Courtesy Photo | A Danish medical group with the Danish Home Guard practices wound analysis,...... read more read more
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SALT LAKE CITY - Copenhagen, Skive and Tranum are all locations many Americans have only ever heard of.
For most people, traveling Europe will only ever be a dream but, fortunately, for 1st Lt. Kyle Kennedy, a computer operations officer with U.S. Strategic Command Army Reserve Element, he was chosen to serve as an Army Reserve representative to the Danish Home Guard and was able to visit these places.
“The entire trip was fun,” said Kennedy, a 34-year-old from Columbus, Neb. “The Home Guard liaisons made sure our days were packed from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and they went above and beyond to make sure we got to see the whole country and experience the Danish Home Guard way of life.”
Kennedy was sent to Denmark from June 11-25, 2014, as a part of the Military Reserve Exchange Program and was educated in how they ran their operations including logistics, medical, armor, shooting competitions, as well as their day-to-day activities.
This program provides National Guard and Reserve officers training associated with mobilization duties while enhancing their ability to work and communicate with the military individuals of the host nation.
“He is a unit role model and leader with impeccable character,” said Lt. Col. Mike Poss, commander of STRATCOM ARE. “Based on these qualities, he was a great selection to be an ambassador of the Army Reserves for the Denmark MREP.”
This program provides Soldiers with an understanding of the training, doctrine and operations of a major alliance partner.
“The experience of working with allied militaries makes [Soldiers] more experienced and teaches them how these other militaries operate,” said Maj. Benjamin Flosi, MREP manager. “They build relationships so that later on in their careers when they actually do work with allied militaries, they already have a point of contact, relationship and experience to fall back on.”
During his time there, the experience that most stuck out in his mind was the shooting competition the Danish Home Guard held.
“The Home Guard’s shooting competitions were fantastic,” exclaimed Kennedy. “They had different stages and events [including] distance shooting, movement shooting, close contact firing, speed shooting, shooting at unique angles and shooting while on an elevated platform at pop-up targets. I placed first for the American group and third overall in the second day shooting competition.”
Kennedy’s time there was split with him spending the first few days in Copenhagen, nine days in Skive and the remaining days spent in Tranum.
“Copenhagen was my favorite location,” he said. “Everyone there is so active, from people on bikes, to kayaking, to running. The prices were extremely high, but it helped you manage your money better and appreciate the things you have.”
Kennedy wanted to be in the Army and support his country ever since he was a little kid and, with 17 years of time-in-service, this was another unique experience that he was able to add to his list.
The MREP annually selects Soldiers to participate in their efforts to multiple countries. Information on opportunities and how to apply can be found online at www.usar.army.mil/resources/ForSoldiers/Pages/Reserve-Foreign-Exchange-Program.aspx
| Date Taken: | 08.13.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 08.13.2014 13:10 |
| Story ID: | 139217 |
| Location: | SALT LAKE CITY, UT, US |
| Hometown: | COLUMBUS, NE, US |
| Web Views: | 543 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Soldier represents Army Reserve, trains with Danish Home Guard, by SSG Kai Jensen, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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