Photo By Sgt. Brian Johnson | Soldiers from the Tarlton-based 811th Engineer Company experience Military Operations...... read more read more
FORT KNOX, Ky. - In a real-world situation while deployed, a Soldier may have to make a split-second decision. This split-second decision may mean the difference between life and death, not only for themselves, but the people around him.
Soldiers from the Tarlton-based 811th Engineer Company had a chance to experience just that during recent Military Operations on Urban Terrain (MOUT) training at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
The 811th has been in existence for just over one year. The unit is a “Sapper” company, its Soldiers trained to be combat explosives experts. In the U.S. Army, Sappers are combat engineers who advance with the front-line infantry, and they have fought in every war in American history. The Sapper designation is earned as an additional proficiency.
The main missions of Sapper units include being able to clear mine fields, deal with improvised explosive devices (IEDs), handle unexploded ordnance and clear obstacles such as concertina wire, as well as regular infantry tasks. The unit is one of 15 of its type in the country.
For the training conducted at Fort Knox, unit members were required to clear a building of any potential threats, learn to assault a target while under fire, and to move down a partial city block while under fire and having to navigate various obstacles. While just a training scenario, the simulated challenges required the Soldiers to make potentially life-changing decisions, were it during an actual deployment.
The unit commander, 1st Lt. Garret Edmister, of Westerville, said the MOUT training was very beneficial.
“This helps to increase troop capabilities in close quarters combat situations,” Edmister said. “What is being used here is extremely practical and can be used in the real world. In Iraq, a Soldier may have to use what they have learned here. Their decisions will help save lives.”
Staff Sgt. Don Jacobs of Lancaster said the training was well-organized.
“Our Soldiers are rising to every challenge that we are putting in from of them with this training,” Jacobs said. “With this unit being so new, this is helping to build unit cohesion and teamwork among all of the unit members. This is a chance for us to truly apply some of the basic combat tasks that we are required to know.”
Pfc. Corey Chinn of Ashville concurred with Jacobs.
“This was very high-speed training,” Chinn said. “It was really cool. This type of training was better than a lot of what I had experienced in a while.”
| Date Taken: | 09.15.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 04.11.2015 21:41 |
| Story ID: | 159755 |
| Location: | FORT KNOX, KY, US |
| Web Views: | 49 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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