Timaru, New Zealand - More than 70 Soldiers from 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division finished the month-long training exercise, Southern Katipo 2013, on Nov 29.
"SK13 is a multinational training event improving interoperability between American services and militaries in the Joint Interagency Task Force," said Maj. Jeffrey Hinds, the Red Task Force Operations Officer.
JIATF is made up of forces from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, France, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Tonga and the U.S. Marine Corps and Army.
Cutting their teeth on tactical, logistical, personnel, communications and Intelligence cooperation, JIATF melded many practices and Soldier experiences.
"Working this closely with so many different groups is almost a once in a lifetime opportunity," remarked Lt. Col. Patrick Aspland, Commander of the Joint Multinational Task Group Red.
"One particularly strong symbol of our mission here is the American lieutenant commanding a mixed-gender Kiwi infantry platoon, with privates from Papua New Guinea," said Col. John Howard, SK13 JIATF commander.
1st Lt. Isaac Todd was selected to replace a New Zealand platoon leader who was called away from the exercise on an emergency. Honor Graduate of the Basic Armor Officer Course, Reconnaissance Course Thurman Award winner, and Ranger School graduate, "Lt. Todd was what I hoped working with an American would be like," said Sgt. 1st Class Aaron McMillen, the New Zealand platoon sergeant.
"We were tasked to conduct security operations, township presence patrols, reconnaissance missions, a platoon combat outpost and coordinate a forward operating base," Todd said. "By the time we left, the farmer liked us so much he gave us a lamb as a token of friendship. Building relationships with the local populous is what SASO [Stability and Support Operations] is all about."
Lance Cpl. Leslie Burnham, the platoon medic stated, "Besides the accent, it was interesting to see how approachable the American officers were. Lt. Todd was focused and intense during the missions, but they all seemed to lighten up afterward."
"Some tactical radio transmissions, especially numbers, could be confused or unclear if passed to quickly or quietly," said New Zealand Lance Cpl. Leydon Smith, a team leader in Todd's platoon.
Historic bonds were not lost on Soldiers as the JIATF commemorated Armistice Day and the American Veterans Day, "I feel like I am really a part of an international brotherhood in arms," Todd explained.
"It's an honor to be here with our international partners building cooperation," said Aspland. One New Zealand Vietnam Veteran, Mr. Tom Palmer, donated his collection of memorabilia from the Vietnam conflict to the 25th ID museum in honor of the occasion. "I'll never forget how glad I was to see that Lighting patch," he reminisced.
The Combined JIATF Headquarters Operations Warrant Officer, Sarmay Brill, said of SK13, "It's great to improve our inoperability, renew friendships and chew on the same ground our grandfathers chewed on. Although this is New Zealand's largest joint training exercise, hopefully it won't be our last."
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