Azerbaijani Officers train with the Oklahoma National Guard

Photo By Spc. Brianna Rhodes | Azerbaijani Army officers, Cpt. Rahim Huseynov, Cpt. Ruslan Ahmedov, Maj. Liyanur Mustafayev, 1st Lt. Fakhzaddin Aghayev and Cpt. Jalil Hasanov, spent several days training with 1st Squadron, 180th Cavalry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma Army National Guard during annual training at Fort Riley, near Junction City, Kansas, June 15. The visit was part of the State Partnership Program, which began in 2002 as a way to link a state’s National Guard with a partner nation’s military or security forces in a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship. (Oklahoma Army National Guard photo by Spc. Brianna Rhodes/Released)  

UNITED STATES

06.22.2016

Story by Spc. Brianna Rhodes 

45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

Four foreign officers from Azerbaijan embedded with the 1st Squadron, 180th Cavalry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma Army National Guard during the unit’s recent annual training that took place at Fort Riley, near Junction City, Kansas earlier this month.

Lt. Col. Ken Mitchell, international partnership specialist for the Oklahoma Army National Guard, said the visit was part of the State Partnership Program, which began in 2002. The program is a way to link a state’s National Guard with a partner nation’s military or security forces in a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship.

“Positive training experiences are invaluable to the broadening growth of our partnership with Azerbaijan,” said Mitchell.

The Azeri officers made the best use of their time with the 180th by learning from the training exercises and sharing experiences with their military counterparts.

“One night was very exciting and useful because it was our first time to ride on a (UH-60) Black Hawk,” said Capt. Rahim Huseynov, an Azerbaijani officer. “We delivered some supplies to troops in the woods.”

“We observed techniques during the live-fire and the involvement of helicopters during tactical training,” Huseynov added. “We got some really good experience from the squadron staff and we’ll take it with us to our army.”

The Azeris were not the only ones receiving valuable input, according to Durant, Oklahoma native, Maj. Larry Marcy, operations officer with the 1st Squadron, 180th Cavalry Regiment.

Marcy stated that U.S. Soldiers also learned from what the Azerbaijani officers contributed, especially during planning phases.

“It’s about the exchange of information and they did teach us some things,” Marcy said. “Their experience is very valuable.”

The Oklahoma-Azerbaijan partnership is one of 73 different National Guard state partnership programs throughout the country.

This is not the first time the Azerbaijani officers have worked with American troops, and said they appreciated the hospitality of the Oklahoma Army National Guard.

“American officers and Soldiers are very friendly,” said Capt. Ruslan Ahmedov, an Azerbaijani officer. “We’ve had a good time and laughed a lot. We have a relationship with the Oklahoma National Guard.”

• Date Taken: 06.22.2016
• Date Posted: 06.22.2016 16:42
• Story ID: 201398
• Location: US