Course designed to help thwart roadside bombs

[unhappycamper]

Cpl. Jose Y. Campos, 31, of Houston, inspects an Afgahn road for possible threats in Farah province, Afghanistan. A new training range coming to Camp Lejeune, N.C., will help Marines identify and defeat improvised explosive devices.


Course designed to help thwart roadside bombs
By Trista Talton - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jan 19, 2009 5:58:21 EST

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — About a year from now, Camp Lejeune, N.C., will introduce a training course to help Marines identify improvised explosive devices.

The Joint IED Defeat Course will include about two miles of asphalt and gravel roads, 17 buildings forming two mock villages, and culverts, curbs and guardrails — all popular IED hiding places. And it will feature the sights, sounds and smoke of roadside bomb attacks.

“It’s as realistic as it gets,” said Mark Maloney, deputy director of Range Development and Management for Marine Corps Installations-East.

Marines already receive IED training during Mojave Viper exercises at the Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif., and during Cajun Viper at Fort Polk, La. This course will complement that.

“We’re trying to train ... all the Marines on the installation before and after their training mostly out West,” Maloney said.


Rest of article at: http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/01/marine_iedcourse_011909w/%2e