Photo By Capt. Michael Greenberger | Col. Richard Smith, the British Military Assistant Military Attaché, speaks with a...... read more read more
FORT DRUM, NY – Eighteen foreign military attachés from 17 countries visited here as part of a tour of the active component this week. The group, hosted by the Foreign Liaison Directorate, viewed a live-fire exercise conducted by soldiers of the 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment Thursday.
According to Daniel Hartmann, deputy director for the Foreign Liaison Directorate, attaché orientation trips are a Headquarters, Department of the Army program that supports the enduring requirement to engage foreign militaries.
“By showcasing all three components of the Army - active, Guard and Reserve - we give the participating international officers a more complete and accurate understanding of the Army and the dedication, professionalism, and commitment of the American Soldier,” Hartmann said. “The program shapes opinion and hopefully prevents conflict.”
The Foreign Liaison Directorate arranges two orientation trips annually for members of the Washington Corps of Military Attachés.
“Fort Drum was the active component portion of this trip,” Hartmann said. “We also visited the Vermont National Guard and the Army Reserve at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst [in New Jersey].”
1-89 Cavalry provided the attachés an in-depth look at how the active army conducts live-fire exercise training. The live-fire demonstration provided by 1-89 Cavalry showcased how the Army trains. The initial brief and following discussion focused on the 10-step training model and the squadron's training objectives, command and control of multiple elements, fire and maneuver, MEDEVAC, use and synchronization of air support, indirect fires and ground maneuver and all under live-fire conditions.
“I think we did well. It was a reflection of the improvement we've achieved over the past four months,” said Spc. Jeffrey Mann, a team leader with Alpha Troop, 1-89 Cavalry. “It feels good to know that these distinguished personnel care about our training. Through our interaction, we learned some of the larger perspectives tied into our training focus.”
"This was a great event that not only allowed the squadron to show our foreign military partners how we train, but also how talented our soldiers and NCOs are," said Lt. Col. David L. Sanders III, 1-89 Cavalry commander. "The attachés seemed impressed that we allow young NCOs to control attack aviation and how a young lieutenant can command and control not only his maneuver forces but synchronize all of his enablers as well."
Following the live-fire demonstration, the foreign attachés were given the opportunity to meet some of the Soldiers who conducted the training. During a question and answer period, the visitors asked questions about their equipment, tactics and experience.
“The unit was hugely impressive,” said Col. Richard Smith, the British Military Assistant Military Attaché. “From the CO through to the private soldier everyone was enthusiastic and focused totally on their task.”
“I am glad that my troops had a chance to display their skills and capabilities in front of the distinguished audience,” said Capt. Branden Farley, commander of Alpha Troop, 1-89 Cavalry. “They were very appreciative and proud to have this opportunity.”
"During the Q&A, the soldiers all demonstrated their complete understanding of their roles and tasks and were both amusing and insightful when talking about their motivations for joining and serving,” Smith said. “The attaché corps had a thoroughly enjoyable and informative visit made all the more realistic by the [range] fires that approached!"
"We didn’t do anything special to make this happen," Sanders explained. "What the attachés observed was just what we were doing for training - a live-fire immediately following a dry and blank run. When the attachés got to meet and ask questions of our Soldiers after the event, I just thought to myself, 'I couldn’t be prouder, they knocked it out of the park'."
| Date Taken: | 05.17.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 05.20.2012 21:13 |
| Story ID: | 88707 |
| Location: | FORT DRUM, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 343 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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