FORT BENNING, Ga., (April 29, 2015) -- Members of the German liaison organization work toward fostering the relationship between the German and U.S. Armies, but once a year, the organization gathers for an exchange of information and hands-on experience with U.S. training.
"In the end, we will stand in line together somewhere," said Sgt. Maj. Stephan Engel, Maneuver Center of Excellence German army liaison.
A total of about 20 of the German armed forces liaison sergeants major came together at Fort Benning April 20-25 for the annual conference. One purpose of the conference was to give those in the organization a real-life impression of the work done by each individual liaison, Engel said.
"They got a chance to get an insight, so we built a program consisting of three blocks - internal exchange, guidance and best practices," Engel said.
Sgt. Maj. Sven Theede, assigned to Reston, Virginia, said he appreciates the conference for the chance to meet the other members of the German liaison staff, as opposed to only dealing with them over the phone.
"We only have this one special week in the year where we could meet and talk about the problems," Theede said. "Sometimes it is necessary to meet each other face-to-father (rather) than to write emails."
Theede said he also appreciated the opportunity to test out the simulation equipment, which served as a fun break from the conferences and discussions.
"To sit in the tank simulation system, is a good opportunity for me as a signal guy," he said. "I'm not in this area; I know how to deal with tanks, but I do (only) the communication for them."
Engel said hosting the conference at Fort Benning allowed them to showcase what the Maneuver Center of Excellence is about, why the maneuver center is the heart and soul of the U.S. Army as well as all the developments, the training and the efforts the German armed forces liaisons are engaged in on a daily basis.
The group visited elements of the Infantry and Armor schools as well as the 75th Ranger Regiment.
"Our intent was to show all the different fields of possibilities we have here on post," Engel said. "The Maneuver Center of Excellence brought together the different maneuver forces, in both school houses, so it was only natural to reach out to the Infantry School and also to the Armor School to showcase their specific mindset, their specific training set."
Through the conference, participants got the chance to interact with leaders on several levels to better understand the climate, challenges and culture of the forces in Fort Benning, Engel said.
"The U.S. Army works different than the German Army," Engel said. "This is not about 'this is how we do it and you do it' differences, it's about showcasing the different approaches, and this could give ideas to support development."
According to a German liaison fact sheet, the conference provided a better understanding of the interaction with their counterparts at the participant's respective liaison team, from one of the 13 different installations participants were from.
"If we put all the efforts we have together, we will improve our forces - both sides," Theede said.
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