593rd ESC conducts urban terrain training

By Spc. Bryan RandolphJuly 28, 2014

593rd ESC conducts urban terrain training
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Jordan T. Aldridge (left), from Virginia Beach, Va., a team leader with the 493rd Military Police Company out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. and Spc. Chris R. Abaire, from Beaverdam, Va., a team leader with the 308th Military Police Company ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
593rd ESC conducts urban terrain training
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., conduct military operations in urban terrain (MOUT) training in a mock village here July 17 during WAREX 91 14-03. (Photo by U.S. Army Spc. Bryan A. Ran... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
593rd ESC conducts urban terrain training
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., prepare to breach a door during military operations in urban terrain (MOUT) training in a mock village here July 17 during WAREX 91 14-03. (Photo by U.S... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
593rd ESC conducts urban terrain training
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., conduct military operations in urban terrain (MOUT) training in a mock village here July 17 during WAREX 91 14-03. (Photo by U.S. Army Spc. Bryan A. Ran... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
593rd ESC conducts urban terrain training
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., conduct military operations in urban terrain (MOUT) training in a mock village here July 17 during WAREX 91 14-03. (Photo by U.S. Army Spc. Bryan A. Ran... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. - Soldiers from the 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command conducted military operations in urban terrain (MOUT) training during Warrior Exercise (WAREX) 91 14-03 here July 17. MOUT training is required for all Soldiers due to the current focus of modern warfare.

MOUT training covers team movement through an urban setting, breeching doors and other entrances and techniques to clear rooms and buildings of hostile forces.

"As a personal security detail [PSD], we're going to be in charge of protecting our general or sergeant major," said Spc. Brandon Crawford, a human resources specialist assigned to the 593rd. "When we get out in theater, we're going to need our tactics, techniques, and procedures [TTPs] -- this training right here will put us in real-world situations."

The trainers are dedicated to helping the units they train.

"The overall goal is to ensure all the units that are passing through are fully and sufficiently trained in battle drill 6-alpha [MOUT]," said Spc. Jordan T. Aldridge, from Virginia Beach, Virginia, a team leader with the 493rd Military Police Company from Joint Base Lewis-McChord. "We need to make sure that they are comfortable and have a well-versed knowledge of it so that when they move on down range they know what to do in a basic situation."

Training starts with Army doctrine, but a unit's standard operating procedures (SOPs) are also taken into account.

Aldridge, an assistant instructor at the MOUT training site said, "Right now I am training straight from doctrine, the FM 3-6.11, and instructing everybody on the basic knowledge and course of action to take while conducting battle drill 6-alpha, while still leaving room for interpretation and inclusion of any unit SOPs."

Through training repetition, units can develop and refine their SOPs.

"What we are doing at Fort Hunter Liggett, is getting our standards for our PSD team down," said Crawford, an Oakland, California, native. "This is the best location for us to get this training in, to get them up and running, and get ready to protect the general and protect the sergeant major when we go out on deployment."

The weather and terrain here helps add realism for many Soldiers.

The trainers agree that the terrain augments the training experience.

"With Fort Hunter Liggett, the terrain features are very much similar to the ones in rural Iraq and most of Afghanistan," said Aldridge. "So it's a very real training effect and a very well simulated environment.

The main goal is for all Soldiers to learn something.

"Success here is that everybody takes something away from the training," said Aldridge. "Be it the room clearing procedures or just their basic movements on how to not flag their buddies; anything anybody takes home, I consider that a success."

Crawford said the Soldiers in his unit understand the importance of learning in a safe environment.

"I think the purpose of this is to learn common battle drills in a training environment," said Crawford. He added that getting in the right state of mind for training and performing the drills correctly help with the training experience.

Aldridge also had advice that applies to more than just MOUT training.

"When conducting MOUT, or any type of training, check your ego at the door, keep an open mind, and above all have fun," said Aldridge.