Meeting the Soldiers of 2nd Cavalry Regiment

Courtesy Photo | Pfc. Jonathan Ngeny, Radio Telephone Operator, with Recon, Mortars and Tac, 1st Cavalry Division started his first day of training in Adazi, Latvia. The Soldiers will learn to operate and maintain their weapons in the frigid environment as well as receive training on other weapons. (U.S. Army Photo by Pfc. Jaccob Hearn)  

ADAZI, LATVIA

01.22.2015

Story by Pfc. Jaccob Hearn 

2d Cavalry Regiment

ADAZI, Latvia - Gun fire slices through the cold air as the Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment start their first day of training down at the rifle range.

As of Jan. 19, 2CR began training and living with the Armed Forces of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland. The unit will deploy throughout the Baltic States as well participate in a variety of training exercises throughout the region.

For Pfc. Logan Hatton, Rifleman, and Pfc. Jonathan Ngeny, Radio Telephone Operator, this is their first time participating to an operation like this.

"I'm new to the Army so I've never done training like this before," said Hatton, from Paducah, Kentucky. "We're defiantly getting the cold weather experience and we're getting to see a lot of new scenery."

"I've never done anything like this and it's very cool," said Ngeny, who is from Fort Worth, Texas. "It is pretty cold here and we’ve got to get used to it since you're not always going to be in a hot environment; we need to learn to survive. It may not always be fun but I appreciate this."

The platoon was out at the range learning to properly operate their weapons in the cold environment and knock some rust off their skills, he said. Soon they will begin training with the Latvian military stationed a Adazi, Latvia.

"Hopefully we can learn a lot from the Latvians as well as teach them some things too," said Hatton.

"I think it's good to experience other cultures," said Ngeny. "It's a give and take relationship in the NATO Alliance, we're here to teach them and they're going to teach us."

Hatton, who is right out of high school explained his reasons for joining the Army, "I joined the infantry to kick down doors, save little puppies and to do good things. I never really was one for the air or sea so the obvious choice was the army."

Ngeny joined because of the advice his father gave him as a child, "My dad was from Kenya and would always tell me how he grew up, walking miles to school and without clean drinking water. America did so much for him and my family I just wanted to do something for it, however small my role may be."

• Date Taken: 01.22.2015
• Date Posted: 01.23.2015 04:30
• Story ID: 152531
• Location: ADAZI, LV
• Hometown: PADUCAH, KY, US