Photo By Master Sgt. Opal Vaughn | Blaz Torkar, a Slovenian military historian with Military Schools Center, describes...... read more read more
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KOBARID, Slovenia – A multinational team of paratroopers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade and allies from European nations conducted a walking tour of Kolovrat Outdoor Museum of the First World War in Soca Valley Region as part of cultural day for combined exercise Immediate Response 14 on Aug. 21, 2014.
Immediate Response 14 is an exercise designed to deploy multinational forces in response to a disaster relief mission. The exercise also improves North Atlantic Treaty Organization interoperability between U.S. forces and participating nations.
This year, there are over 450 participants in the exercise. During the visit to Kobarid, military historians discussed the obstacles that Soldiers went through during the First World War and how we can learn from the struggles and triumphs of that past.
For military personnel this is a place of education, stated Blaz Torkar, a Slovenian military historian with Military Schools Center. It provides soldiers the opportunity to learn about different tactics, mission command and logistics. But more importantly, he says, they can learn about cohesion, trust and morale.
The ridge of Kolovrat is a transitory area between the upper Soca region in Slovenia and the Veneto region in Italy where the 1915-1917 Battle of Isonzo was fought, said Torkar. The area has been kept intact with original structures still in place. It also provides an impressive view.
“I think today’s visit was really interesting and visually spectacular,” said U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Tony Horseman, the 173rd’s brigade medical operations non-commissioned officer. “But it seems like very harsh and unforgiving fighting conditions they were under.”
Paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne represent the bulk of U.S. forces participating in the exercise. Lessons from war provide the opportunity for each nation to strengthen their respective forces and bond for a common cause.
“Today was an eye opening experience,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Desireé Genus, the brigade’s knowledge manager for the exercise. “This trip has given me the opportunity to learn more about our partner forces and what they experienced during that time period. It also gave me the opportunity to interact with other nations so that we can continue to strengthen the bond we’ve established here.”
The 173rd is the Army Contingency Response Force in Europe, and is capable of projecting forces to conduct the full of range of military operations across the United States, European, Central and Africa Commands areas of responsibility.
| Date Taken: | 08.21.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 08.24.2014 03:37 |
| Story ID: | 140229 |
| Location: | KOBARID, SI |
| Web Views: | 367 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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