YAVORIV, Ukraine-Today, an uncasing ceremony for the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, commanded by Col. David Jordan, and an opening ceremony for the 1st Battalion, 28th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, commanded by Ukrainian Lt. Col. Jurij Krupko, took place at the International Peacekeeping and Security Center, near Yavoriv, Ukraine.
The U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, and the U.S. ambassador to Poland, Ambassador Paul Jones, were present, as were several other dignitaries including Ukrainian Lt. Gen. Serhii Popko, commander of the army of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and Ukrainian Lt. Gen. Pavlo Tkachuk, Ukraine's Land Forces Academy commander.
"Today, we begin another chapter in military cooperation with the United States of America, Canada, Lithuania, Poland, Denmark, Great Britain and Ukraine," said Krupko. "You are reliable and loyal friends of Ukraine."
The uncasing ceremony signified the 45th IBCT's assumption of the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine mission; the Thunderbirds arrived in Ukraine in early January. The opening ceremony served as a welcome for the newest Ukrainian training battalion at the IPSC.
Through the JMTG-U mission, the U.S., along with partners and allies, train Ukrainian troops on defensive tasks and individual soldier skills, such as tactical first aid.
A long-term goal of the mission is to develop the IPSC into a combat training center, similar to those in the U.S., that is able to accommodate battalion-level and possibly brigade-level maneuver training.
Jordan explained the significance of CTCs in the U.S.
"We train hard, and we are brutally honest about the mistakes we make while training," said Jordan, "because we know that it's better to learn from our mistakes [at a CTC], than on the battlefield."
We're committed to supporting a free and peaceful Ukraine, said Yovanovitch. She continued, explaining that the exchange between U.S. and Ukrainian troops builds camaraderie and makes both nations better.
"Our exchange here will ultimately make all of our armies tougher," said Jordan, "which will make our nations stronger, and our world safer."
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