Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif --
Approximately 35 Security Forces personnel from the 114th Security Forces Squadron
deployed in support of the 114th Fighter Wing’s Lobo Plummet, held in southern California.
The Defenders conducted flightline security for the F-16 Fighting Falcons at Marine Corps Air
Station (MCAS) Miramar while also taking advantage of several unique training opportunities at
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
The expeditionary skills training consisted of annual weapons qualifications, night fire utilizing
laser sights, weapon familiarization, land navigation and an emphasis on Military Operations in
Urban Terrain (MOUT) training.
All of the combined training strengthened the Defenders’ skills and teamwork as they prepared
for a final simulated mission in what security forces refers to as a MOUT village.
“MOUT training is urban building clearing while implementing Simunition rounds, a non-lethal
training ammunition, force on force scenarios, as well as shooting at targets inside the
buildings at close range,” said Master Sgt. Dustin Buhl, 114th Security Forces Squadron
training manager. “This is a possible tasking we could have if we deploy overseas, as well as
one of our many home station trainings. It’s part of our combat readiness.”
There are several components involved in preparing squads for a large-scale training scenario
conducted in an unfamiliar setting.
“Initially, we’ll go over some basic team movements in the classroom, basically how the book
says we should do it. Then we do a crawl, walk, run pace of the training. Yesterday, we did
some of the crawl-type training with small teams of four entering and learning buildings. By
afternoon, we took it up a notch so the teams were moving from building to building with
Simunitions. Today, we had squads of 13-plus people working an entire village in unison. It’s an
annual requirement so each year we restart with the basics, and build up to the big day like we
did today,” said Buhl.
The squads, consisting of approximately three fire teams, each with four people, were given a
modified operations order prior to embarking on their mission. During an ops order, the squads
are given information about the scenario they will be entering, as well as their objectives to
complete during the mission.
“The ops order provided there were 15-20 hostiles in the village, and they were to accomplish
their objective of reaching the target building and to eliminate the threats as they move
through,” said Buhl.
Targets were positioned inside buildings and throughout the village to simulate hostile forces.
As the teams encountered them, they were to engage and eliminate the enemy. Defenders
wore additional protective gear such as face masks, helmets, groin and neck protection while
in the village due to the Simunition rounds used.
“Those rounds hurt. They’ll definitely break the skin and leave marks,” added Buhl.
The training conducted while in southern California had a two-fold effect on the entire Security
Forces Squadron. The combat readiness training created a sense of camaraderie that is
difficult to establish during a regular guard drill.
“The best part for me personally is probably my connection with the rest of the squadron,” said
Senior Airman Kadin Wolff, 114th Security Forces Squadron fire team member. “Once I came
back from tech school, there was a large group that was deployed. When you’re deployed, you
become a lot closer with the people you’re with. The few of us that returned to the squadron
after tech school were on the outside because two days a month during guard drill isn’t enough
to try and get to know each other. I would say the team building and morale has been the
biggest and most beneficial part for me,” said Wolff.
Unique opportunities like the MOUT village kept the motivation high for the Airmen, but the
Defenders felt the camaraderie created within the squadron was immeasurable in comparison
to the training.