Army

Preparing For Future Urban Conflict

A new training course teaching soldiers how to prepare for urban operations is underway on Salisbury Plain.

The Urban Instructors Course, which is run by the Infantry Battle School, is teaching the tactics needed for future contingency operations.

With 70% of the world's population expected to live in cities by 2045, the British Army know that future conflict is likely to be centred on the urban environment.

Maj Austin Salisbury, OC of the Senior Division Infantry Battle School, said:

"It's the ultimate complex and close terrain. We spend a lot of our time training in open terrain doing section and platoon attacks.

"In the urban environment all those sorts of skills and drills need to be adapted, particularly for the urban environment."

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To make the training as realistic as possible these soldiers are using the Marker Round Trainer System (MRTS) - it's paintball with a difference.

Corporal Chris Moffatt from 39 Engineer Regiment said:

"Already having done the MRTS kit before and knowing how much it does hurt, it does make you think before you go in there. You get the adrenaline rush before going in.

"You've got to make sure your skills are drills are up there because you're going to get hurt otherwise."