Marines Conduct 'Realistic' Training In Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS -- In addition to helping out with flood control, the U.S. Marines are in a dozen Indiana communities this month conducting "realistic urban training."

The training scenarios began last week and will continue through June 19, 6News' Tanya Spencer reported.

Members of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit were involved in a training session set up to look and sound like an Afghan village Monday.

"This is where the rubber meets the road," said Capt. Neil Barry. "Right now, this exact scenario is going on somewhere in Iraq or Afghanistan."

About 2,200 Marines based in Camp LeJuene, N.C. are using different communities in central Indiana -- places completely unfamiliar to them -- to help prepare them for virtually anything.

In the training sessions, Marines fire weapons, operate vehicle checkpoints, conduct patrols and react to surprise attacks.

A large training session Monday night brought Marines to Indianapolis' east side, but the operation was so top-secret that media members were kept far back.

"The SOTG intelligence officer scripted all this stuff and had our role players enact it over several days," said Maj. Ron Jones.

In one scenario, Marines used days' worth of intelligence to find a mock terrorist cell and attack and kill insurgents.

Helicopters were supposed to be part of Monday night's training, but they weren't used because of the weather.

Nearby residents were warned ahead of time that they may hear loud booms and see Marines on the move.

Of course, no lives were really lost, but lives might be saved because of the training that is taking place in Indiana.