Bang, bang: Indiana National Guard soldiers train with Slovak allies

Photo By 1st Lt. Jonathan Padish | U.S. Army Spc. Jerrad Nicholson, a Campbellsburg, Ind. soldier assigned to the 1st Squadron, 152nd Cavalry Regiment, 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 38th Infantry Division, Indiana Army National Guard, leads a stack of soldiers during a Military Operations in Urban Terrain drill at Lešt military training center, Slovakia, Nov. 10, 2019. Indiana National Guard soldiers deployed to Slovakia for Slovak Shield 2019, a joint war-fighting exercise involving six NATO countries. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Jonathan W. Padish)  

SLOVAKIA

11.10.2019

Story by Senior Airman Jonathan Padish 

Indiana National Guard Headquarters

LEŠT, Slovakia — Communicate. Move. Shoot. Communicate again.

Inside the confines of a former Soviet-era barracks, U.S. forces methodically worked their way through the building. Step by step. Room by room. Floor by floor. The goal: reinforcing old and learning new war-fighting skills alongside Slovak allies to be a more lethal and effective unit.

With that in mind, Indiana National Guard Soldiers with the 38th Infantry Division’s 1st Squadron, 152nd Cavalry Regiment, 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team shoulder-to-shoulder alongside Slovak Armed Forces allies during Slovak Shield 2019 at a training center here Nov. 10.

The training focused on urban operations — an area of warfare in which the Cavalry Soldiers typically does not engage.

According to U.S. Army Sgt. Tyler Lekse, an Indianapolis Soldier assigned to the cavalry unit, urban operations includes actions such as clearing a building and building operations training.

Working alongside Slovak allies provided an opportunity for the Soldiers to practice with a different type of war-fighting skillset. After all, urban operations involved a whole other world of war fighting for the cavalry troops — a world focused on communication.

“You have to know each other’s language,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Matthew McKinney, an Indianapolis Soldier with the 152nd Cavalry.. You have to learn how to communicate with each other so you can play basketball together.”

Soldiers engaged in the training appreciated the opportunity to learn something new with their Slovak counterparts.

“It’s not something we get to do a lot,” said U.S. Army Spc. Austin Kredit, a Shelbyville, Indiana Soldier assigned to the cavalry regiment. “So, this is a great opportunity.”

Indeed, the Soldiers took advantage of the opportunity to train alongside NATO allies. From tactical reloads to searching immobilized enemy personnel, the Indiana National Guard cavalry troops honed their war-fighting capabilities. Step by step. Task by task. Always improving. Always communicating. Always ready.

• Date Taken: 11.10.2019
• Date Posted: 11.11.2019 14:05
• Story ID: 351265
• Location: SK