Elite Training For GCC Countries In The Waters of Kuwait

Photo By Sgt. Marco Gutierrez | U.S. Army 1st Lt. Grant Koening, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division platoon leader, roleplays as opposition forces for a visit boarding search and seizure training, on March 28, 2017, Kuwait Naval Base, Kuwait. Gulf Cooperation Council and U.S. Special Operation Forces participated in VBSS training in support of exercise Eagle Resolve 2017. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Marco Gutierrez)  

KUWAIT NAVAL BASE, KUWAIT

03.27.2017

Story by Sgt. Marco Gutierrez 

U.S. Army Central   

U.S. and Gulf Cooperation Council special operations forces participated in visit boarding search and seizure training with members of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team and 1st Cavalry Division acting as opposing forces, March 28, in the waters of Kuwait Naval Base, Kuwait.
“We are not usually in this type of environment,” said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Matt Stone, 3rd BCT, 1st Cav. Div., tank platoon leader. Stone added that while the water is not his normal environment, he and his team represent infantry, artillery and tanker Soldiers who are well-versed in combat operations.
While the team members of the 1st Cav. Div. are trained combat fighters, they faced other countries special forces as they played opposition forces for the training exercise, which will include GCC special forces members.
“I thought it was really cool just to be able to train with not one other branch, but also two other nations,” said 2nd Lt. Grant Koenig, 3rd BCT, 1st Cav. Div. platoon leader. “It was one of the most unique experiences I have ever had.”
The trainees consisted of special forces from Kuwait, Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia who boarded a moving vessel in a rigid-hull inflatable boat. Once on the primary vessel, the friendly forces moved in and cleared the vessel of all enemy combatants. Alternative scenarios included the rescue of a hostage - just like in an action movie.
Spc. Tyler Lam, 3rd BCT, 1st Cav. Div. infantryman, explained how he liked the realism of the training and seeing how other nations train. Each nation does something well and we can learn from each other, according to Lam.

• Date Taken: 03.27.2017
• Date Posted: 04.06.2017 02:41
• Story ID: 229328
• Location: KUWAIT NAVAL BASE, KW