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YAVORIV, Ukraine - An international delegation of distinguished dignitaries highlighted by Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, commander U.S. Army Europe, Ukrainian Minister of Defense Stepan Poltorak and United States Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey R. Pyatt visited the multinational exercise Rapid Trident 2015 at the at the International Peacekeeping and Security Center near Yavoriv, Ukraine, July 24, 2015.
As United States Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey R. Pyatt said in his opening remarks. “In many ways the Ukraine military, which are seeing before you in these exercises today, is a different one than the one that first faced Russian aggression a year and half ago. It is stronger, more capable and strengthened by the face of battle. The U.S. is but one of multiple international partners that has helped to reinforce and accelerate this process of reform and transformation of the Ukrainian army.”
He went on to say “I’m extremely proud that the United States is but one of 18 international partners that is part of this undertaking. It is a reflection of the strong international coalition committed to standing with the people of the Ukraine.”
Rapid Trident focuses on core soldiering practices at the company and platoon level in a five day field training exercise, the units have been preparing for this by undergoing a week of situational training exercises that focus on tasks such as countering improvised explosive devices, convoy operations, medical skills and patrolling.
The dignitaries got a chance to see first hand the soldiers training and functioning in multinational companies as they went through two of the situational training exercises lanes.
“The experience the Ukraine army is gaining is very important to us,” said Col. Gen. Poltorak. “When we planned this exercise we took into consideration the eastern anti-terrorist operation and we discussed our needs of impairment that we learned during this conflict. And during the execution of this exercise we keep finding solutions to these issues. I’m very happy with the level of this exercise and I’m sure that such exercise will help the armed forces of the Ukraine defended our country and go to NATO standards.”
Compatibility among allied nations the from command posts to battalions, companies, platoons and individual soldier is seen as one of the main goals here.
“To see senior leaders and soldiers here from so many other countries to be a part of this exercises a powerful signal that we want to continue to work with the Ukraine,” said Lt. Gen. Hodges.
“ The most impressive thing I have seen is five commanders, young officers, veterans who have been in the fight the last two years, and the way they described the conditions they were fighting and the lessons they were learning and how they adapted from where they started to where they needed to be to be successful was a very impressive display to me,” he said.
Rapid Trident is a Field Training Exercise held in Ukraine scheduled through the end of July. The exercise is part of U.S. European Command's Joint Exercise Program designed to enhance joint combined interoperability with allied and partner nations. It is dedicated to improving communication and standardization between Ukraine, the U.S., NATO member nations and other Partnership for Peace nations for peacekeeping and regional stability operations.
For more information about Rapid Trident visit http://www.eur.army.mil/RapidTrident.
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| Date Taken: | 07.24.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 07.28.2015 20:19 |
| Story ID: | 171141 |
| Location: | YAVORIV, UA |
| Web Views: | 28 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Dignitaries visit Rapid Trident 2015, by SFC Walter Van Ochten, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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