2JR Hosts US Mobile Training Team

“The urban population of developing countries worldwide increases about 150,000 people each day, with the most pronounced growth occurring in Africa and Asia.   By the year 2025, three-fifth of the World’s population, five billion people will live in urban areas.   Therefore we can expect that most future conflicts will involve Military Operations on Urbanised Terrain (MOUT).”-         United Nations 

The urban environment is considered to be highly attritional and is compounded by the fact that fighting can take place in three dimensions: above ground, on ground level and below ground.   It is largely accepted that conflicts and operations in the future will simultaneously involve fighting on all levels.   As a consequence, the 2^nd Battalion The Jamaica Regiment (2JR) hosted for two weeks in August 2004, the US Marine Corps Mobile Training Team that provided instructions on military operations on urban terrain.    

Sixty soldiers, mostly Non Commissioned Officers, drawn from across the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) attended the course.   They were exposed to different kit and equipment that allow the training to be more realistic. The use of simulation rounds and other simple but light equipment that allowed for increased survivability and lethality of the soldier.

The soldiers were practiced in basic urban skills that are applicable on Knutsford Boulevard, Jamaica; Lahore, Pakistan; and Yaounde, Cameroon.   In terms of tactics, Popping Drills, taught the students how to see and move around corners either whilst kneeling or with the use of mirrors.   The course also covered other movements, house clearing and its accompanying hand signals, patrolling and counter sniper techniques.  The differences in military doctrine were not a challenge as the JDF soldiers adapted quickly to the new concepts, techniques and quickly impressed the American instructors. 

The US Marine Mobile Training Team, headed by Capt C GOMEZ, dedication and hard work was appreciated by everyone on the course.