Working side-by-side in a competitive but more relaxed scenario, service members have the opportunity to learn how each country engages with and reacts to one another. Sharing new ideas and techniques, service members learn new skillsets that benefit them in the future, whether deployed or not.
During the 26th Armed Forces Skill at Arms Meeting at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Ark., one Airman of the Arkansas National Guard teamed up with the Canadian Armed Forces Combat Shooting Team reaffirming the necessity of interoperability between other countries’ military members. Donning range equipment, Capt. Barry Owens, the National Guard Bureau Air Guard competitive events liaison assigned to the Marksmanship Training Center at Camp Robinson, stepped into the role of a team member for the Canadian team and performed in several matches throughout the competition.
“It was great to immerse myself in their style, tactics and equipment process,” Owens said. “I really enjoy working with the competitive spirits and learning the different styles of shooting and techniques. Their goal is to protect Canada so their tactics have a much more defensive posture.”
The flexibility of our service men and women in the U.S. military ensures our Nation’s success alone and together with our allies. Ensuring all service members have the ability and confidence to provide assistance to other nations during war and peace creates solidarity between the U.S. and our North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies. Training and qualification events such as the AFSAM do this in addition to build friendships and renew old ones.
“Events such as these bring more experienced shooters to the table and provides the opportunity for them to interact with people they’ve fought with in the past as well as meet and shoot with new people,” said Lieutenant Matthew Clancey, the Canadian Armed Forces Combat Shooting Team captain. “It’s not every day that we get to train with international teams in international competitions, so it’s a great opportunity to receive better exposure to the different levels of marksmen which helps our marksmen better themselves as well as get their foot in the door to work with other military entities. It’s a privilege.”
Joint partnerships and capabilities are key to the successful outcome of any multinational operation. Whether providing disaster relief or combating terrorism, the U.S. and its allied nations stand by each other, resulting in partnerships that solidify the foundations necessary for success.
| Date Taken: | 04.28.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 04.28.2017 17:02 |
| Story ID: | 232003 |
| Location: | CAMP JOSEPH T. ROBINSON, AR, US |
| Hometown: | CONWAY, AR, US |
| Hometown: | JACKSONVILLE, AR, US |
| Hometown: | LITTLE ROCK, AR, US |
| Hometown: | NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR, US |
| Web Views: | 62 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Airman hits target on multinational interoperability, by MSgt Jessica Roles, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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