173rd, Israeli army break ground with combined exercise Noble Shirley

Courtesy Photo | U.S. Army paratrooper from the 173rd Airborne Brigade Special Troops Battalion prepare to board a C-130 Hercules May 3, 2015 as part of combined exercise Noble Shirley in Nevatim, Israel. The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the Army contingency response force in Europe, capable of deploying ready forces across the U.S. European, Africa and Central Commands areas of responsibility in 18 hours or less. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Travis Deberry)  

NEVATIM , ISRAEL

05.12.2015

Courtesy Story

173rd Airborne Brigade

NEVATIM AIRBASE, Israel – U.S. Army paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade Special Troops Battalion and soldiers from both the Israeli Defense Force Counter Terrorism School and Israeli Paratroopers Brigade conducted training as part of combined exercise Noble Shirley here.

The Israeli led combined exercise consisted of close quarter counter terrorism training, airborne operations at drop zones Machbesh and Revivim, and a culminating situational training exercise at the Israeli National Urban Training Center.

The 60 paratroopers who participated in both the counter terrorism school training and the combined airborne operations were exposed to new close quarter tactics and techniques to include Krav Maga and room clearing procedures with the Canine Company of the Israeli Paratroopers Brigade. Krav Maga is a form of martial arts self defense developed for the Israeli Defense Force.

The brigade is the first conventional U.S. military force to land on the Israeli drop, said U.S. Army Maj. Tom Renner, U.S. Defense Attaché Office Tel Avav.

“Although we have different [tactics techniques and procedures] than our Israeli counterparts, I see the value in my Soldiers obtaining a diverse kitbag of warfighting knowledge from allies that we may have to fight alongside one day,” said Sgt. 1st Class Sherise Stephens, a platoon sergeant assigned to the brigade.

Paratroopers and jumpmasters alike came together in closing to share their collective thoughts, airborne expertise and the importance of joint airborne training exercises like Noble Shirley. As a historically U.S. Marine and U.S. Air Force lead training exercise, Noble Shirley forged the interoperability between the U.S. Army and the Israeli Defense Force, said Esteban Alvarado who works with U.S. Army Europe.

“I’ve only jumped T-10 parachutes as a paratrooper but most of us have started training or at least have seen T-11 parachutes,” said 1st Lt. Shia Brown, a jumpmaster assigned to the brigade. “I think this training was valuable for us to see what these [parachutes] are capable of.”

The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the Army contingency response force in Europe, capable of deploying ready forces across the U.S. European, Africa and Central Commands areas of responsibility in 18 hours or less.

• Date Taken: 05.12.2015
• Date Posted: 06.29.2015 07:50
• Story ID: 168475
• Location: NEVATIM , IL