Photo By Pfc. Payton Wilson | Soldiers of Company B, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade...... read more read more
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FORT STEWART, Ga. – Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division returned to Fort Stewart, Georgia, after training with Senegalese Soldiers in Senegal, July 30.
The first in a series of planned annual U.S. Army Regionally Aligned Forces (USARAF) exercises, African Readiness Training 16 brought together U.S. Army Soldiers from U.S. Africa Command's Regionally Aligned Force with African partners to increase U.S. and partner readiness through tough and realistic training, including combined live-fire events, counter-improvised explosive device detection and combat casualty care.
“It was a great experience, we did training where we never have,” said Staff Sgt. Joseph Watkins, squad leader of 1-30th Inf. “ The Senegalese Army was very motivated to learn what we had for training, as well they wanted to show us their way of training.”
“It was an amazing trip. It was an eye-opener for sure,” said Spc. Joray Owens, team leader of 1-30th Inf. “We did a lot of training we were already familiar with, but to get to train with them as well, to see how they do things... we learned a lot from the Senegalese army.”
As 1-30th Soldiers trained with the Senegalese Army, they found there are a lot of similarities between the two armies.
“There was not really much difference between us. If anything they were surprisingly similar to us,” said Watkins. “It is amazing to see how perceptive other armies are on how we do things.”
While the Soldiers of 1-30th Inf. trained in Senegal, they also had the opportunity to learn about Senegalese customs.
“Their culture was different from ours, but it was nice. Everyone there would help if you needed anything,” said Watkins. “They spoke French, we speak English, but it didn't seem like there was that much of a barrier between us.”
“We learned a lot about the culture and how the Senegalese Army lived,” said Owens. “It was cool to see such a different group of people and be able to train with them.”
Soldiers of 1-30th Inf. have some time off following the exercise and have similar ideas on what they will do with their break.
“I plan on relaxing and spending some much needed time with my friends before I have to go back into work,” said Owens.
“When I get back home I am going to spend as much time with family as possible and relax,” said Watkins.
| Date Taken: | 07.30.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 08.02.2016 21:35 |
| Story ID: | 205885 |
| Location: | HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD, GA, US |
| Hometown: | HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD, GA, US |
| Web Views: | 86 |
| Downloads: | 4 |
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