As part of her class “Disaster, Conflict and Global Health,” USC Institute For Prevention Research lecturer Kathleen West took her Keck School of Medicine Master of Public Health students on an unusual field trip on April 17.

Former Marine Michael King (pictured in blue shirt) led a tour of part of the 596,000-acre Marine base and conducted students through virtual simulations used to train combat troops to navigate towns, drive in unknown terrain, and respond to attacks. Photo/Kathleen West

Former Marine Michael King (pictured in blue shirt) led a tour of part of the 596,000-acre Marine base and conducted students through virtual simulations used to train combat troops to navigate towns, drive in unknown terrain, and respond to attacks.
Photo/Kathleen West

West and her students spent the day at the Marine Air Ground Control Combat Center at Twentynine Palms, Calif., to learn about military involvement with disaster response locally and globally and humanitarian relief in conflict zones.  Among other training exercises, the Marine Base runs programs to orient Marines and sailors to cultural issues and realities in the Middle East.