Training for the unexpected

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Anishka Calder | A Soldier pulls security on a "wounded, armed enemy combatant" while his buddy advances in a room during the military operations on urban terrain training at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Dec. 4. The Soldiers are Assigned to the 7th Chemical Company from Fort Polk, La., and are deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.  

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT

12.11.2007

Story by Staff Sgt. Anishka Calder 

1st Theater Sustainment Command

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – Soldiers from the 7th Chemical Company, who are deployed at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, took time out of their regular schedule to hone their urban warfare tactics during Military Operations on Urban Terrain training at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Dec. 4.

"This training entails close quarters marksmanship qualification and four-man stacks on clearing multiple rooms," said Capt. Christopher Wei, the platoon leader for 3rd Platoon, 7th Chemical Company, and the officer in charge of the training. "It is basically preparing us (in) the event that we were to encounter such built up areas in Iraq while conducting our missions."

During the training, the Soldiers were taught how to clear rooms in a swift, safe manner while at the same time maintaining muzzle-awareness and keeping in mind the safety of their buddy to the left and right. They went through dry runs before ultimately going through the highlight of the course which was clearing a room in four-man stacks with live ammunition.

A four-man stack is when you clear a room with four Soldiers. Each Soldier is assigned a number – 1, 2, 3 and 4 – and they go in as a team and clear the room together, said Wei.

The training is geared towards making the Soldiers aware of every possible scenario they may face in close quarters combat and how to make the best of each situation.

"The Soldiers are learning a lot about techniques, tactics and procedures for clearing rooms," said Wei, 26, a native of Bethesda, Md. "This training is very realistic. We use live rounds, so safety is key while going through this training. All the Soldiers here are well-disciplined on muzzle awareness, making sure that weapons are facing down at all times when they are not actively engaging a target, and that they positively identify a target before they engage it. Therefore the risk of fratricide or injury to a fellow Soldier is fairly low."

The training serves as a refresher for the Soldiers, and is also a means to built camaraderie and teamwork, which are essential in the success of their daily missions.

"This training keeps us battle-focused," said Wei. "We hope to gain a more technical understanding of room clearing and close quarters battle. It just enhances what we learned from the States. It is a confidence builder for us and helps us with team building ... it definitely boosts our morale."

Sgt. 1st Class Harold Flory, the platoon sergeant for 3rd platoon, 7th Chemical Company, and a native of Gait, Calif., agreed on the importance of this training for Soldier development.

"This training enforces the warrior tasks and drills that the Soldiers need to have, to the point where they can do it on a daily basis, and continue to build on that foundation of skills and training that they already have," Flory said.

The Soldiers of the 7th Chemical Company, who are out of Fort Polk, La., have been deployed for over six months and already have over 220 combat missions, or combat logistics patrols, and have driven around 1.8 million miles since their deployment. The more than10 hours of training that they receive at the MOUT site prepares them for the unexpected as they drive back and forth on the dangerous roads of Iraq.

"I hope the Soldiers get a better understanding of teamwork. We have good teamwork, but this is a lot different," said Sgt. Jay Jordan, a chemical operations supervisor for 7th Chemical Company. "A lot of what we do on missions is in gun trucks, so you have someone on the 50-caliber weapon. This gives a whole new view to it (teamwork). Everybody has the same weapon while going through this training and everything you do affects the whole team, so it's a big teamwork development."

The training also builds the leadership of the younger Soldiers who are preparing to lead other Soldiers on similar missions one day. It helps them to think quickly and to stick with the decisions that they make for their team, and to build each member of the team's confidence, said Jordan, 21, a native of Chipley, Fla.

Wei stressed the importance of Soldiers, especially those who travel on the Iraqi roads, getting this training, regardless of their mission in support of the war on terrorism.

"Everybody should be able to come out here and do this type of training," said Wei. "We as a chemical company do this type of training even though it's usually reserved for the infantry-type or combat arms units. All Soldiers should have a basic knowledge of this kind of training, it makes the Soldier more well-rounded."

• Date Taken: 12.11.2007
• Date Posted: 12.11.2007 08:59
• Story ID: 14605
• Location: CAMP ARIFJAN, KW