Photo By Marcus Fichtl | A Kuwaiti Bradley Fighting Vehicle, 9th Battalion, 35 Brigade, Kuwaiti Land Forces...... read more read more
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KUWAIT – Side-by-side, tank-by-tank, U.S. and Kuwaiti Forces planned and prepared in the desert of Kuwait to conduct a combined-arms breach during the two countries’ yearly security-cooperation exercise.
Soldiers of 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division partnered with the 9th Battalion, 35th Brigade, Kuwaiti Land Forces to perform the week-long exercise, which focused on sharing information and building relationships in Kuwait, Feb. 16-20.
The exercise allowed the two units to work shoulder-to-shoulder, strategically at a joint operations center and through a large-scale model of the terrain, which translated to combined tactical maneuvers consisting of breaching an obstacle and a joint air attack.
“The relationship between the Kuwaitis and the United States goes back a long way and having this exercise where Kuwaitis and the United States work together is a big deal for both countries,” said Maj. Timothy Gatling, brigade partnership coordinator, 2nd ABCT.
Months of coordination went into making the exercise between the two battalion-sized elements happen.
“When we started, we started on good ground,” said Gatling. “After the event, I think I can safely say that those relationships deepened.”
“Death Dealer” soldiers of 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd ABCT and the KLF came together through partnership and the want to learn from each other.
“Mostly it was an opportunity we were able to capitalize on and get these two units out in the field, working together so that we increase our interoperability and really get to work on knowing each others as friends and partners,” said Gatling.
Death Dealer leaders knew of the importance of working with the KLF.
Kuwaitis are steadfast allies of ours,” said Maj. Kevin Ryan, battalion operations officer, 1st Bn., 67th Armor Regt., 2nd ABCT. “We are here to partner with them now and in the future.”
The event set the stage for future exercises that will happen between the two nations.
“It has visibility at the highest levels,” said Gatling. “United States Central Command (CENTCOM) is aware of this particular operation as well, and has taken a lot of interest. (The exercise) in CENTCOM’s eyes will be the operation that the U.S. uses in future exercises.”
With leaders at higher echelons focused on the bigger picture, leaders at the battalion and brigade levels saw what the immediate impacts are.
The soldiers can take away the ability to partner with other forces and fight alongside one another, said Ryan. The interaction allowed both sides to interact and share information that is both professional and personal.
With the brigade’s deployment right near the halfway mark, the partnership between 2nd ABCT and the KLF is reaching its high water marker.
“Having an opportunity to work together as two countries that have a deep relationship that dates back to the early nineties is key,” said Gatlin. “We took away some tactics and things that we want to work on as we continue to work together.”
| Date Taken: | 02.19.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 02.25.2014 09:41 |
| Story ID: | 121105 |
| Location: | KW |
| Web Views: | 380 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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