Photo By Capt. Ellen Brabo | The 1st Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment’s command team joins leaders of the Queen’s...... read more read more
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Written by 2nd Lt. Robert Bannon
The 1st Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment’s upcoming service in Poland marks a historic occasion. Remarkably, the oldest continuously serving United States Cavalry unit, 2CR, will serve alongside the oldest line cavalry unit of the British Army, the Queen’s Dragoon Guard.
The QDG’s 1st Battalion will be providing a reconnaissance coy when 1/2CR assumes leadership of the Battle Group Poland. The battle group is part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence initiative established to assure our Allies and deter aggression with capable and credible forces.
“There is a high degree of credibility that comes with U.K. forces,” said Lt. Col. Adam Lackey, commander, 1/2CR. “The U.K. stands as one of the leaders in this Alliance. Their depth of experience in Afghanistan and Africa speaks volumes about their capability and professionalism.”
As Soldiers prepare to depart, both 1/2CR and the QDG felt that it was in their best interest to begin building a stronger bond. Lackey, Command Sgt. Maj. Jerry Manzanares, senior enlisted advisor, 1/2CR and Maj. Jeremy Flight, executive officer, 1/2CR, traveled to Norwich, United Kingdom for an opportunity to integrate with their British counterparts, Mar. 12 – 14, 2018.
“Lt. Col. Justin Stenhouse, the Commanding Officer of QDG, is sending his best unit to work with us for six months,” said Lackey. “For him to do that without ever knowing us would have been the wrong thing to do. It was worth the time and energy to make this engagement happen.”
Their overarching purpose was to achieve interoperability on a personal level. Establishing a trusting relationship will empower the units as they work through technical and procedural challenges that arise during their deployment to the battle group.
“The credibility of our mission to deter aggression and assure both the Polish and the Alliance relies on our collective ability to fight not shoulder-to-shoulder but hand-in-glove,” said Maj. Ben Parkyn, commander, Charlie Coy, QDG. “Interoperability barriers undermine the mission and were the focus of much of the discussions on the visit. It was important for us that our U.S. commanders understood where we have come from and what our capabilities were before we work together.”
The visit also afforded Squadron leadership the opportunity to experience British military traditions firsthand and pay respects to their rich heritage. They joined the officers for a formal mess banquet at Robertson Barracks, which served as the meeting place between Eisenhower and Churchill during the first combined bombing raid in July 1942. Dining together is a daily practice in the British military, cultivating a close-knit community and a collective sense of trust.
Their discourse covered topics such as warfighting capabilities, electronic warfare and digital fires, which will play a significant role in the mission. They also laid groundwork for the codification of an eFP playbook that will serve as a blueprint for future units.
To gain a stronger grasp of the QDG’s caliber, the Squadron’s leadership engaged in physical fitness training with the British Soldiers. They endured a rigorous workout spearheaded by British non-commissioned officers who are specially educated in physical fitness.
“I was impressed by their competence and resilience,” said Lackey. “The experience gave me the clearest view of their mentality going into this six month project. I saw that they are ready and willing to tackle hard training.”
Afterwards, QDG Soldiers showcased their weapon systems and vehicles, notably the Jackal and the Coyote, which will be utilized during eFP. Lackey, Manzanares and Flight enhanced their understanding of the platforms and how to effectively employ them in a tactical environment.
The trip proved to be a valuable experience for building rapport, which in turn strengthens interoperability. Squadron leadership left Norwich confident in their ability to successfully incorporate the unit throughout their mission.
| Date Taken: | 03.29.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 03.29.2018 13:40 |
| Story ID: | 271108 |
| Location: | NORWICH, GB |
| Web Views: | 992 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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