2d Cavalry Regiment bolsters partnership with German army unit

By Sgt. Joshua Edwards, 2d Cavalry Regiment Public AffairsMarch 28, 2014

Tactics
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – ROSE BARRACKS, Germany -- U.S. Army Spc. James Vermillion (middle) with 2nd Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment, speaks with German army Sgt. Sven Schalamon with Panzergrenadierbataillon 122, as they occupy a security position during training at Grafenwoeh... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Security
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – ROSE BARRACKS, Germany -- German Army Sgt. Sven Schalamon (front) with Panzergrenadierbataillon 122, occupies a security position with Troopers assigned to 2nd Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment, during a training exercise March, 27, 2014, at Grafenwoehr ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Troop Offload
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – ROSE BARRACKS, Germany -- U.S. Army Stryker vehicle (right) and a German army tank stop to offload Troopers with 2nd Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment and German Army soldiers with Panzergrenadierbataillon 122 during a training exercise March 27, 2014, a... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Tactical Movement
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – ROSE BARRACKS, Germany -- German Army Sgt. Sven Schalamon (left) with Panzergrenadierbataillon 122, moves tactically in formation with Troopers assigned to 2nd Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment, during a training exercise March, 27, 2014, at Grafenwoehr ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ROSE BARRACKS, Germany -- The ever-blossoming partnership between the 2d Cavalry Regiment and its German allies continues to grow with a joint live-fire training and squad exercises with the Panzergrenadierbataillon 122.

Troops with the Regiment and German infantrymen fired mortars and conducted movement training with live ammunition March 27, 2014, at Rose Barracks, Germany.

The training was another chance for the two units to build on the lasting relationship they?'ve had over the years.

A Stryker vehicle and a German tank pull into an area suited for the movement of ground forces, ramps let down from the back of both and out came American and German soldiers ready to work together to complete one objective: neutralize the enemy. The lane was designed to simulate the environment of today's modern battlefield and help the soldiers learn and employ modern tactics for success in combat.

The process leading up to the training event required practice for both units that would take them to the next level of combat arms readiness.

"We have taken the last three months to conduct numerous train-ups in order to do a combined arms maneuver live fire between ourselves and our partners with Panzergrenadierbataillon 122," said Capt. Petr Vach, commander of 2nd Squadron Dragoon Ready Reserve, 2 CR. ?"We have conducted every aspect of the train-up with our partners, anything from small arms ranges to sticks-lanes and shoot houses. We have supported each other throughout the last three months in an effort to conduct this live fire."

During preparation for the exercise, 2nd Squadron?'s leadership took notice of the similarities in how the two units handle the tactical scenarios.

"I think many of us were extremely surprised at how similar in TTP's (tactics, techniques and procedures) we are between our two nations and the train-up was far seamless than any of us thought possible," said Vach. "We admire each others equipment with the tanks and the weapons, I think the soldiers enjoy each others?' company."

Leadership with the 122 Panzer also agreed that it is paramount to conduct these joint trainings because of the reliance that exists between American and German forces as a result of deployments to a combat environment

"We are fighting with you together in Afghanistan for more than 14 years now," said German army Capt. Christoph Gallitzendorfer, commander of 4th Mechanized Infantry Battalion, 122 Panzer. "It is a very necessary and an important thing for us. We have to get to know each other because we have to rely on each other."