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    A new chapter in the partnership between the armies of New Zealand and the United States began Feb. 11 at the U.S. Army’s National Training Center

    A team of soldiers from New Zealand will join the 1-25th during their rotation at U.S. Army's National Training Center

    Photo By Master Sgt. Thomas Duval | New Zealand army Cpt. John Lawrey, currently serving with the 2nd Land Force Group,...... read more read more

    FORT WAINWRIGHT, AK, UNITED STATES

    02.11.2011

    Story by Spc. Thomas Duval  

    United States Army Alaska

    FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska - Members of the New Zealand army’s 2nd Land Force Group traveled to NTC to team up with the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. The 1-25th is conducting its culminating exercise here before deploying to Afghanistan later this year.

    “This is a great chance for us to learn from the Americans and take what we learned back to New Zealand,” said New Zealand army Sgt. John Morrison. “We go overseas together but don’t get to do any training. It’s exciting.”

    During the two-week phase known to U.S. soldiers as “The Box”, the team of New Zealanders will train with the 1-25th soldiers in a number of intense combat operation training scenarios.

    The NTC is used primarily by the U.S. Army and is known for its realistic simulations and pyrotechnics recreating a realistic combat environment.

    “It’s the closest thing to what we will experience while deployed,” said Lt. Col. Jeff Stewart, commander of 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1-25th.

    “They don’t have an NTC so they are able to come here and hopefully replicate and take ideas back with them,” 1-25th Commander Col. Todd R. Wood said.

    Because the brigade is preparing for a deployment, Morrison said the New Zealand contingent is primarily observing the training, rather than taking an active role.

    New Zealand army Sgt. Maj. Ray Kareko, said working with allied nations and seeing how they operate makes the transitions during deployments easier.

    Col. Wood said that the military relationship between the United States and New Zealand has always been important; one that dates back to World War II.

    When the last Stryker vehicle hatch closes and the New Zealanders return home, Morrison said he hopes it’s not the last time the two forces work together, whether it’s at NTC or anywhere else and that he hopes to bring an entire New Zealand unit in the future.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 02.11.2011
    Date Posted: 02.22.2011 20:35
    Story ID: 65908
    Location: FORT WAINWRIGHT, AK, US

    Web Views: 74
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN