YAVORIV, Ukraine - Soldiers of 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division completed their final preparations for training soldiers with the Ukrainian army at the International Peacekeeping and Security Center near Yavoriv, Ukraine, March 1, 2016, as part of Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine.
JMTG-U is the name given to the multinational training being provided to the Ukrainian Land Forces and Ukrainian Special Operations forces by trainers from the U.S., Canada, Lithuania, Estonia and the United Kingdom. Each JMTG-U training rotation is nine weeks long and focuses on teaching defensive combat skills needed to increase Ukraine's capacity for self-defense.
3-15 Inf. Soldiers began preparing for the first four weeks of training by building classes, conducting rehearsals and familiarization classes with Ukrainian weapons and vehicles. Soldiers and leaders spent countless hours embedded with their Ukrainian partners to learn each weapons system and vehicle type that the Ukrainian rotational battalion will utilize during the nine-week training cycle.
Thorough preparation is the key to success," said Staff Sgt. John Williams, platoon sergeant Charlie Company, 3-15 Inf.
The first three weeks of training are similar to the skills need for the U.S. Army Expert Infantry Badge. The Ukrainian soldiers will receive training focusing on first-aid, individual movement techniques needed to move while under enemy fire, basic rifle marksmanship, camouflaging and land navigation.
"I am excited about meeting the Ukrainian soldiers, hearing their stories and learning from them," said Spc. Brian Evans, radio telephone operator with Charlie Company, 3-15 Inf.
In addition to training Ukrainian soldiers, 3-15 Inf. will train and certify a Ukrainian trainer cadre as part of reformative efforts to establish a combat training center for the Ukrainian army. Each partnered assisted training team is paired with a Ukrainian observer controller tea to assist with training and instruction.
"We want to get the Ukrainian observers out front and leading training because they are the backbone of the Ukrainian Trainer Academy," said Capt. Jacob Austin, commander Headquarters Company, 3-15 Inf.
Training with the second of five Ukrainian battalions began on March 1, 2016.
Social Sharing