Joint Indo-US Counter-Terrorism Exercise

New Delhi, Oct 6 (UNI) A forthcoming Indo-US joint training exercise later this month will see Army elements from both countries training in an urban/semi urban insurgency environment to enhance interoperability at functional levels.

The exercise -- named 'Shatrujeet' -- is scheduled to be conducted at Belgaum from October 25 to November 3 and would focus on evolution of joint drills and refining field craft, battle craft, drills and procedures in Counter Terrorist (CT) Operations, an official spokesperson said here today.

The visitor force will elements of the 'E' Company of the 2/4 Marine Regiment of the United States Marines Corps with a participating strength of approximately 160 personnel. This will include some 145 persons of the Marine Company and the remaining 15 people from the administration and support side.

A Rifle Company of the Punjab Regiment and its command elements will represent the Indian side.

The joint exercise will consist, among others, of training on conduct of CT Operations (techniques, tactics and procedures), organisations of Indian Infantry and US Marine Corps Battalions, confidence and survival training, combat shooting, rock climbing, security of operating bases, Astral navigation, unarmed combat, and familiarisation with IEDs.

Also on the curriculum shall be room-shooting, intercommunication and radio telephony procedures, suicide terrorism and human bomb philosophy, human rights in CT Operations, house clearance/room intervention drills, establishment of outer and inner cordons, search of builtup areas, ambush/counter-ambush actions and quick reaction team actions and drills, the spokesperson said.

UNI DG RL KN2105