‘Top Notch’ 11th Air Defense Artillery hosts NCO exchange with Saudi defense forces

Photo By Master Sgt. Doug Roles | CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – The battalion commander of 1st Battalion, 62nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Top Notch 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, Lt. Col. Ayo Lawson poses with the group of Royal Saudi Air Defense Force noncommissioned officers after distributing commemorative frames of the bi-lateral exchange. (U.S. Army photo by Cpt. Ella Ellis)  

KUWAIT

03.16.2018

Courtesy Story

Task Force Spartan

By 1st Lt. Connor Scharff
1st Battalion, 62nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment Public Affairs

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – In the current state of interconnectivity within the global community, few initiatives are as important as strengthening international relations for the United States military and cultivation of an atmosphere of cooperation.
The need to build partner capacity is a quintessential element of today’s modern military. In this spirit, the 1st Battalion, 62nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Top Notch 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, recently hosted a noncommissioned officer leadership immersion with the Royal Saudi Air Defense Force.
Senior enlisted noncommissioned officers from the RSADF participated Feb. 17 through March 16 visiting each unit within 1-62 ADA currently forward deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Spartan Shield.
Each unit began the immersion cycle with a brief overview and tactical site tour covering Patriot missile operations and overall roles and responsibilities of key individuals. These tours gave the foreign noncommissioned officers an opportunity to see how each unit operated, encouraging discussion regarding daily Patriot operations. The battery leadership was present to answer questions and provide an overview of the subsequent training to occur.
The overall objective of the international collaboration was to discuss shared insights on the Air and Missile Defense mission as well as United States military training and leadership fundamentals. This focused on planning and execution of effective training which serves as the foundation for the missile defense mission.
Bravo Battery sought to demonstrate these critical elements by including the Saudi NCOs in their unit training meeting. During the meeting, the unit’s executive officer, 1st Lt. Vanessa Rojas of Miami, Fla., highlighted the systems and processes used within the organization to properly track and ensure training is being planned effectively.
“Effective planning can make or break a unit when it comes time to execute a mission so we used this experience to share how we plan for the upcoming weeks,” said Rojas.
In addition to reviewing training and leadership development, Saudi leaders participated in hands-on training with the Patriot systems.
While integrated with Bravo “Beasts” Battery, 1-62 ADA, one launcher crew showcased its abilities by conducting prepare to move and emplace (PM&E) drill of a Patriot launching station. This drill requires frequent training to ensure units maintain tactical proficiency and an expeditionary mindset.
During this drill, the Beasts received feedback and insights that their Royal Saudi counterparts had about their experiences in conducting similar crew drills.
“After watching our drill, the RSADF NCOs commented on the rigorous standards and discipline we hold our crews to,” said Staff Sgt. Daniel Hill from Bidwell, Ohio. “Their drill is less focused on specific steps and more on the overall outcome.”
While embedded with Charlie Battery, 1st Sgt. Donald Clemons from Manistee, Mich., gave a leader professional development class on administrative actions and the Army’s Eight-Step Training model. He also reviewed the Army’s Digital Training Management System with the Saudi leaders.
“We discussed overall planning procedures and then how we as a unit track progress within the formation using DTMS after completing training,” said Clemons.
From these events, the Royal Saudi noncommissioned officers were given an opportunity to see how leaders in United States Air Defense units plan, execute, and track progress of Soldiers and units alike.
The RSADF NCOs also had the opportunity to observe range operations and fire individual weapons for familiarity. The NCOs witnessed firsthand how Charlie Battery leadership expertly conducted an M4A1 rifle qualification range.
“It was a pleasure to have the Saudi leadership here for the range, they lightened the mood and told me that they really enjoyed being able to participate,” said 2nd Lt. Brandi Chionsini of Silsbee, Texas, who served as the range officer in charge.
While spending time with Delta Battery, the Royal Saudi Air Defenders were able to participate in the M320 grenade launcher range. This was an entirely new individual weapon that the RSADF noncommissioned officers had not seen before. The range allowed the Saudi leaders to have a hands on experience with the individual weapon.
Both Charlie and Delta Battery displayed their tactical and technical capabilities when they hosted the RSADF NCOs. Each unit executed PM&E drills on various components of the Patriot system and Delta Battery also executed a forklift reload.
The RSADF noncommissioned officer immersion focused on overall Patriot operations in addition to individual Soldier tasks.
Service Battery, the maintenance support element to1-62 ADA, provided the foreign leaders with preliminary marksmanship instruction on a variety of individual and crew served weapon systems.
Following the tactical training, the Royal Saudi Air Defenders returned to Camp Arifjan and were hosted by the unit’s Headquarters and Headquarters Battery.
During this time, the foreign leaders were given an extensive overview of the medical training U.S. Soldiers receive regularly.
“The Saudi NCOs seemed to love the training. They were trying to see exactly what steps were different from their own medical drills,” said Staff Sgt. Tito Galeana of San Antonio, Texas. “They told us that except for a few steps, the drills were almost identical”
The medical section reviewed several medical procedures to include how to properly apply a tourniquet and trauma bandage, how to conduct cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and how to utilize a litter to transport a Soldier.
“After the training, the Soldiers were very interested in seeing our medical facility in the deployed environment and what tools we had to support our Soldiers,” said Galeana.
The immersion concluded with an out brief by Lt. Col. Ayo Lawson and Sgt. Maj. Renard Chaffin.
The battalion leadership presented the RSADF NCOs with certificates commemorating the culmination of the bi-lateral exchange.
The experience was positive, with both organizations sharing important values and lessons in order to improve the overall organization. Events like these create building blocks, stronger partner capacities and enhancing future interoperability.

• Date Taken: 03.16.2018
• Date Posted: 04.06.2018 05:22
• Story ID: 272008
• Location: KW