Training to fight in an urban environment is not new to the the Army. There is a long history of battles that have been fought within the confines of cities, towns and villages. Hence, urban combat has been an active part of a soldier's training and the military's doctrine. Since September 11, 2001, however, and the operations that the Army has been engaged in, urban fighting has become one of the primary battle grounds, bringing with it new challenges and levels of risk.

The official name is M.O.U.T., short for Military Operations in Urban Terrain. This type training is designed to bring realism into the tactical exercise so that soldiers can experience the range of challenges and threats that they may face in the urban landscape. To facilitate the level of realism that soldiers may actually face once deployed, a small village has been constructed here at Camp Shelby which simulates the look and feel of a village in Afghanistan. Add to that actors that role play the part of local citizens as well as enemy combatants, and the stage is set for soldiers to gain operational experience that is directly applicable to their current mission.

An operation of this nature requires precise planning and disciplined rehearsals. From there the operational plans are reviewed and the mission is executed. The calm gives way to a type of choreographed chaos, as soldiers move through a storm of smoke, verbal commands and weapons fire. Their movement must be fast and precise, as rooms are cleared, enemy elements engaged and non-combatants protected from the battle. Seconds click by like minutes; time seems to nearly stop. The decisions made in a blink of an eye often mean the difference between life and death.

To add realism to the exercise, trainers move in an around the scene as the operation continues, evaluating and observing. Soldiers, equipped with specialized equipment that records "hits" from gun fire, can become a simulated casualty during the mission. The severity of their injury is assessed by the Observer. The soldiers group is then required to deal with the casualty as they would in a real life battle.

There are few missions that are as challenging as urban combat. The success of a mission requires soldiers to work together as synchronized teams, with a level of precision and focus that demands of them to literally move and shoot within inches of one another. Added to that are the potential dangers that lay in wait... booby traps, obstacles, blind corners, narrow hallways and doorways... a battle zone within the spaces of another's home or residence. Training is central to the missions success.

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Copyright, Scott Kesterson- 2006

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