MARINE CORPS BASE, CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- A forceful kick sends the door to the floor and Marines flow into the hallway. Seconds later, the sharp cracking of rifle fire resounds through the building.
“Support up,” comes a call from inside the house.
“Marines entering!” More Marines rush into the building, more shots are fired.
“Room clear!”
The Marines move on, kicking down another door. A few more rifle reports mean a few more “enemies” down, dead and deflated.
“House clear! Weapons on safe!”
The job is done within a minute, and the Marines emerge from the house victorious.
Marines of 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, brushed up on their urban fighting skills March 14 during a close quarters battle exercise. The exercise allows Marines to experience the types of scenarios they may encounter during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
“Being that the fight is in an urban environment, and the fact that most of the fight goes on house-to-house, it’s necessary to do ‘shoot houses’ like this so that junior Marines can get a chance to shoot live fire when they’re so close in proximity to each other,” said Sgt. Martin S. Finkelstein, a squad leader with Company B.
When they squeeze that trigger in a hallway or room, not only must Marines be aware of teammates, but they must also be aware of noncombatants. The infantrymen practice a few dry runs to become familiar with one another, and colored balloons help distinguish friend from foe.
“This allows us to practice a specific skill set for urban operations,” said Capt. Stefan R. Barr, Company B’s Commander. “It allows the Marine to practice target identification, as well as marksmanship and the actual techniques of clearing an enemy building.”
There are five techniques Marines execute when they enter a house: clearing the doorway, clearing the immediate danger area, clearing the corners, sweeping a sector of fire and establishing a dominant position.
“Repetition, repetition, repetition,” Finkle-stein said. “Of all those things, the more you practice them, the better you become. Then you don’t even think about it. You just go in and do it.”
Constant repetition teaches infantrymen to work as a small unit team, so when that door is kicked and they clear the doorway, they are ready for anything.
“The most exciting part is the initial entry,” Finklestein said.
Finklestein explained that a Marine could confront eight insurgents or just a stray cat, a machine gun or an improvised explosive device. The possibilities are endless, so their readiness must be paramount.
“You can’t think about one specific thing or else you limit yourself,” Finklestein said. “You’ve got to be ready for anything.”