MCB Camp Pendleton

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MOUT goes multicultural;

30 Jun 2005 | Lance Cpl. Lynn Murillo Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Cpl. Joseph Casillas got his fair share of experience working with foreign military forces. Casillas, a squad leader with Company C, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, helped train the 405th Iraqi National Guard during his second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in the fall of 2004.

For the last few weeks he has had the opportunity to do it again during a U.S. and India combined exerise here June 13 through 24.

This exercise is the first in a five- part series of training between India and the United States, said 1st Lt. Ilario D. Costa. The second part of the cultural exchange will be conducted in India.

Two platoons of Indian Army soldiers, the Royal Gurhka Rifles and the Marahtta Light Infantry, have been aboard Camp Pendleton training with 1st Bn., 4th Marines, and a platoon of Army National Guard members from Los Angeles.

The three-week training exercise began with a week of weapons familiarization with the M-16 rifle and the M249 squad automatic weapon in a classroom environment. During the second week, the Marines and soldiers moved to the Military Operations in Urban Terrain facility to execute Marine counter-insurgency tactics, techniques and procedures, and wrapped up with a three-day final exercise where they performed a mock battalion level attack against "insurgents."

Marines showed the soldiers two-and-four man team clearings of rooms and buildings, to include hallways and staircases, as well as urban street patrolling.

"They can take our training, see what works and apply the strong tactics," said Casillas.

Costa, Company C's executive officer agrees.

"A lot of the time, there isn't a right or wrong answer. There are just different techniquesso the more you learn, the better," said Costa.

"The Indian Army has been doing operations in Casmire (also against insurgents), similar to Najaf and Saudi Arabian Standards Organization operations throughout the Babylon Province," said Costa. " They are very methodical in their approach, which I think is beneficial for Marines to see."

"We have come with a motive to learn and share experience," said Indian Army Capt. Sajal Shukal, platoon commander for the 5th Gurhka Rifles, "(The exercise) has been a wonderful experience for my troops to have interaction with the Marines."

"There are many differences in the way we operate," said Shukal. "Marines storm the building with fire to suppress (the enemy.) We are much more deliberate. We surround and then act."

Despite the differences, Shukal said all the troops have learned some beneficial tactics.

"I picked up some of the speed and flashy sort of thing from the Marines," he said, "and they are picking up some of the deliberate actions from us."

"It will be nice to have them train with us," he said. "Here, the weather is pleasant, (in India) it's extremes. Let's hope for the best. We'll have fun."

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MOUT goes multicultural;

30 Jun 2005 | Lance Cpl. Lynn Murillo Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Cpl. Joseph Casillas got his fair share of experience working with foreign military forces. Casillas, a squad leader with Company C, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, helped train the 405th Iraqi National Guard during his second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in the fall of 2004.

For the last few weeks he has had the opportunity to do it again during a U.S. and India combined exerise here June 13 through 24.

This exercise is the first in a five- part series of training between India and the United States, said 1st Lt. Ilario D. Costa. The second part of the cultural exchange will be conducted in India.

Two platoons of Indian Army soldiers, the Royal Gurhka Rifles and the Marahtta Light Infantry, have been aboard Camp Pendleton training with 1st Bn., 4th Marines, and a platoon of Army National Guard members from Los Angeles.

The three-week training exercise began with a week of weapons familiarization with the M-16 rifle and the M249 squad automatic weapon in a classroom environment. During the second week, the Marines and soldiers moved to the Military Operations in Urban Terrain facility to execute Marine counter-insurgency tactics, techniques and procedures, and wrapped up with a three-day final exercise where they performed a mock battalion level attack against "insurgents."

Marines showed the soldiers two-and-four man team clearings of rooms and buildings, to include hallways and staircases, as well as urban street patrolling.

"They can take our training, see what works and apply the strong tactics," said Casillas.

Costa, Company C's executive officer agrees.

"A lot of the time, there isn't a right or wrong answer. There are just different techniquesso the more you learn, the better," said Costa.

"The Indian Army has been doing operations in Casmire (also against insurgents), similar to Najaf and Saudi Arabian Standards Organization operations throughout the Babylon Province," said Costa. " They are very methodical in their approach, which I think is beneficial for Marines to see."

"We have come with a motive to learn and share experience," said Indian Army Capt. Sajal Shukal, platoon commander for the 5th Gurhka Rifles, "(The exercise) has been a wonderful experience for my troops to have interaction with the Marines."

"There are many differences in the way we operate," said Shukal. "Marines storm the building with fire to suppress (the enemy.) We are much more deliberate. We surround and then act."

Despite the differences, Shukal said all the troops have learned some beneficial tactics.

"I picked up some of the speed and flashy sort of thing from the Marines," he said, "and they are picking up some of the deliberate actions from us."

"It will be nice to have them train with us," he said. "Here, the weather is pleasant, (in India) it's extremes. Let's hope for the best. We'll have fun."