Photo By 1st Sgt. Mark Hanson | 1st. Lt Dalton Mills, a transportation officer with the 3/1 Cav., takes part in a...... read more read more
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Sustainment and logistical planning create the underlying framework for mission success or failure. Yet, the methodology and tactics used to execute a successful mission can vary significantly between countries and even between cultures. Testing these differences, was one of the objectives that Earnest Leader 17, a joint U.S. and Saudi military exercise, looked to address.
“I think a large part of these exercises is getting to know one another better,” said 1st Lt. Dalton Mills, a transportation logistics officer for 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. “If you learn and understand their culture, you’ll be able to understand the way they work and be able to work with them better.”
Roughly 30 Soldiers from U.S. Army Central, 1st Theater Sustainment Command, the 149th Military Engagement Team and the 3rd ABCT, 1st Cav. Div. traveled to Saudi Arabia to take part in the Earnest Leader 17 exercise. The training event brought U.S. and Royal Saudi Land Forces together for a two-week command post exercise in order to plan and maneuver through various logistics-based, computer simulated scenarios using the military decision making process.
“It’s important to understand that they don’t create their logistical plans the way we do,” said Capt. Andrew Moon, a sustainment and logistics engineer officer for 3rd ABCT, 1st Cav. Div. “So it’s important to understand for both of us, the why and the how – and this exercise created a space for us to do that.”
During the first few days of Earnest Leader, U.S. participants were teamed up with their Saudi counterparts where they began discussing possible plans and getting a better understanding of each others’ own decision making processes.
“For us, the first thing we wanted to do was to learn how the Saudi military does their operations and how they conduct MDMP,” said Maj. Frankie Edens, chief of plans, 3rd ABCT, 1st Cav. Div. “And see if we can share some of our tactics and techniques and how we do operations.”
The military decision making process, or MDMP, is an analytical approach to problem solving that allows for commanders and staff members to develop plans. By using MDMP, commanders and staff can examine a battlefield situation and reach logical decisions based on all the available information.
“One of the first things we had to do was to identify a common ground, find that center of gravity,” said Daemetrius Billings, a brigade targeting officer for 3rd ABCT,1st Cav. Div. “Then we could find ways of building interoperability between each other.”
As the teams continued to build on common ground during the first few days of the exercise, the RSLF, along with Scientist Gift, a non-profit, Saudi government-led organization, sponsored and hosted a cultural awareness day for the U.S. participants.
“I was expecting something very serious, maybe just some briefs,” said Moon. “But it was very casual, very informative and very fun.”
During the exchange, soldiers got the opportunity to learn more about the rich history of Saudi Arabia, wear traditional Saudi garments, try local cuisine, and interact with indigenous wildlife.
“It’s good experiencing another culture and seeing what their values and beliefs are,” added Billings. “You start to see what drives them and what’s important.”
“It was a very informative and eye opening experience,” said Mills. “The Saudis are very generous and on top of wanting to complete the mission, they want to show us a good time.”
“This is my joy,” said Abdulaziz S. Al-Shoumar, a cultural guide with Scientist Gift. “To clarify and to educate people on our culture.”
After having the ability to bond with their counterparts outside of the work environment, the teams moved into the command post exercise portion of Earnest Leader. For a few participants of Earnest Leader, this was their first time working through an operation with foreign troops.
“This is the first time I’ve ever worked with another nation planning an operation or executing anything,” Capt. Matthew McGuire, assistant battalion operations officer, 3rd ABCT, 1st Cav. Div. “It’s been a big learning opportunity for us as a battalion.”
“They do things a little differently, we do things a little differently,” said Moon. “But we kind of met in the middle.”
Finding and identifying those similarities and differences allowed the teams to reach a collaborative middle ground in order to prepare for and execute their missions within the exercise.
“It’s a give and take,” said Edens. “We learn from them and they learn from us.”
“One of the things we’ve been able to pass along is our methods for creating a shared understanding of the battlefield,” said Billings. “Like our process for establishing a common operating picture. So everyone has the same picture of what’s going on.”
“What I’ve learned from them is, they are very meticulous on their operations,” said Edens “They take their time, and they look for different ways of doing things that maybe we didn’t think about. They’re very structured in their organization.”
“It’s definitely going to help me in the future on how I might go into a mission dealing with foreign countries,” said Moon. “It’s not just about how they do things militarily, but also how they are as people and how they view different things, and you have to take all of that into consideration.”
During the closing ceremony of Earnest Leader 17, Maj. Gen. Terrence J. McKenrick, U.S. Army Central deputy commanding general, spoke about the success of Earnest Leader, the continuation of future exercises and how future engagements will enhance U.S. and Saudi military planning, operations and friendships.
“We’ll continue the hybrid warfare focus and apply the lessons we have learned here at this exercise to further integrate our forces and improve future exercises,” said McKenrick. “We thank you for the opportunity to strengthen and reinforce that relationship.”
Earnest Leader, now in its 13th iteration, is a reoccurring Saudi and U.S. exercise that sets to demonstrate both nations’ commitment and shared obligation for promoting stability and security to the region.
| Date Taken: | 08.11.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 09.04.2017 06:17 |
| Story ID: | 246870 |
| Location: | SA |
| Web Views: | 33 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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