Joint training brings multinational soldiers together

Photo By Sgt. Kayla Benson | Legal advisers with the Slovenian army discuss training procedures with U.S. Army Maj. Marc Washburn, left, the senior judge advocate officer in charge, with the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, during a mission rehearsal exercise in Hohenfels at Bavaria, Germany, March 14, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Kayla F. Benson/Released)  

HOHENFELS, BW, GERMANY

03.20.2013

Story by Spc. Kayla Benson 

358th Public Affairs Detachment

HOHENFELS, Germany – Four legal advisers from the Slovenian Army trained with U.S. Army Europe soldiers during the Joint Multinational Readiness Center mission rehearsal exercise here in March.

The Slovenian team was hand-selected by their command to work with legal advisers to become Observer/Coaches for the next rotation. Slovenian armed forces will be training in the next rotation for an upcoming deployment to Kosovo.

Joint training efforts prepare Soldiers for legal operations, especially in a multinational environment, said Cpt. Madej Kslea, legal adviser for the 1st Brigade, Slovenian Army. In particular, the training helps Slovenian soldiers get a better view of military mission objectives and gives them more field experience, said Kslea.

“When you start planning and training with them at the [beginning], it really helps you be more effective on your future mission,” said Washburn. “This type of training environment is absolutely invaluable.”

One of the biggest challenges the team faced was making sure they were on the right track for all of the cases they encountered during the training exercise, said Kslea.

Although they faced many challenges, they came together to work through problems, to improve their work and strengthen the relationship between the two armies.

“This is really a team effort,” said Maj. Marc Washburn, the senior judge advocate O/C with JMRC. “We never do any missions that are simply U.S. unilateral. Everything we do now is really part of a greater coalition, a multinational coalition.”

By working with the U.S. Army Europe O/C team, the Slovenian legal advisers feel prepared to train their own forces in the next rotation and succeed in their deployment.

“I have to [be ready]. It’s our mission, it’s our duty, and we have to do everything to be ready and to be the best,” said Kslea.

It was clear that when different nations came together in a joint training environment, their combined knowledge and skills helped complete the training mission and better prepared them for the real world.

• Date Taken: 03.20.2013
• Date Posted: 03.26.2013 14:29
• Story ID: 104130
• Location: HOHENFELS, BW, DE
• Hometown: HOHENFELS, BY, DE
• Hometown: SALT LAKE CITY, UT, US