Photo By Staff Sgt. Michael Crawford | A civilian media role-player asks a question of the local leaders and military...... read more read more
Subscribe
FORT POLK, La. – In the mock village of Dara Lam at Fort Polk, La., military commanders and stone-faced role-players gathered to recognize the transfer of authority from one unit to the next.
March 21 marked the first day of force-on-force training at the Joint Readiness Training Center, beginning with the initial Shura, which is a conference between local and military leaders. Hallways buzzed with radio chatter and the clomping boots of security patrols while Afghan role-players expressed the concerns of their provinces and organizations to incoming and outgoing unit commanders and security forces.
“This is as close as you can get to realistic training for what they’ll actually see in Afghanistan,” said Lt. Col. Allan Boyer, a guest observer coach/trainer supporting the JRTC. “Joint readiness training operations stays in contact with forward units to mimic these real world events.”
Like many conversations, what was said was not as important as how it was said. As unit commanders explained their intents to address the locals’ concerns, they injected middle-eastern language into their speeches.
“Using their language shows an intent to try to connect with the people of Afghanistan and bridge that culture,” said Col. Dennis Sullivan, commander of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. “I think that opens doors – it allows relationships to start to foster and really get towards a higher level of trust and cooperation.”
Hearing the familiar Pashtu words, the role-players exchanged energetic nods as smiles crept across their once skeptical faces, and the leaders began to connect.
“Pashtu phrases make them [Afghans] happy,” said Mohammad Rezai, an Afghan role player. “It makes a more friendly atmosphere. It’s very helpful.”
Outside, soldiers with the 2nd Bde., 10th Mtn. Div., worked with Afghan National Army and Afghan Border Police role players to secure the meeting site. Alongside them, new Security Forces Assistance Transition teams advised the different forces on effective communication and tactics.
“This is training for the whole piece … SFATs and planning with the Afghan people, such as the roles of the police and the Afghan Army,” said Sullivan, the incoming commander. “It allows us to replicate how we would involve the security detachments – it’s very realistic to how we would do things overseas.”
Meanwhile, civilian role-players gathered around the building, waiting to move through the security details for a press conference. Rather than generic scenario questions, the media directed their questions at real world tragedies, such as the burning of Qurans and the death of 16 Afghan civilians.
“It’s tremendously important and creates a realistic scenario with media and questions and answers and with our Afghan partners as well,” said Sullivan. “In various deployments there were times I’d have to interact with the media and answer some tough questions. These questions prepare you for what it’s going to be like overseas.”
Preparing soldiers for overseas engagement is ultimately why soldiers come to JRTC, and leaders are confident they will be ready for Afghanistan.
“It gives a good orientation to how Afghans solve problems,” said Col. Dan Walrath, brigade commander of 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. “The training centers here do a very good job of replicating the complexity of the environment that these soldiers are going to have to operate in.”
| Date Taken: | 03.22.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 03.27.2012 16:56 |
| Story ID: | 85854 |
| Location: | FORT POLK, LOUISIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 35 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Soldiers forge, secure bridges between cultures, by SSG Michael Crawford, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
