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CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait (December 12, 2008) -
When it comes to training for an urban environment its all about
building muscle memory in the mind of Sgt. 1st Class Milton
Terrell.
For his Paratroopers, assigned to 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute
Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division,
training on close quarters combat skills became a day long affair
going well into the evening hours.
The training suited what these troops will likely expect;
conducting combat operations in a congested area. Using makeshift
houses called 'glasshouses', the training focused on close quarters
marksmanship, room searching and clearing techniques. Urban combat
operations such as in Baghdad tend make this training a must.
"It's about continuing to build the confidence on these troopers
and getting them accustom to working with one another as a team,"
said Terrell, a platoon sergeant with Headquarters and Headquarters
Company, 1-505 PIR.
Unit leaders also focused on the importance of judgment and
distinguishing a hostile force from an innocent bystander. Many
paratroopers know this an important element of the training.
"You need to take a pause, look for the hostile intent and make
smart decisions," said Pfc. Erik Hilbert, a native of Brewster,
Mass. "Being here [Kuwait] is a great training environment for us
because we know Iraq is not to far away. It makes it more
real."
Despite a sharp decline in violence in Iraq made by Iraqi
Security Forces and Coalition Forces, senior military leaders
continue to stress the security gains made after the troop surge
are fragile.
Recent high-scale bombings in the cities of Baghdad and Kirkuk
have brought back the fact that Iraq is still a very volatile
nation and these paratroopers trained like it.
"This training is vital going into a combat zone," said Terrell.
"We can't stress it enough."
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