Allies in box experience JRTC crucible training

FORT POLK, LOUISIANA, UNITED STATES

01.24.2020

Story by TC Bradford 

Fort Johnson Public Affairs Office

FORT POLK, La. — The world we live in today is different than the world of our forefathers. After U.S. President Andrew Johnson signed the proclamation ending the Civil War on Aug. 20, 1866, it took weeks for the news to filter down to the States.
Today, when there are protests in Iran, a typhoon in the Philippines, or world leader summits in Europe, you can open your phone and see real-time video of the event. Technology has made the world a smaller place.
In the early days of the nation, focus was inward on the economy, security and maintaining the freedoms granted by the founding documents. Today, the economy and other facets of our national identity require that we reach out globally and work with friendly partner nations to meet the needs of American citizens.
Overseas contingency operations, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a battle of wills between superpowers like Russia and China have forced the U.S. military to change the way it protects the nation.
The Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk was given the task of preparing Soldiers to go overseas and fight those wars. Here, about one-third of all brigade combat teams in the Army are trained each year. But that’s not all JRTC Operations Group does. They also help train armies of friendly nations. A recent rotation had British troops and the Kingdom of Thailand training here to sharpen their unit’s capabilities.
The current rotation, Rotation 20-03, brings two international units to the training area (called the Box) where they will face off in battle against Fort Polk’s Opposing Force (OPFOR), the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 509th Infantry Regiment, a task most rotational units find daunting, Forces training on Fort Polk during this rotation include the 3rd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment; the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry division out of Alaska; and the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF).
Lt. Col. Josh Davis, brigade command and control senior observer/controller/trainer, Ops Group, explained the importance of having foreign forces training at the JRTC.
“It is always of extreme importance to have our allies train with us at every opportunity. Here at JRTC our U.S. Army brigades and members of our sister services experience a training event in a very real and complex environment. Having our allies train with us in the unique environment provided by JRTC enhances our mutual understanding of war fighting, builds relationships, and ensures that our nations can work together in the most complex and challenging environments,” he said.
“Our partnerships with our allies cannot be cultivated at the time of crisis. Great relationships must be established and maintained so that we are all ready at the very moment we are called upon.”
This is the first time the JGSDF has been to the JRTC for a rotation. They will work with the 4th BCT, 25th ID as they go through the premiere crucible training event. The goal for the JGSDF is to improve their warfighting capabilities by honing the combat skills, techniques and tactics an infantry unit needs to take the fight to the enemy.
The training will also teach them communication and cooperation between Japanese and U.S. units which will improve bilateral operations between the nations. They will practice force on force using Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System, or MILES, to provide a level of reality to the training.
After the 10-day force on force, they are scheduled to do live fire exercise for four days simulating combat as they practice attack and defense maneuvers.
The significance of this rotation lies in global politics. The United States is promoting engagement and strengthening its presence in the Pacific region and firming up the Japan-U.S. alliance. The exercise will fortify the confidence and bi-lateral operational capabilities between the nations., said Davis
Davis said the training that foreign forces receive here will have far-reaching benefits.
“The JRTC provides a mutil-echelon training opportunity for each unit who trains here. Like U.S. forces, our allies will benefit from practicing their profession against a world class OPFOR and leave here better trained at the individual, team, squad, company and battalion level,” he said. “Additionally, they will gain experience operating within a multinational construct.”
The unit is about 250 strong from the 9th Division Headquarters, 39th Infantry Regiment under the command of Col. Kunihiro Kihara and will be training through Feb. 7.
The Japanese aren’t the only foreign army on the ground in the box. A battalion sized element from the 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment are also taking part in Rotation 20-3.
Maj. Steve Desotti, commander of November Company, 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, said training at Fort Polk is never easy, but this rotation came with an added obstacle: Temperatures in the high 40s and a cold, drizzling rain. This is the battalion’s first time at the JRTC.
“The weather and climate add to what is already a pretty difficult tactical scenario,” he said. “It’s certainly challenging for our guys.”
A JRTC rotation is a learning experience. Desotti talked about one of the biggest challenges in working with Soldiers from other nations.
“The key lesson comes from the integration between counterparts. You have a Canadian unit working with an American brigade,” he said. “We need to work on understanding how we integrate when working in a coalition setting.”
Problems with integration come with communication, acronyms, different languages and the unique ways the two armies operate.
“Communication is a problem we are working through,” said Desotti. “Americans are a bit more digital and we are more analog so we have to find a way to marry up so we can communicate.”
Desotti said his unit will take away myriad lessons from their time in the Box
“For November Company, and I believe for the Royal Canadian Regiment at large, it’s an opportunity to come to Fort Polk, experience a different training area, a different country we’re not used to in a climate we’re not used to, and to be able to work with an American brigade … It’s a tremendous opportunity for us all.”
He also had some high praise for the JRTC Opposing Force.
“What’s really challenging about them is they have their own mind. They are not scripted like some other training venues are,” he said. “What that means for us is that we have to think a lot smarter.
“We have to be quicker in our thought process than they are. This is not a planned-scenario. It’s real. They are going to attack us in unconventional ways and we need to be able to defend a 360 degree perimeter against any tactic they throw at us.”
Desotti said that training during the rotation will set his company up for success during future assignments and deployments. He said that being at Fort Polk is making the unit more adaptable. The unique environment in the Box takes Soldiers out of their comfort zone.
“We’re used to training in Canada with Canadian units and doctrine. Here, we are out of our home country attached to a brigade that we’re not completely familiar with,” he said.
“We have to adapt and think differently. We can’t rely on our typical doctrine. We need to get out of our comfort zone. That expands our horizon and for our next mission we will be much better poised to address any challenges we face.”
Davis said that this isn’t the last time foreign forces will face the crucible that is the Joint Readiness Training Center.
“The JRTC always extends an invitation for our allies to train with us. That’s imperative for successful coalitions in future conflicts and to that end we will continually strive to train with our partners at every opportunity.”

• Date Taken: 01.24.2020
• Date Posted: 01.31.2020 13:13
• Story ID: 361333
• Location: FORT POLK, LOUISIANA, US