Meeting the neighbors

Courtesy Photo | Cpl. Benjamin Weller of Glenville, Minn. lies behind a Russian NSV-12 in the arms room of the 25th Commandos, to get a better feel for their weapon systems. Weller is a soldier in the Albert Lea, Minn. based Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment that is deployed to support the Iraqi drawdown.  

CAMP BUEHRING, KUWAIT

10.16.2011

Courtesy Story

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 34th Red Bull Infantry Division

By: Cpl. Aaron Eggersgluss
D Company

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait - Soldiers from the Albert Lea, Minn.,- based Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment (D Company) are becoming quite versed in the art of key leader engagement.

KLE is a term that is heard in every theater of operation but it might not be what you expect. A key leader does not have to be a political or military official; it could be the monsignor of the local parish or a local business owner.

Simply put, a KLE is an interaction with a member of the local population in an attempt to build or further a relationship of trust between the host nation and U.S. forces. It is the art of the extended meet and greet and is getting to be second nature for D Company soldiers during their deployment to Kuwait in support of the Iraqi drawdown.

It was a balmy 109 degrees when elements of D Company’s 1st Platoon rolled into the gate at the headquarters for the Kuwaiti 25th Commando Brigade.

Their objective on the patrol was more educational than tactical. D Company took advantage of host nation expertise with a lesson on weapons maintenance for a desert environment.

The instructor and subject matter expert was a chief warrant officer of the Kuwaiti 25th Commandos who have frequently worked with American military units. A chief warrant officer is the senior enlisted rank in the Kuwaiti army whose rank and use of English name tapes along with his Arabic ones show the level of the U.S./Kuwaiti relationship.

Delta Company’s 1st Platoon was welcomed with open arms and brought into the chief’s office to meet his staff for coffee. The mood in the room was light and conversation flowed over topics ranging from cars and stories of basic training to the local wildlife.
What seems like just chit chat to Americans who often want to get right down to the matter at hand is an important part of Middle East culture that focuses as much on relationships as it does on a business or training event itself.

Delta Company soldiers learned about this during their premobilization training so they understood the importance of respecting their host’s culture. They have used that training to maintain a good relationship with the Kuwaiti military.

“It was interesting, at first you all just kind of sit there, but then the conversation gets going and you realize we are not as different as we would think,” said Spc. Kyle Davis from Austin, Minn.

“You guys want to see some guns?” chief warrant officer asked the infantrymen to a resounding "yes" from D Company. They moved as a group down to the arms room, where he gave a short class on weapons the 25th Commandos had recently received from Russia.

Soldiers of Delta Company were able to handle, break down and sight in on weapon systems they normally don’t get to see. Cpl. Benjamin Weller from Glenville, Minn., was able to lie behind a Russian NSV-12 machine gun as one example.

“It’s pretty cool, definitely not my .50-cal but cool, I just wish I could shoot it,” Weller replied as Chief Al-Ali asked what he thought.

“I’d like to show you one more thing before we get down to business” the chief warrant officer told 1st Platoon as they walked out of the main arms room. The soldiers of D Company followed the chief to another room full of more weapons and crates.

The chief warrant officer motioned for the soldiers to follow him to the back of the room, where three large silver crates sat on the floor. Opening a crate and reaching he pulled out a gold-plated upper receiver for a Russian RPK that once belonged to Saddam Hussein. The pieces were on their way to be refinished.

Spc. Joshua Imler of Lake Mills, Iowa, said: “I remember hearing about these when they were found, but I never thought I would be holding one.”

The receiver was passed around and then put away. Play time was over, now it was time to work.

1st Platoon followed him outside to the cleaning station with a M240B machine gun. The soldiers broke down the machine gun as chief spoke to them about his favorite way to clean weapons - with gasoline. Not accustomed to this 1st Platoon was a little skeptical.

However, the proof was with the carbon free bolt that was pulled out of the bucket after being lightly detailed by a member of the chief’s staff. One by one, soldiers of 1st Platoon joined in until the whole weapon was clean. Once the weapon was oiled it was reassembled and the mission was nearing an end.

One last photo opportunity with the chief warrant officer, soldiers of 1st Platoon holding a Patriot Guard Flag, the day was wrapping up. The Patriot Guard has supported the battalion in past deployments along with their current one so the unit took advantage of a chance to thank them.

First Lt. Ryan Heidelberger of North Mankato, Minn., summed up the value of the day’s KLE to his platoon.

“It’s good to be able to work with our Kuwaiti counterparts. It lets our guys know that we are not the only ones doing this job, and that the way we do things isn’t the only way things can be done. I look forward to building this relationship and working with chief Al-Ali in the future.”

With a few handshakes and a couple of the embraces typical in Middle Eastern culture, 1st Platoon mounted in their vehicles to carry on with their day, knowing that another successful KLE had been conducted.

• Date Taken: 10.16.2011
• Date Posted: 10.27.2011 06:39
• Story ID: 79094
• Location: CAMP BUEHRING, KW