FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. -- Marines and Sailors from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted their Training in an Urban Environment Exercise (TRUEX) at Fort Hunter Liggett Nov. 29 through Dec. 8, to further enhance their warfighting capabilities and prepare for a spring deployment.
The primary training focus was on the Marines from the newly-established 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, who were the main effort in the Situational Training Exercises (STX). This was the first time that an MSOB unit participated in any pre-deployment training with a West Coast MEU. The exercise also included Marines from Combat Logistics Battalion-13, the Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel platoon from Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, and Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron-163 (REIN).
“We were looking forward to TRUE,” said a staff sergeant with 1st MSOB. “It was good for the platoon to do the operations and to see the big picture in how a MEU works and all the coordination it takes to make an operation happen.”
The exercise focused on tactics, techniques and procedures required of a MEU (Special Operations Capable) to accomplish missions in an urban environment, including collecting intelligence, conducting raids and exploiting the raid site.
“I expected it to be rough, but it was a learning process,” said a captain from 1st MSOB. “The 13th MEU was helpful and it turned out to be a great experience.”
TRUE was broken down into three STXs, all executed between Nov. 30 and Dec. 8, with each scenario tying into the next. The STXs focused on gathering intelligence through assault plans, which inevitably led to the capturing of six high-valued individuals, who were portrayed by Marines and actors.
“I’ve seen notable improvement,” said Col. Carl E. Mundy III, commanding officer of the 13th MEU, comparing the third STX to the first two. “Overall, it was a great week.”
Mundy concluded by expressing his gratitude to all the commands and their efforts put into TRUE. With the evaluators’ honest assessments, he knows that it is something the 13th MEU can build upon.