Happening Now: Realistic Urban Training for US Marines and Sailors

Underway this month, the U.S. Marines and Sailors with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are executing a Realistic Urban Training (RUT) exercise throughout Virginia and South Carolina until 27 January.

RUT is an expeditionary land-based training exercise where over 2,200 Marines and Sailors from the 24th MEU plan and conduct operations they may execute on deployment. The Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team 1/8; and Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 24, and the Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 comprise the 24th MEU.

As the second Marine Air-Ground Task Force training exercise in the 24th MEU’s deployment work-up cycle, the MEU will execute multiple training missions ranging from raids, tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel, and foreign humanitarian and disaster relief operations.

The 20-day scenario-driven exercise is controlled and evaluated by Expeditionary Operations Training Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force and will sharpen the 24th MEU’s capabilities to augment, enable, and operate alongside special operation forces and other governmental agencies.

RUT is executed off military installations to position Marines and Sailors in more unfamiliar and urban environments.

Following RUT, Marines and Sailors with the 24th MEU will embark on the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group and U.S. Navy ships for their culminating deployment certification event, Composite Training Unit Exercise. COMPTUEX is the final deployment certification event for the Wasp ARG and 24th MEU where they will be evaluated on their execution of Mission Essential Tasks to determine certification before deployment.