Transportation soldiers drive to strengthen partnership

Photo By Spc. Michael Gault | Event participants, acting as protestors, simulate stones being thrown with tennis balls, during the combined convoy exercise, Operation Steel Sentinel, March 12, 2013, at the Udairi Range Complex in Northwest Kuwait. During the event, transportation soldiers from the Kuwait National Guard and the 47th Transportation Company, Fort Bliss, Texas, worked together to overcome different challenges.(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael R. Gault, 191st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion)  

UDAIRI RANGE, KUWAIT

03.13.2013

Story by Spc. Michael Gault 

191st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion

UDAIRI RANGE COMPLEX, Kuwait - Transportation soldiers from the 47th Transportation Company, Fort Bliss, Texas, and from the Kuwaiti National Guard joined together, March 11-13, for Operation Steel Sentinel, a joint convoy exercise

This was only the second exercise aimed at fostering a continued partnership between transportation elements of the nations of Kuwait and the U.S.

According to O’Leary, the exercise was a huge success due to the interaction between the American and Kuwaiti soldiers prior to the exercise. This laid the groundwork for a successful event.

“After the overwhelming success of the previous exercise, Operation Steel Sword, almost five months ago, planning for Operation Steel Sentinel began immediately,” said Maj. Patrick O’Leary, executive officer for the 191st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion and native of Salt Lake City, Utah.

“For the events leading up to this exercise, we built upon what was already demonstrated to the KNG. This further developed an understanding and a stronger working relationship between them and our soldiers,” said O’Leary.

For the event, both the KNG and U.S. soldiers trained together on the convoy driving lanes at the Udairi Range Complex near Camp Buehring, Kuwait. The forces conducted a combined tactical convoy operation utilizing both American and Kuwaiti military vehicles and personnel.

While managing the speed and convoy integrity of more than 20 military vehicles, the KNG convoy commander used radio procedures, to coordinate both the Kuwaiti and U.S. forces to react to different challenges. Along the route, they encountered motor vehicle accidents and directed medical assets for the extraction and evacuation of casualties. They faced protestors resulting in last second changes to the convoy route to minimize threats and continue the mission.

Additionally, the participants performed a hasty recovery of a broken down vehicle with protestors still in the area.

“I am very satisfied,” said 1st. Lt. Nawaf Homajin Safar, a transportation officer for the Kuwaiti National Guard and convoy commander for the event, “It felt so real and was more challenging than I had expected.”

Over the course of six weeks, the soldiers exchanged knowledge and information about convoy operations with briefings and hands-on demonstrations; reinforcing their understanding of each other’s methods. This knowledge was what was put to the test during the culminating convoy event.

“I think the soldiers on both sides learned a lot about not only how they each do things, but also, a little about each other's culture,” said O’Leary.

“It was a very good experience,” said Pvt. Khaled Motlik Elazmi, driver for the KNG. “Americans are hard working. When it is time to work, we work hard. When you play, we play hard. When it’s time to relax, we relax and have tea. I value that.”

With this partnership exercise, the Kuwaiti and U.S. forces have gained a real understanding for how each other operates during convoy operations.

“When we first started, my impression was, ‘how are we going to pull this off?’” said Staff Sgt. Hazael Hernandez, assistant convoy commander of the 47th TC. “There was the language barrier, the different cultures and views and the way we conduct day to day business. We closed a really big gap. We can communicate better, even without saying a word now. They’re great guys, some of the greatest soldiers I ever worked with.”

"It was a really good atmosphere with the Americans,” said Sgt. Hussein Fejham Edousri, a KNG driver. “They don’t keep away information and actually spread it and teach what they know. I look forward to working with them in the future.”

“In the end, the time I have spent working with the KNG has, by far, been the best experience of this deployment for me, and will be some of the fondest memories I take away from my time in Kuwait,” said O’Leary.

• Date Taken: 03.13.2013
• Date Posted: 04.03.2013 07:03
• Story ID: 104522
• Location: UDAIRI RANGE, KW
• Hometown: FORT BLISS, TX, US
• Hometown: SALT LAKE CITY, UT, US