Ukrainian soldiers complete first rotation of Fearless Guardian II

Photo By Sarah Tate | Lt. Col. Nick Ducich, Joint Multinational Training Group Ukraine commander, presents an award to Lt. Col. Roman Mykhaylovych Korenuyk, 1st Battalion, 24th Mechanized Brigade commander Feb. 12, 2016, during the graduation ceremony of the first rotation of Fearless Guardian II at the International Peacekeeping and Security Center near Yavoriv, Ukraine. The second phase of Fearless Guardian will consist of training five battalions of Ukrainian army soldiers and one battalion of special operations forces as part of Joint Multinational Training Group Ukraine. (Photo by Sarah Tate, JMTC Public Affairs)  

YAVORIV, UKRAINE

02.12.2016

Story by Staff Sgt. Adriana Diaz-Brown 

U.S. Army Europe and Africa     

YAVORIV, Ukraine - Five hundred Ukrainian soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 24th Mechanized Brigade, successfully completed the first rotation of Fearless Guardian II Feb. 12, 2016, at the International Peacekeeping and Security Center near Yavoriv, Ukraine, after nine weeks of training.

Soldiers with the Ukrainian Land Forces received infantry-based, defensive-focused training to include medical training, counter-unmanned aerial vehicle tactics training and counter-improvised explosive device training,

“From all accounts, your progression from individual to collective level training demonstrated increased confidence, lethality, speed and most importantly teamwork,” said Lt. Col. Nick Ducich, Joint Multinational Training Group Ukraine commander.

The training culminated with a two-day company situational training exercise in which soldiers were able to apply the skills they learned.

Military trainers from the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom and Lithuania are in Ukraine as part of the JMTG-U effort to assist with long-term military reform, increase training capacity, and strengthen internal defense capabilities.


The ending of the first rotation of Fearless Guardian II also completed the mission of the paratroopers from the 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade.

“Today, I also want to highlight the professionalism and outstanding abilities of your instructors,” said Ducich. “The troopers of 1-91 Cavalry Squadron, the soldiers of the Canadian and Lithuanian contingents represent the best of the NATO alliance and served you well,” Ducich added.

The second rotation of Fearless Guardian II is schedule to begin March 1 in which soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division will replace paratroopers with the 173rd Abn. Bde.

• Date Taken: 02.12.2016
• Date Posted: 02.12.2016 08:24
• Story ID: 188709
• Location: YAVORIV, UA