| http://www.federalobserver.com/print.php?aid=1663
Military patrolling North Little Rock in the next two weeks Feb 5, 2002 - Arkansas Democrat Gazette About 300 soldiers, including U.S. Marines in an anti-terrorism unit formed since the Sept.11 attacks, will be patrolling North Little Rock in the next two weeks. The unusual action, a series of urban warfare and couterterrorism "experiments" by the Marine Crops Warfighting Labortary, will take place between Sunday and Feb. 22. The operation will allow military leaders to examine tactics, techniques and technology that someday could save lives during military missons in foreign cities. Marines in the 4th Reconnaissance Battalion from San Antonio and reserves from the 3rd Battalion 23rd Marines at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock will participate during the two weeks with the anti-terrorism group from the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade based at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Military officials chose North Little Rock to provide a real-life setting for the ground reconnaissance and security operations that cannot be learned inside military training facilities. A similiar experiment is already planned for Boise, Idaho, later this year. Training for military operations in urban areas is meant to save lives and avoid repeats of what happened in Mogadish, Somalia. Eighteen U.S. soldiers died in battles fought throughout Mogadishu in 1993, events recounted in the current hit movie Black Hawk Down. "What we're doing now in Afghanistan has been layed out from what we projected in the early days of the Warfighting Laboratory in 1997," said Jenny Holbert, a civilian spokesman for the Marines. "You never know what the threat will be in the future. We want to try to figure out what is the threat against us and how we counter that threat." "Most troops have vulnerabiliy inside cities," Holbert said. "How do you work more efficiently in cities? How do you move? What tactics do you need to consider?" The Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory at Quantico, Va., has worked since 1997 to improve urban military tactics because of the increased likelihood of urban warfare overseas. The U.S. Army also conducts urban warfare training. The operation is labeled an experiment instead of an excerise or training, Holbert said, because it's meant to discover which tactics work and don't work. The operations will begin Feb. 11-15 with reconnaissance teams observing a predetermined site, then moving to new locations. Most of the work will come between Feb. 18-21. That week could include scenarios such as mock searches of pre-selected vehicles and buildings, security patrols and casualty evacuation. Some of the operations will involve civilian role players, many being city staff members who have voluteered. "Because most of [the personnel involved] don't know anything at all about North Little Rock, Ark., it'll be like they're going into foreign territories," said Fritz Friedly, director of the city's Volunteer Services and a retired Marine captain. The experiment is not intended to disrupt the daily lives, business or traffic flow in North Little Rock, officials said. Areas where there are numerous abandoned houses or buildings will be affected. However, some residents might find it impossible to ignore troop movement, cover smoke and M-16 rifle fire likely to come at times. City officials will forewarn neighbors or businesses of the experiments in their areas immediately before any action, Friedl said. North Little Rock police also will be stationed near any troops. "We're doing our best to keep the public informed to make sure they're aware of it," Friedl said. "What they don't want are kids dropping out of school, following them around." A tabletop war game by the Marines anti-terrorism troops and city officials also will occur during the final days to work on coordination of efforts during crisis management. Marine officers asked last summer to set up this month's operation. The terrorist attacks of Sept.11 and the ensuing war in Afghanistan only highlighted its necessity, officals said. "Certainly the urgency since Sept. 11, the importance [of the experiment] is much more pronounced," North Little Rock Mayor Patrick Hays said. "We're just proud our city is going to have the opportunity to help out in a very active way and perhaps in time will benefit our country." |
