Launched ashore from amphibious transport dock USS Somerset (LPD 25) off the coast of Oman, more than 250 U.S. Marines of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group/11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) participated in Exercise Sea Soldier, Feb. 19-March 2.

Sea Soldier 2017 is an annual, bilateral exercise conducted with the Royal army of Oman designed to demonstrate the cooperative skill and will of both the U.S. and Oman to work together in maintaining regional stability and security. Hosted by the Royal army of Oman's 11th Brigade, the exercise consisted of two weeks of military operations on urban terrain (MOUT), checkpoint operations, command and control center operations, counter-improvised explosive device training, medical training, and a variety of live-fire exercises.

Exercise Sea Soldier provided Marines with Alpha Company, 4th Marines Battalion Landing Team (BLT 1/4), 11th MEU the opportunity to demonstrate and share the knowledge and experience learned from the Marine Corps' history of fighting urban warfare.

"It's important for everyone to know basic MOUT tactics because if there is an open conflict, a war can never be won outside of a city," said Marine Staff Sgt. Scott Davis, an infantry rifleman and platoon sergeant with Alpha Company, BLT 1/4, 11th MEU. "You have to be able to come into the cities, you have to be able to take them, and you have to be able to hold them."

Davis taught MOUT to Marines while serving as a combat instructor with the School of Infantry at Camp Geiger, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, from 2011-2014. Armed with time and experience, Davis prepared his Marines to demonstrate their knowledge to soldiers with the Royal army of Oman.

"Working with the Omanis has been an eye-opener," said Davis. "You never really get the chance to work with foreign militaries in this type of manner."

MOUT is renowned for its difficulty due to the ever-evolving environments in urban areas. Training in a difficult skill set, with soldiers who speak another language, required the Marines and soldiers to find common ground from which to build their communication.

"[What] I want these young Marines to take away from this training is that no matter the language barrier, you're always going to speak the same language: tactics," said Marine Sgt. Anthony Bailey, an assaultman with Alpha Company, BLT 1/4, 11th MEU. "Anywhere you go in the world, we all have one purpose in the infantry community and that is to locate, close-with, and destroy the enemy."

Within the first week of training, both the Omani soldiers and U.S. Marines showed a willingness to learn about each other's culture, gear, and weaponry.

"From the first day, we clicked with them very well," said Marine Cpl. Nicholas Montalvo, an infantryman and squad leader with Alpha Company, BLT 1/4, 11th MEU. "We switched gear with them, we switched weapons and let them hold our weapons, and we even tried learning their language. As a whole, we just tried to get to know their culture more so that they could feel more comfortable around us."

As time and skills progressed, the Omani soldiers and U.S. Marines integrated into bilateral teams to conduct full-scale building clearing together.

Although Sea Soldier '17 encompassed a wide range of activities, MOUT training was the highlight of the exercise, incorporating the tactics learned and camaraderie built between the two militaries.

"The big thing I hope [Omani soldiers and Marines] take away from the training is that MOUT is a constant learning process," said Montalvo. "MOUT and MOUT training is something that you constantly have to keep working on. If you don't do it over and over again, you're eventually going to lose that edge."

Exercise Sea Soldier provided a unique opportunity for partner nations to come together and share knowledge and experiences, which strengthens their collective ability to work together should they have to face emerging crises in the future.

"Training in this region has brought unique opportunities for both our forces to learn and improve how we conduct warfighting," said Marine Maj. Jason Ford, executive officer of BLT 1/4, 11th MEU. "The Royal army of Oman has great insight and experience, and it is of significant strategic importance for the U.S. and Oman to keep our lines of communication open and to work together whenever possible."

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