NATO counterparts conduct MOUT training

By Spc. Audrey HayesNovember 25, 2014

NATO counterparts conduct MOUT training
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Andrew Raines, an infantryman from Phenix City, Ala., and Sgt. Chris Casey, a squad leader from North Baltimore, Ohio, both with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, stationed at Fort Hoo... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
NATO counterparts conduct MOUT training
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Soldier with the Polish army clears a building during military operations in urban terrain training near Drawsko Pomorskie, Poland, Nov. 19. The training is part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a demonstration of our continued commitment to the coll... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
NATO counterparts conduct MOUT training
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Jesus Sanchez, a native of Pharr, Texas, and an infantry squad leader with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, discusses how to clear a building with a Pol... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ZLOCIENIEC, Poland -- Polish and American Soldiers from Company A., 2nd. Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, shared knowledge on how to clear buildings, at a range near Drawsko Pomorskie, Poland, Nov. 19, 2014.

Military operations in urban terrain training took place in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a multinational combined arms exercise involving the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, and host nations, takes place across Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to enhance multinational interoperability, to strengthen relationships among allied militaries, to contribute to regional stability and to demonstrate U.S. commitment to NATO.

First. Lt. Kevin Koehn, from Ocala, Fla. and a platoon leader with Company A., also known as Attack Company, said, "We started the training with dry runs in glass houses to teach the basics and individual tactics."

The glass house phase of training is where Soldiers practice room-clearing techniques using markings on the ground to represent walls and doors.

While the Polish soldiers drilled in the glass houses, troops from Attack Company were setting up booby traps with explosive simulators in a partially demolished warehouse, said Sgt. Casey Sgt. Chris Casey, from North Baltimore, Ohio and a squad leader with Attack Company.

The Polish soldiers moved into the warehouse as two-team squads to apply the maneuver tactics.

Koehn said the Soldiers did well. "They didn't pause and freeze up in the hallway, they were getting behind cover, they were moving quickly into each room, clearing it out and moving into the next room."

This specific training helps NATO allies to function as one team, said Casey.

Second Lt. Marceli blazejczyk, a platoon leader with the Polish army's 1st. Battalion, 7th Coastal Brigade said, "It's important to train with allies because if there's a possibility to go Iraq or Afghanistan on a mission together, a Polish soldier would know what to do if he was with an American Soldier."