A wreath laying ceremony at a war memorial in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Sept. 25, marked the culmination of the multinational information exchange exercise Steppe Eagle 2009.
Steppe Eagle is held annually and brings together Soldiers from the British, Kazakhstan and U.S. Armies to improve the military orders process, staff functions and battle tracking.
It also teaches Soldiers how to work together within a coalition.
Steppe Eagle is one of more than 200 theatre security events that Third Army/U.S. Army Central has held over the past two years to increase interoperability between partner nations.
These TSC events shape the future for Third Army's full-spectrum operations, in U.S. Central Command's area of operations while supporting the National security strategy of the U.S.
Lt. Gen. William G. Webster, Third Army commanding general, spoke about the success of the exchange and the important role participants have played in current operations.
"We are proud to be friends and partners, improving our ability to work together as a team," Webster said. "Kazakhstan's contributions to the wars against terror have been vital. You have made the nations of Iraq and Afghanistan safer for all."
One of the goals of Steppe Eagle is to assist the Kazakhstan Army in achieving NATO certification, said Lt. Col. Dave Horn, Third Army and South Asia team chief and deputy exercise director for Steppe Eagle.
Gen. Maj. Adilbek Aldaberpenov, the commander of the Kazakhstan Air Mobile Forces, touched on this goal during the ceremony.
"Due to the support of our partners, KAZBAT became the first battalion in post-Soviet Union territory to pass the NATO evaluation process," Aldaberpenov said. "Due to this experience, our units will continue to incorporate what they have learned here during their training."
Webster also cited the success of the exercise and the relationship between the U.S. and Kazakhstan.
"Kazakhstan is a key strategic and regional partner and we have shared the hardships of war and spilled blood together," Webster said. "We must continue to train together so we will be successful in the future."
Aldaberpenov agreed, stating, "Today, we are finishing our exercise and this exercise we can consider a success. I believe in the future. The size of this exercise will continue to increase. Steppe Eagle 2009 has become a symbol of our unique peace and friendship."
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