APS-12: GCE Marines MOUT up with AAVs at Combat Town

Photo By Staff Sgt. Jemssy Alvarez | U.S. Marines from Security Cooperation Task Force African Partnership Station 12 (SCTF APS-12), ground combat element (GCE), clear a simulated enemy compound during a mechanized patrol through Combat Town May 21, 2012, aboard Marine Corps. Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. This training was the first time that the GCE's rifle platoon conducted combat simulations with their mechanized counterparts since SCTF APS-12 was activated.  

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES

05.23.2012

Story by Cpl. Joshua Hines 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa     

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - The town appears empty; the streets quiet. THUMP! The wind blows a window against a wall somewhere in the distance.

Steadily, the rumble of a diesel engine begins to grow louder, echoing through the town as a patrol of Marines, with the ground combat element, Security Cooperation Task Force Africa Partnership Station 2012, pushes into the town to secure the embassy within, led by the massive armor-plated form of an Assault Amphibious Vehicle from AAV platoon.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! - Shots ring out through the seemingly empty town as the patrol begins to take fire. Marines yell, 'Contact Front, Contact Front!' and suddenly the quiet town bursts to life as Marines maneuver to safety behind buildings and AAVs to return fire at the enemy role-players that are taking refuge in the cluttered buildings of Combat Town, during the mechanized patrol training conducted aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., May 21.

The lead AAV simulates opening fire on the enemies' location, allowing the Marines of rifle platoon to avoid clearing the building on foot and demonstrating one of the many benefits of using a mechanized patrol to conduct Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain.

"This has been the first time we've been able to do MOUT stuff with both platoons," Gunnery Sgt. Henry Salgado, AAV platoon sergeant, SCTF APS-12, said. "Our goal is for both of us to become as proficient at MOUT as we can be and build that unit cohesion, that bond, so we can work better together."

The patrol continues to push forward, toward the embassy, as Marines on the ground work with the AAVs to strategically search and clear buildings. An AAV spots an enemy in a building; unable to assault the building the AAV radios a fireteam of Marines on the ground. The fireteam quickly moves to the location and flanks the enemy.

"It's a learning experience since I've never done this sort of training before, but it's been pretty good," Lance Cpl. Jared Hanson, motor transportation operator, rifle platoon, SCTF APS-12, said. "The AAVs are a really good resource."

The patrol reaches its goal after ensuring the area around the embassy is clear of any enemy threats and the exercise comes to its conclusion. The patrol then gathers together and discusses the good and bad actions taken, by the patrol as a whole as well as the Marines individually, during the exercise.

"It's great working with the AAVs," Staff Sgt. Jerry Babcock, communication chief, GCE, SCTF APS-12, said. "They really know what they're doing, so it's been a good time."

• Date Taken: 05.23.2012
• Date Posted: 05.23.2012 08:36
• Story ID: 88858
• Location: MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US