Photo By Maj. Lisa Kopczynski | U.S. Sen. Ted Kaufman (D-Del.) (standing, second from right) watches a conversation...... read more read more
CAMP ATTERBURY JOINT MANUEVER TRAINING CENTER, Ind. — Thanks in part to a revelatory visit to Muscatatuck Urban Training Center by Sen. Ted Kaufman, the senate agreed, Oct.1, to Kaufman's amendment to the 2009 Defense Appropriations Bill which will ensure continued support for integrated civilian-military training for all civilians deploying to Afghanistan from Camp Atterbury.
"Long term support for integrated civilian-military training will put MUTC and Camp Atterbury on the map with a unique mission that is best performed by the National Guard," said Lt. Col. Chester Guyer, commander of the Observer Controller Battalion at Muscatatuck.
"This is a tremendous first step," Guyer said. "I hope the full Congress will pass this legislation and provide clear direction on providing funding support for this kind of training."
Kaufman visited Muscatatuck, a sub-installation of Camp Atterbury, Sept. 28 to observe civilian-military training scenarios that simulate real-life experiences in Afghanistan.
"Now that civilians are an integral part of the counter-insurgency strategy, this training is absolutely essential," Kaufman said during his visit.
Muscatatuck is a premiere training facility that hosts training for government, public and private entities. Currently, Muscatatuck is the only training center for civilians deploying to Afghanistan. Just as recently as July Muscatatuck began the integration of civilian-military operations. Here, deploying civilians undergo a week-long intensive training regiment to include combat lifesaving, cultural awareness, weapons and equipment familiarization and tactics training.
The availability of this integrated civilian-military training recently changed from once every nine months to once every month, which means civilians don't have to wait so long to get spun up on military practices before heading out the door.
"We spend a lot of time training the troops — which is great, it's given us the best military in the entire world — and we gotta do the same thing with the civilians," Kaufman said.
Guyer said he believed everyone appreciated the senator's interest in their training.
"The Soldiers and government civilians were very impressed with the Senator's concern for proper training prior to deployment into hostile environments," Guyer said. "I believe the Senator was also impressed with the quality of training being received by the civilians and Soldiers in the integrated exercise."
And he was.
"I was impressed first by the facilities...the fact that they have gotten things up and running as quickly as they have," Kaufman said. "Second by the people they have doing the training, they're excellent. And of course by the people that are going to Afghanistan," he said.
Kaufman said the amendment will ensure that the training at Camp Atterbury continues to receive the support it needs in terms of military and civilian personnel, trainers, and other resources.
"The folks here are doing a great job of getting this thing up and running in record time," Kaufman said.
"We're going to build this up," Kaufman said. "We have to do a lot more. Every house is as good as its foundation and having a foundation like this is gonna make the whole thing go a lot easier."
| Date Taken: | 10.07.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 10.07.2009 16:47 |
| Story ID: | 39795 |
| Location: | CAMP ATTERBURY, IN, US |
| Web Views: | 209 |
| Downloads: | 185 |
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