Indian, U.S. Soldiers combine raid strategies during YA 10

Courtesy Photo | Indian army soldiers guard a hostage for a cordon-and-search demonstration during a U.S. Army Alaska and Indian army combined raid training at the Education Center on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Nov. 5. The training was in preparation for a field training exercise scheduled to begin Nov. 8 as part of the combined training exercise Yudh Abhyas 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ashley M. Armstrong)  

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, AK, UNITED STATES

11.05.2010

Courtesy Story

United States Army Alaska

By Spc. Ashley M. Armstrong

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska —Soldiers of U.S. Army Alaska and the Indian army combined strategies to conduct cordon and search training at the Education Center on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Nov. 5.

The training was conducted in preparation for a field training exercise scheduled to begin Nov. 8 as part of the combined training exercise Yudh Abhyas 2010.

“The training was a sharing of tactics, techniques and procedures between us and the Indian Army to prepare for what we are executing in the exercise,” said Capt. Daniel Raymond, Bravo Troop commander, 1st Squadron (Airborne), 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division. “These tactics will be utilized as part of one of the FTX scenarios.”

The Soldiers began the day’s training with an in-depth demonstration on Indian army cordon and search procedures, which made differences in strategy between the two armies evident.

“The main difference that I saw was that they designated their specified teams a little differently than we have,” Raymond said. “They had a search and interrogation team and a civil action team, which is something we haven’t had opportunity to train on here.”

Differences in terrain, equipment availability and combat operations play a part in the varied strategies.

“They don’t have the same support elements that we do, so for them cordon and search is more important, and they execute it more often,” said Sgt. Zachery Adkins, scout, Bravo Troop.

The training focus for the entire day was on raid procedures, including classes instructed by both armies with the intent of learning about and combining strategies, Raymond added.

“Our Soldiers typically don’t see the big picture,” Raymond said. “With this they get to see that we are not the only army that does operations like this, and they have some good ideas that we can incorporate in our missions as well.”

Both armies alternated instruction to better combine their individual procedures used for each operation.

“Sharing each other’s tactics and techniques is important to get different insight and points of view and for different operations that we train in,” added Adkins.

Raymond said it was a fun experience as well as educational. He said he was very impressed with the professionalism and organization of the Indian army.

“We’ve got a group that already works well. They know what they are doing, and they can actually teach us some things,” he said. “It is comforting to be able to share knowledge.”

Combined training events not only offer opportunities to unify operations but establish relationships as well.

“It’s always great to work with somebody that is our ally, because this allows a base for further relationships. Having that friendship will make future operations a lot easier,” Raymond said.

Yudh Abhyas is a regularly-scheduled bilateral, conventional-forces training exercise, sponsored by U.S. Army, Pacific and the Indian Army. The exercise is designed to promote cooperation between the two militaries to develop U.S. Army Pacific and USARAK relationships with India and promote interoperability through combined Military Decision Making Process, battle tracking and maneuvering forces, and exchange of tactics, techniques and procedures.

During the exercise, U.S. soldiers and their Indian counterparts will conduct a Command Post Exercise, airborne operations training, marksmanship and tactical training and take part in cultural exchanges to improve partnership readiness and cooperation between the armies of India and the United States.

Follow Yudh Abhyas 2010 on the web at http://www.usarpac.army.mil/ya10, Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/US-Army-Pacific/113619942022854 and Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/usarpac/sets/72157625288366066.

• Date Taken: 11.05.2010
• Date Posted: 11.05.2010 20:30
• Story ID: 59533
• Location: JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, AK, US