France and US use teamwork to accomplish first Combined Resolve II mission

Photo By Sgt. Bethany McMeans | Members of the French 126th Infantry Regiment and a M1A2 Abrams tanks of U.S. Army 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division fire on the opposition during a deliberate attack exercise at Combined Resolve II. Combined Resolve II is a U.S. Army Europe-directed multinational exercise at the Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels Training areas, including more than 4,000 participants from 15 allied and partner countries (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Bethany E. McMeans).  

BW, GERMANY

05.19.2014

Story by Sgt. Bethany McMeans 

131st Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

HOHENFELS, Germany – Members of the French 126th Infantry Regiment and U.S. Army Charlie Company, 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, worked together in an exercise to perform a deliberate attack during Combined Resolve II. Combined Resolve II provides NATO and partner-nation forces opportunities to build smart, adaptable and capable coalitions.

“This mission is where we’ll see their synchronization as we watch the French and U.S. work in unison to conduct exercises,” said Lt. Col. Kenneth Breager, the Maneuver Task Force Operations Trainer, for observer controller trainers Timberwolf team. “It’s exciting to watch the interaction between the units as we learn the interoperability piece.”

“We’re very glad to be here and this is very interesting for me because I’ve worked with multinational companions in Afghanistan but I’ve never really actually trained with rotational partnerships,” said French Capt. Huges De Bonnieres, commander of the 1st Company, 126th Infantry Battalion.

Although this was the first time the two units conducted a mission together during this exercise, they have been interacting with each other for planning purposes and to exchange information as well as working to better understand each other, stated Breager.

“This is very interesting practice and quite similar to the practice in France but what is new is – first of all – the language and partnership with thirteen nationalities,” said De Bonnieres.

“The language barrier is challenging, but it’s a good learning experience,” said Spc. Anthony Fitch, a gunner for Charlie Company.

Troops from both the U.S. and France agree that joint training like the deliberate attack exercise they performed is essential for success.

“As we know these days, with NATO, we have to work together,” said French Cpl. Panazdo, a team leader with the126th. “Most of us have never worked with a different army and I think everybody has learned so much.”

The training is a significant opportunity to face challenges like those faced while deployed, such as the language barrier and working with multinational partners, Fitch added.

“We’ve got to establish standard procedures,” De Bonnieres added. “We don’t know what the next deployment will be for both the U.S. and the French so we have to practice.”

For more information on Combined Resolve II, go to the official exercise website at www.eur.army.mil/jmtc/CombinedResolve or check out the exercise on social media by searching for #CombinedResolve or visiting the 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command’s social media @7thArmyJMTC.

• Date Taken: 05.19.2014
• Date Posted: 05.20.2014 13:11
• Story ID: 130476
• Location: BW, DE