Military digest 09/02/03

Soldier gets ambush training in August

Spc. Jeremy Lee Miller received ambush training as part of the Sapper Leader Course from Aug. 2 to 16 at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Miller received varied training including radio procedure, drown-proof training, rappelling and land navigation. Miller is stationed with HHC 1140th Engineer Battalion in Cape Girardeau. He is a student at Southeast Missouri State University majoring in criminal justice and political science.

The Sapper Leader Course is a leadership development school for combat engineers that teaches skills critical to success on the battlefield. The course trains an engineer company's cadre from specialist to captain.

Combat engineer tasks can include breaching minefields, employing anti-armor minefields, constructing tank ditches, building fighting positions and other light infantry skills such as conducting raids, reconnaissance missions, ambushes and constructing expedient explosives such as makeshift bangalore torpedoes and anti-personnel mines.

-- From staff reports