Pictures from the second day of training when it was all put to use. This time the corrections folks would be inside and waiting for us. They also brought along paintball guns and gave just about all of us paintball guns to make it that much more realistic. You'll see the effects of that later. ;-)
I was with the second group going in and got pegged to drive a truck
behind them all. The captain was walking along beside the truck and
using it sort of like a radioman since we didn't have enough manpacks.
Entering the "embassy" grounds. Since the Marine Corps would normally
be doing stuff with an embassy, the folks in charge grabbed up a 5-ton
truck to use as a tracked vehicle which was used as cover from snipers
as the folks went through the front gate. Last time we did this, we
were sniped a lot from the tops of the buildings as we entered the grounds.
Entering the compound. The first team through had to deal with some
"rioters" which they quickly took care of with only a single "casualty".
You can see the rioters off to the right and the folks in orange shirts
were real-life military public affairs folks who were going to follow
the teams inside the prison for some pictures. Nothing like press coverage!
Moving farther down into the compound. No snipers this time. One thing
we did was sneak some folks into the prison at 0400 before the corrections
folks showed up. They had a manpack radio with them and called out what
was going on until the assault teams entered the building a few hours later.
After the first team went in, there was a "casualty" who had to be
brought out. I talked the captain into letting me go in with them
since the truck I drove wasn't going anywhere for the rest of the day.
Here the team is right outside the doors getting ready to assault.
They're clear to enter and ready to go.
Going in. I only had the camera on me and wished I had been able
to get one of those orange shirts since all I did was take pictures.
Putting the casualty on an improvised back board which they found in
one of the nearby rooms. There had been quite a fight here and the
"dead" folks were lined up along the wall to the left off the picture.
Bringing out the wounded troop.
After the battle. Just about 100% of our guys were "killed". This
is SSG Holley after the battle. He looks like I'm about to look.
I went in with the next team and we were under fire just about as
soon as we went in the door. I was hit in the chest right in the
doorway, but jumped back into the fight. Then, as we manuevered down
the hall, I got a shot to the left part of my jaw. It actually dropped
me down for a second (hurt like hell too the paintball didn't break), but
it was back into the fight. We went into this room here and were all
killed pretty quickly. The paintballs were flying everywhere. After we
were killed, it was against the wall to wait until the fight was over
since another team was behind us. They came in and finished off the folks
we missed. This poor guy caught several in the face shield. Fun, fun, fun!
After the fight, a quick AAR before heading outside. The corrections
folks had been in the room to the right behind the overturned tables.
Here I am, hurting somewhat with that shot to the chin and the 5 or 6
I took to the back and chest in that room. Still, it had been fun!
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