Camp Lejeune unveils Middle East-type training facility

ONSLOW COUNTY -- Camp Lejeune unveiled a state-of-the-art training facility Tuesday. The 29-acre urban terrain practice field is modeled after real towns in Iraq and Afghanistan. It features moving targets and three story buildings, some of which support live fire training. The model town will also have Iraqi role players to enhance the training. Marines say this will help them get ready for what they face over there and could save their lives. Maj. Stephen Kahn said, "It reinforces not only what we do tactically, but culturally, language barriers and just how to deal with an environment that you're not familiar with." The buildings are made of storage containers and can be moved, arranged in different ways to adapt to changes in combat areas. The facility is set to open for training in May.