HOHENFELS, Germany (Jan. 9, 2014) -- The military training exercise Combined Resolve 2013 brought service members from throughout Europe and some units from the U.S. to the Hohenfels Training Area here.
Two California National Guard Infantrymen, Staff Sgt. Brian Paredes, from Whittier, Calif., and Staff Sgt. Jose Contreas-Garcia of Los Angeles, said pride and service to country were their prime motivations for continued service, but the annual training in Europe was special.
"I appreciate the time serving and gain a lot of pride from this," said Paredes. "This is what keeps me motivated most of the time. I have a sense of pride in myself, my military and in my country."
Soldiers from Glendale, Calif., the 1st Battalion, 160th Infantry Regiment, attended annual training, while participating in the exercise with Soldier from nine European countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Norway, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia, and Sweden.
National Guard Soldiers may train in Europe as part of the Overseas Deployment Training Program, or as part of a partnership program, which encourages stateside Guard and Reserve units to use their annual training events with an additional week to train in various military specialties, such as engineering, public affairs, legal or medical.
For example, at the Hohenfels Training Area in Germany, members of the New Jersey Army National Guard are currently training with an Albanian Military Advisory team. The Army National Guard's State Partnership Programs prepare U.S. units for nine-month deployments with their multinational counterparts.
"The training improves our unit. We learn more and we learn what we do wrong," said Contreas-Garcia. "We have lots of new privates, and we want them to experience everything."
He said the experience gained from traveling internationally and training with the multinational armies is invaluable. It offered richer experiences than training at home-station in southern California.
"This training is different for us, we are usually the [opposing force]," said Contras-Garcia. "I learned new tactics, and how to incorporate the terrain to our advantage."
"Training at Hohenfels helps leaders to be more effective," he said.
Acting as the Liaison Officer for the 1st Battalion, 160th Infantry Regiment, Orange County Deputy Sheriff, 1st Lt. Orasio Leyva, worked with the Slovenia Army.
"This exposes the Soldiers to working with multinational partners, and working with different terrain that we're normally not used to," said Leyva. "You get a different perspective to how things work and how they operate and their structure. This has opened up my eyes to see how they coordinate their operations and planning."
Editor's note: Military specialties, such as the legal, trial defense and medical service may participate in the Overseas Deployment Training Program. There are shortages of these critical specialties. Units interested in participating should contact their unit training officer for training opportunities.
Related Links:
Ohio Guard mentors Serbians during Combined Resolve 2013
Combined Resolve - Lessons Identified
STAND-TO!: National Guard State Partnership Program - Global Engagements
STAND-TO!: 2013 Army Posture Statement - The Army for the Future
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