The Adjutant General of Kansas visits Soldiers at Fort Irwin's National Training Center

Photo By Sgt. DeUndra Brown | Maj. General Lee Tafanelli, the adjutant general of Kansas, speaks with Soldiers of the 2d Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, Kansas Army National Guard, about their experience training at the National Training Center May 28, 2017, on Fort Irwin, California. (Mississippi National Guard photo by Sgt. DeUndra Brown, 102d Public Affairs Detachment)  

FORT IRWIN, CA, UNITED STATES

05.28.2017

Story by Sgt. DeUndra Brown 

102d Public Affairs Detachment

FORT IRWIN- Maj. General Lee Tafanelli, the adjutant general of Kansas, visited Kansas Army National Guard Soldiers May 28, 2017 at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California.

The training at NTC replicates the operational environment that Soldiers face in combat and the general wanted see the training first hand to speak with his Soldiers about their experience.

“Well for all the Kansas National Guard units that are here, this provides a very unique opportunity that few national guards units have the opportunity to participate in,” said Tafanelli. “It really gives us some real world training experience that, as we prepare our formations for deployment, this kind of training is really invaluable in preparation of those deployments.”

The Kansas Guard unit is conducting NTC training as part of the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team, Mississippi Army National Guard.

“It’s really a great relationship! It’s a rather new relationship that we have with the 155, but already the Mississippi National Guard and the Kansas National Guard have found great ways to work together,” he said. “Whenever you can put Soldiers together, they’re going to find ways to work together, and so far it has been a very positive relationship, and I’m proud of the partnership!”

Tafanelli appreciates that the families and the employers of the Soldiers are willing to give important time away from home and work and knows that they will be proud to see the Soldier complete such complex training.

“They give up a lot when they send off their Soldiers,” Tafanelli said. “They miss out on a lot of important events.”

“If the families could see the great work and the great training that’s going on, I know they’d be just as proud as I am,” he said.

The Soldiers will continue training in the intense, harsh environment of NTC until June 15, to build on their experiences in order to remain prepared for any mission.

“That kind of training is really invaluable,” said Tafanelli. “This really provides a world class opportunity for our Soldiers to come out here and participate and really train the way that they are going to have to fight.”

• Date Taken: 05.28.2017
• Date Posted: 05.29.2017 02:15
• Story ID: 235604
• Location: FORT IRWIN, CA, US
• Hometown: KANSAS CITY, KS, US
• Hometown: NEWTON, KS, US
• Hometown: SALINA, KS, US