This is one of the most extensive US MOUT facilities I've seen. It has a hospital, school, residential neighborhood, farm, and shops. Unlike many other new MOUT facilities which seem to be built to simulate third world conditions and construction this one is very "small town america". Makes me think this may be for training special forces. Are there special forces at Fort Lewis?
Military - Training, Military - Army
Links: www.hq.usace.army.mil, www.metavr.com
By: kjfitz
I've seen a building that says "Special Forces" on it and has a big fence, here:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Fort+Lewis,+Uninc+Pierce+County,+Pierce,+Washington,+United+States&ie=UTF8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&hl=en&cd=1&geocode=0,47.102360,-122.587240&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=35.273162,71.015625&ll=47.099271,-122.558863&spn=0.003703,0.012188&t=k&z=17&om=1
Permanent MOUT sites like this are generic in appearance for a reason. They are built to simulate general urban warfare scenarios, not region specific ones. You have to remember that most traditional combat training involves wilderness scenarios. Many will never have trained outside of a wilderness setting until they meet Leschi Town.