Photo By Spc. Miguel Alvarez | Maj. Gen. Richard J. Hayes Jr., the Adjutant General of the State of Illinois National...... read more read more
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DRAWSKO POMORSKI TRAINING AREA, Poland – For many troops in the National Guard, the regular opportunity to improve their training outside of the United States and collaborate directly with our allies does not come often.
However, for Maj. Gen. Richard J. Hayes Jr., the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, this type of experience is vital to the readiness of his troops.
“Since 2003, our troops have been working closely with Polish soldiers, both in deployment and on the training ground,” said Hayes.
Hayes is in Poland for Exercise Anakonda 2016, a Polish-led, multinational exercise running from June 7-17. The exercise involves approximately 31,000 participants from more than 24 nations and is a premier training event for U.S. Army Europe.
“For us, this exercise is all about developing our future,” said Hayes. He hopes with the participation of his National Guard troops in this exercise will solidify their soldier skills. Additionally, he believes that annual training in Poland will provide experiences from which current soldiers can recall to impart upon younger troops.
“Soldiers will get the chance to see their work come together, and they will gain familiarity with their Polish Counterparts,” said Hayes.
The National Guard was in Poland for Exercise Anakonda 2016 as part of a continued State Partnership Program that a handful of State National Guards have with NATO ally countries.
The benefits of the partnership were on display as Hayes visited Drawsko Pomorski Training Area in Poland to meet and observe the work of the 44th Chemical Battalion of the Illinois National Guard as they trained in decontamination alongside Polish soldiers from the 5th Chemical Regiment.
During the visit, Hayes was able to recognize some National Guard soldiers who had demonstrated leadership throughout the exercise.
One of those soldiers recognized was Sgt. Deep Shah, a computer/detection systems repairer, with the 44th Chemical Battalion.
“I have used this opportunity to step up more as a leader and have grown in confidence, so it was really great to be recognized to let me know I’m moving in the right direction,” said Shah.
Shah, a native of Chicago, Ill., feels the training he is receiving at Anakonda 2016 is only reaffirming his and his fellow soldiers’ commitment to the work they do in the National Guard.
“I just recently signed to extend my Army contract, but I know many of my fellow soldiers who are going to also extend their military service because of this exercise,” said Shah.
| Date Taken: | 06.08.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.08.2016 16:15 |
| Story ID: | 200406 |
| Location: | PL |
| Web Views: | 105 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, Exercise Anakonda 2016 Leads to Boost in Leadership, by SPC Miguel Alvarez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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