Photo By Sgt. Laura Bradley | Soldiers from Regional Command-East train alongside the Kosovo Search and Rescue...... read more read more
PRISTINA, Kosovo — U.S. soldiers from Regional Command-East recently traded their uniforms for wetsuits during a unique cross-training opportunity with the Kosovo Search and Rescue Association in Pristina, Kosovo.
The event was a two-week training that started on August 1, 2025, focused on diving techniques and underwater safety, strengthened cooperation between KFOR troops and their local partners while giving soldiers a chance to confront fears, build confidence, and learn new skills.
For 2nd Lt. Arianna Torres, Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Chief, the training highlighted the importance of building strong relationships with the people of Kosovo.
“We work with the public here in many ways by supplying materials, equipment, and sometimes medical support,” Torres explained. “This time, the Kosovo Search and Rescue team became the trainers, and we were the students. It was really beneficial to see their specialty and learn directly from them.”
Though it was her first time diving, Torres said the experience left a lasting impression.
“At first, I was fearful of being underwater, especially when it came to taking off my mask,” Torres admitted. “But once I trusted myself and my trainer, I realized I could do it. Sometimes things are scary, but you don’t know the outcome until you try. Conquering that fear made it enjoyable.”
First Lt. Tracy Johnston, Task Force Medical executive officer, echoed that sense of challenge and reward.
“It was quite the learning curve, but exciting,” said Johnston. “By the second week, we were in a larger outdoor pool, and I felt much more comfortable with the equipment. The Kosovo team worked with us one-on-one, making sure we understood every skill, from controlling our buoyancy to recovering our goggles and regulators underwater.”
For Johnston, the experience was more than just personal growth, it was professional development.
“As a medical unit, having this partnership matters,” Johnston said. “If the search and rescue team ever needs support, we’ve already built that trust and understanding. I’d recommend any Soldier who gets the chance to train with our Kosovo partners to take it.”
Sgt. 1st Class Arnold Martinez, laboratory NCOIC with Task Force Medical, brought prior diving experience to the training but still found it valuable.
“This course was much more detailed than anything I’ve done before,” said Martinez. “We didn’t just dive, we learned how to assemble, disassemble, and maintain the equipment properly. That part was huge because if something malfunctions underwater, it can jeopardize an entire mission.”
Martinez said his favorite part was when the instructors allowed the soldiers to free dive after practicing the basics.
“It felt like being Superman underwater,” Martinez said with a laugh. “Diving gives you a sense of freedom and self-awareness. The breathing control that you practice under the water also teaches you discipline and you can use it in real life. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
The cross-training served as more than just an adventure for the U.S. soldiers, it was an opportunity to deepen ties with Kosovo partners while stepping outside their comfort zones. For Torres, Johnston, Martinez and their teammates, it was a reminder that trust, teamwork and courage extend beyond the battlefield, even into the depths of the pool.
| Date Taken: | 08.01.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.24.2025 12:44 |
| Story ID: | 548495 |
| Location: | PRISTINA, ZZ |
| Web Views: | 53 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, U.S. and Kosovo Search and Rescue Teams Connect Through Dive Training, by SGT Laura Bradley, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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