Soldiers Prepare For Major Riot Control Situation
Soldiers upped the pace yesterday [May 6] as they prepared for a major riot control situation in a US Marines combat town.
The troops practiced public order techniques in the Marines’ military operations in urban terrain [MOUT] training ground at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
On-loan instructor Colour Sergeant Ashley Ward, a combat veteran from the Royal Anglian Regiment, said that A Company had worked well over two days – despite temperatures that hit close to 80 deg F.
Clr Sgt Ward said: “We have got 1 Platoon going through their public order escalation drills as the training progresses throughout the day to a full public order battle exercise.”
He added: “The training has been quite arduous because of the weather but the Bermuda Regiment soldiers have responded quite well to it.
“It’s a marked improvement for the day’s training.”
Regiment Staff Officer Major Andrew Clarke said other soldiers from the Operational Support Unit [OSU] and the Junior NCO cadre had spent the day on the firing ranges.
He added: “It’s a lot to take in – this is all new to the guys and they’re learning how to operate in urban environments – methods of entry, and how to deal with vehicle check points and the local population.
“It’s all about learning the difference in postures between hostile and peaceful conditions – it’s all about situations and judgment calls.”
Maj. Clarke said: “They’ve got to be vigilant – every single man is a walking intelligence resource and they should never underestimate the power of that.
“That’s the key to understanding people – you have to understand the difference between someone who really needs reassurance and someone who has information on what’s going on in the community and those who need to be won over.
“It’s not just about warfare – it’s about people. These guys, when they go back to Bermuda or possibly get deployed to other Caribbean countries, they will operate at a much higher level than they’ve hitherto been trained.”
Maj. Clarke added: “They are also learning a lot about themselves. It’s the longest exercise many of them have done.
“They’re working long days in the sun and learning to work as a team and how to understand and assimilate information and new skills.”
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