KNG and Providers share success with Operations Knights Sentinel

Photo By Spc. Rochelle Prince-Krueger | Coffee and tea is heated by hot coals for the traditional Kuwaiti lunch after the Transportation and Maintenance Information Exchange and Demonstration with the Kuwait National Guard and the 3rd Sustainment Brigade at Udairi Range Training site in Kuwait, Jan. 21.  

UDAIRI RANGE, KUWAIT

01.21.2015

Story by Spc. Rochelle Prince-Krueger 

3rd Division Sustainment Brigade

UDAIRI RANGE, Kuwait - The Transportation Battalion of the Kuwait National Guard, commanded by Lt. Col. Talal Essa Al Nofal, participated with Soldiers assigned to 32nd Composite Truck Company, 3rd Sustainment Brigade and 101st Brigade Support Battalion, in a bilateral information exchange and demonstration at Udairi Range Training site in Kuwait, called Operation Knights Sentinel, Jan. 18-21.

Both U.S. and KNG Soldiers stayed in the desert for four days to build camaraderie and proficiencies within their job fields of transportation and maintenance. On the last day of the exchange, the Soldiers collaborated to put on a cumulating demonstration for senior ranking KNG and 3rd Sustainment Brigade personnel.

“This is the first-ever exchange between the KNG support command and U.S. forces of this capacity,” said 1st Lt. Patrick Clark, Kuwait Military Forces liaison officer for the 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 1st Sustainment Command (Theater). “Typically this KNG command supports their own combat units in these type of exercises, this is a stand-alone exercise ran completely by them, involving only their own soldiers, with no assistance from other commands other than U.S. forces.”

Three scenarios were performed during the demonstration. The first one concentrated on recovery and field maintenance for a broken down vehicle. The second scenario showed on-the-spot maintenance. The third scenario involved recovery and convoy operations in a tactical environment.

With personnel watching from an observation deck above the exercise area, both Kuwait and U.S. vehicles drove around and demonstrated three major tasks. The first task was a Pandur (Kuwait vehicle similar to the U.S. Stryker vehicle) breaks down, emitting smoke and is towed back to safety, while the U.S. Soldiers provide security. Simulating as if they were on a mission and a vehicle breaks down.

As that Pandur was towed away it, the second scenario began with a KNG Panhard halting during a recon mission due to a faulty fan. The KNG Soldiers provided their own security while a KNG maintenance contact truck arrived and those Soldiers changed out the fan. The Panhard, now fully operational, continued its mission.

Attention was then brought back to the first scenario where the broken down Pandur was towed to a secured maintenance area ran by the 101st BSB Soldiers. The KNG utilized the U.S. Soldiers crane to remove the engine of the faulty vehicle. Within ten minutes the engine block was raised out of the vehicle, simulating an engine swap, then it was put it back into the vehicle and like the Panhard before it, continued mission, driving away from the maintenance area.

The demonstrations finale was an integrated convoy of Kuwait and U.S. vehicles, which were providing convoy security, and simulated a complex attack and how the convoy would react.

“Our Soldiers did an outstanding job with the demonstration,” said Col. Anthony Coston, commander of the 3rd Sustainment Brigade. “This type of training gets you out of the motor-pool and you get to work with the sophisticated and educated force of Kuwait, which allows us to continue building the partnership with the Kuwait National Guard.”

The "Trey Duce" Soldiers, also known as 32nd CTC, provided assets for convoy security in the transportation demonstration portion of the exchange. The 101st BSB provided the tactical ambulance and mechanics to assist the KNG Soldiers with the maintenance portion of the demonstration.

“All of the tasks ran smoothly and we executed them flawlessly,” said 1st Lt. Grant Hardy, a platoon leader for 32nd CTC. “We spent a lot of time training and it was a great experience for all of us to work together.”

“All the senior leaders observing the demonstration responded well to the success and timing of the scenarios; it made everyone proud,” said Capt. Rachel Adair, commander of 32nd CTC. “Two events in particular were when the integrated convoy rolled through the desert, with all working to move through the kill zone following a simulated IED attack; and when a disabled Kuwaiti Pandur, fixed by a fast moving team of U.S. and KNG, drove away after having the engine removed just ten minutes prior.”

Adair said that caused a round of applause from both the KNG and U.S. leaders present when it was completed.

Hardy, a Frederick, Maryland, native, said the only difficulty was the language barrier. To assist with the Arabic to English languages there were a couple interpreters that stayed with the groups and from using old-fashioned communication techniques.

“When we were doing the run-through, I used hand signals and drew in the sand to communicate a little better,” said Hardy, who acted as the convoy commander in the last simulation. “All of it helped so we understood one another.”

After the completion of Operation Knights Support, the observers and participating Soldiers were treated to an elaborate meal featuring many traditional Kuwaiti foods back at the campsite.

“They wanted to make sure we were comfortable, so they ensured we had the best food and training sites,” said Hardy. “You couldn’t tell this was their first time alone, they are very tactically and technically proficient. I look forward to working with them again.”

• Date Taken: 01.21.2015
• Date Posted: 02.03.2015 03:29
• Story ID: 153359
• Location: UDAIRI RANGE, KW
• Hometown: CAMP ARIFJAN, KW
• Hometown: CAMP BUEHRING, JA, KW
• Hometown: KUWAIT, KW
• Hometown: KUWAIT CITY, KW
• Hometown: FORT CARSON, CO, US
• Hometown: FORT RILEY, KS, US
• Hometown: FORT STEWART, GA, US
• Hometown: FREDERICK, MD, US