively complete a mission.
During night hours, airmen deployed to the MOUT site where they geared up, secured their NVGs to their Kevlar helmets, and received a mission brief by the cadre. Two six-man teams were formed and each team proceeded to their missions as guided. Mission requirements were to clear rooms as effectively and efficiently as possible using the techniques they were given prior to deploying. Cadre observed every mission, critiqued as they saw fit, and wrapped up with mission debriefs.
According to Master Sgt. Donald Allen, a 4th CTCS instructor for the training, one of the most critical things in urban operations is the room clearing.
“It’s probably one of the most dangerous situations we would get into, he said. “There are a hundred other things we could teach about MOUT, but that one is most critical.”
One airman who went through the training, U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Megan Gilliland, stated that her favorite part about the training was using the NVGs in the completely dark room.
“Even though it was new, it is important to be familiar with those types of situations,” she said.
“This training is unique just in the fact that we are combat camera and although hundreds of other units may go through this type of training, we are the only ones who are trying to acquire imagery during this process, which adds a whole new layer to it,” said Allen.