Training exercise helps Fort Sill soldiers prepare for Iraq

CACHE, Okla. (AP) -- Soldiers from Fort Sill are being forced to deal with angry civilian protesters, prodding media members and booby traps.<br/><br/>The event in Cache, was part of a mock exercise conducted

Thursday, August 26th 2004, 6:38 am

By: News On 6

CACHE, Okla. (AP) -- Soldiers from Fort Sill are being forced to deal with angry civilian protesters, prodding media members and booby traps.

The event in Cache, was part of a mock exercise conducted for Fort Sill's 75th Field Artillery Brigade.

Colonel Tom Vandal says the urban exercise is to help soldiers prepare for situations like those on the war front in Iraq.

The soldiers' mission was to secure a compound where enemy weapons were rumored to be stored.

Role-playing protesters chanted, rattled and opened the compound's main gate, trying to force their way into the secured area.

One man -- a civilian-dressed soldier -- bolted past soldiers and was tackled and handcuffed.