Logistics brings Senegalese, U.S. Soldiers together

Photo By Spc. Jose Rivera | U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Khalid Belkhatir (center), a translator and cultural advisor with 51st Translator Interpreter Company, Regimental Support Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, explains in French how a Joint Battle Command-Platform transceiver works with satellites and computer system at Fort Stewart, Ga. August 16, 2016. Senegalese and 703rd Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Soldiers conducts logistical support exercise to increase U.S. and Senegalese readiness and partnership through combined training.  

FORT STEWART, GA, UNITED STATES

08.08.2016

Story by Spc. Corey Foreman 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

FORT STEWART, Ga. (Aug. 8, 2016) – Soldiers of 703rd Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division hosted Senegalese soldiers during a logistical support exercise, Aug. 8 – 19 at Fort Stewart, Ga.

The event allowed members of the Senegalese military to experience how 703rd BSB conducts mission command, training, management and sustainment operations, while also allowing the brigade to further develop their knowledge of logistics through interaction with a partner military.

“The Senegalese officers are here to observe how a support battalion operates within a brigade,” said Capt. Mekko Gillen, officer in charge of operations for 703rd BSB. “They want to understand the similarities and differences of logistical operations between the U.S. and Senegal Army.”

Senegalese Armed Forces (SAF) soldiers were fully integrated in typical day-to-day operations that included a field training exercise (FTX) that left them with a better understanding of how 703rd BSB performs logistical operations.

“The purpose of our FTX is to validate company and battalion-level tasks and begin building towards establishing and maintaining a fully operational brigade support area in support of brigade operations,” said Gillen. “The Senegalese soldiers will get a chance to observe and participate in drivers training, bulk fuel operations, live fire ranges and BSA defense operations.”

Combined exercises create stability and understanding between nations, leaving stronger partnerships between countries.

“We can learn together as one by sharing military experiences with each other,” said Lt. Michel Bernard Diegane Sarr, quartermaster director, chief of the bureaus with the SAF.

“Understanding how each other's forces conduct sustainment operations will assist us during future contingency operations,” said Lt. Col. Joshua LaMotte, commander of 703rd BSB.

Partnering for training provides both countries with new knowledge and skills they may have not had before.

“We get the opportunity to see how the U.S. Army conducts their mission command and sustainment while also getting fully involved in their daily activities in order to compare the U.S. Army way of doing things and ours,” said Diegane Sarr.

Diegane Sarr said the officers are very thankful to be at Fort Stewart and have enjoyed all the events in which they participated.

Prior to this exercise, SAF partnered with 2nd IBCT for U.S. Army Africa’s exercise Africa Readiness Training 16 in Thies, Senegal in August. Soldiers and SAF conducted two weeks of combined infantry training during the exercise.

703rd BSB continued building upon the relationship 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd IBCT, fostered during ART 16.

“We thank United States Army Africa for this invitation,” said Diegane Sarr. “There was no waste of time since we‘ve been here; either we visit an Army facility or we take part in a meeting, briefing or a PT session.”

Following their time with 703rd BSB, SAF soldiers are scheduled to join 1-30th Inf. again to observe company-level infantry training, at Fort Stewart’s training areas before returning home to Senegal.

• Date Taken: 08.08.2016
• Date Posted: 08.29.2016 21:31
• Story ID: 208466
• Location: FORT STEWART, GA, US