TRAINING FOR COMBAT: Soldiers utilize high-tech equipment at Camp Shelby
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We’ve been pretty busy for that last few weeks and have really gone through some great training. Some of the stuff we have done was actually on TV.
News Channel 5 out of Nashville came and stayed with our 1st platoon for a few days and filmed some of our obstacle training (you know trenches, bunkers, wire, road blocks). Basically we’ve figured out we’re in infantry school and learning the things infantrymen learn because that’s the job we’ll be performing over in Iraq.
We’ve also done some “up-to-speed” training on some of the newer equipment the National Guard doesn’t get to use very often, like GPS, radio transmission encryption devices, simulators, and all of the cool stuff you see in the movies (like red-dot scopes and rifle flashlights).
We’ve also been to a site similar to the one we’ll be stationed at in Iraq. It’s called an FOB (forward operating base). It’s a small compound heavily reinforced around its borders with barbed wire, firing positions and guard towers. We learned how to operate out of the base, defend it, and react quickly to attacking forces.
We also learned how to operate an ECP (entrance control point). Basically they are roadblocks where vehicles have to slow down, stop, and get their credentials checked. Depending on who they are and what kind of credentials they have, they may have to get their vehicle and persons searched.
We were out at this base for two days and the whole time we were training in these scenarios (along with some classroom learning). Real Iraqis were also there making the situation that much more real.
I was not on the ECP, but the ECP was approached by a mob of people who were extremely difficult to control. I heard it was a madhouse with people running all different directions, but we did keep the ECP controlled and they did not get through. There was also a car that pulled up and set off a car bomb (just a simulated car bomb. It just makes a big bang).
– Sgt. Michael Reep