YAVORIV, Ukraine – The Deputy Commander of U.S. Army Europe Maj. Gen. Timothy McGuire, Ukrainian Army Land Forces Lt. Gen. Ruslan Khomchak, and dignitaries from the other 11 nations participating in Exercise Rapid Trident 16 visited the training site in Yavoriv, Ukraine today.
The multinational exercise is designed to support military cooperation among Ukraine, the U.S., and Allied and partner nations involving about 2,000 military members.
“The more we can train together, the more we learn from each other,” said McGuire. “The more we do exercises like Rapid Trident, the more all of us improve our capability and that is ultimately what will ensure we are ready to win any fight we are in.”
During their visit to the International Peacekeeping and Security Center July 6, 2016 the representatives started the day with an overview of the exercise activities and objectives. After this and a short meet-and-greet, they moved to the training areas to see demonstrations of the tactics the multinational Soldiers had practiced throughout the exercise.
The demonstrations included an air and ground assault with helicopters, armored personnel carriers and ground troops assaulting an enemy position, which was defended by soldiers from an opposition force. Next they observed security operations where soldiers assaulted a building defended by operational forces, and saw a Chemical Biological Radiological and Neurological decontaminations operations.
“Today I saw modern armed forces, modern soldiers with a different mindset, and a different understanding of today’s combat reality,” said Georgian Army Chief of General Staff Maj. Gen. Vakhatang Kapanadze. “This is an impressive development of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.”
The exercise will continue until tomorrow and a closing ceremony will be held July 8, 2016 to wrap up the twelve days of intense training. It is planned to be held again next year.