With OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters buzzing overhead, two Soldiers playing the role of insurgents and dressed in black beanies, sweat shirts and camouflage pants burst out of the dense forest and into the open field.

Each hit the ground and started firing blanks at a nearby group of Soldiers scouting the area.

Within minutes, the Kiowa Warriors circled around and the insurgents immediately lay on their backs, the latest simulated victims of a simulated strafing run by the helicopters.

It was all part of the exercise, as the nearby Soldiers continued on into the forest to capture the remaining insurgents.

Soldiers of the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division participated in air assault field training Jan. 27 at a remote location on Joint Base Lewis-McChord in conjunction with aviators of the 4th Squadron, 6th Air Cavalry Regiment and the 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment.

"Although it's two units at two different levels of training, both units are getting something out of it," said Sgt. 1st Class Chad Smith, an infantry platoon sergeant with Company C, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment who helped coordinate the exercise on the ground. "I've never seen (this) before, but it's actually a great idea."

To kick off the exercise, two CH-47 Chinooks and four UH-60 Blackhawks executed a rapid tactical insertion of more than 90 Soldiers from the 4-9 into territory simulating a hostile landing zone.

The exercise stood as a useful tool for the aviation brigade Soldiers before they depart for the Army National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., said Maj. Jenny Willis, 4th Stryker Brigade Public Affairs officer.

"All the things they have to do to get ready for a mission: the maintenance piece, formations, communications, navigation, there (are) a lot of pieces," Smith added. "They get a lot out of it instead of just talking about it on the ground. They have real Soldiers in the back and they're doing it for real."

Once Soldiers exited the helicopters, their mission was to engage and capture an insurgent leader, whose forces mounted a fierce resistance to the air assault - all with the presence of role players representing civilians living in the area.

"Understanding and distinguishing friend from foe is an important piece to the exercise," Willis said.

Although the sun did come out for periods and there was no rain, Soldiers of C Company had to fight through difficult terrain and counter the threat of improvised explosive devices, all while facing intense enemy fire.

Kiowa Warriors scouted the skies above, using Forward-Looking Infrared Radar (FLIR) to find insurgents hidden in the woods.

"It's good practice using the FLIR technology," Willis said. "(Getting) positive ids are always a challenge."

While the helicopters neutralized insurgents in the open fields, Soldiers worked their way into the woods, corralling the insurgents on their way to locating the leader. While Soldiers playing the good guys likely benefited most from the exercise, those playing insurgents benefited as well. "This will help us identify strengths and weaknesses for our upcoming training," Smith said.