Dutch Marines assault MOUT Town

Photo By Lance Cpl. Preston McDonald | Dutch Royal Marines with the 32nd Raiding Squadron, Dutch Caribbean Forces, clear a stairwell during an assault on MOUT town aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 26, 2015. Approximately 150 Marines from the squadron came to Camp Lejeune for a month-long training exercise in which they train in Military Operations in Urban Terrain and use air support to execute their missions.  

CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, UNITED STATES

03.26.2015

Story by Lance Cpl. Preston McDonald 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Approximately 150 Royal Dutch Marines from the 32nd Raiding Squadron, Dutch Caribbean Forces, conducted a company scenario aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, March 23-27.

The company scenario is part of the annual Dutch Bilateral training which allows the Dutch Caribbean Forces to come to Camp Lejeune for a month and conduct training exercises along with using resources provided by the U.S. Marines.

“This training is part of a deal with Marine Corps Forces South and our forces in the Caribbean,” said Maj. Clemens Butler, commander of the Netherland Forces in the Caribbean. “Every year we come to Camp Lejeune to do Military Operations in Urban Terrain training.”

“It provides us with a unique capability to train our Marines,” Butler said.

The Dutch Marines use resources that are not available to them in Aruba such as air support, simulated casualties, and casualty evacuation.

During the month-long training period, the Dutch Marines train in Urban Terrain in areas such as MOUT Town and Combat Town.
Private 1st Class David Ikilikian, an infantryman with the squadron, said that training on Camp Lejeune allows the forces to train on a much larger scale due to limited training capabilities in Aruba.

U.S. Marines provided support during the company exercise, acting as enemy resistance to give the Dutch Marines a realistic simulation of urban warfare.

“We’re acting as high value targets that they have been seeking out for the duration of the exercise,” said Sgt. William Kozloski, a U.S. Marine with Camp Lejeune’s 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment.

Training aboard Camp Lejeune also allows the Dutch Marines to familiarize themselves with the U.S. Marines and their training tactics
“The biggest advantage is that in real time, we already know each other,” Butler said.

Both Nations’ Marines already have similarities in their training and doctrineTraining on Camp Lejeune just adds to the list.

Kozloski says that a lot of the tactics and formations that the Dutch Marines use are similar, providing a common threshold that allows the two forces to better execute military missions amongst each other.

Both forces agree that the training allows them to build a better partnership for future military exercises.

“I’m really happy that we have the opportunity to train here,” Butler said.

In the end the Marines from both countries will have memories to take with them.

“I hope overall, this training allows us to build a good relationship with the Dutch Marines,” Kozloski said.

• Date Taken: 03.26.2015
• Date Posted: 03.30.2015 14:00
• Story ID: 158566
• Location: CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US