Kuwaiti forces, armored Soldiers conduct joint air assault

By Spc. Joseph BlackOctober 25, 2017

Soldiers dismount Helicopter during joint training mission
1 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the U.S. and Kuwaiti armies dismount a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during partnership training Oct. 5, 2017, near Camp Buehring, Kuwait. The air assault was part of a four-day training mission to build cohesion between U.S and Kuwait fo... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Soldiers from Kuwait's 55th Battalion move to secure mock village
2 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from Kuwait's 55th Battalion, 26th Brigade tactically move to secure a mock village, Oct. 5, 2017 during a field exercise with U.S. forces near Camp Buehring, Kuwait. It was part of a four-day joint exercise with U.S. Army's 2nd Platoon, B C... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Soldiers from Kuwait's 55th Battalion move to clear a mock village
3 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from Kuwait's 55th Battalion, 26th Brigade move to clear a mock village Oct. 5, 2017, with U.S. forces near Camp Buehring, Kuwait. It was part of a four-day joint exercise with U.S. Army's 2nd Platoon, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry R... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
First Cavalry Division Soldiers pull security during joint forces training
4 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from 2nd Platoon, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division pull security for Kuwaiti forces Oct. 5, 2017, near Camp Buehring, Kuwait. It was part of a joint exercise with Kuwait fo... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Kuwaiti forces, armored Soldiers conduct joint air assault
5 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Soldier from 2nd Platoon, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division commands members of his fire team during a training operation to clear a mock village, Oct. 5, 2017, near Camp Buehring,... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Kuwait Soldiers clear mock village with U.S. Soldiers
6 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from Kuwait's 55th Battalion, 26th Brigade partner with U.S. Army's 2nd Platoon, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division to clear a mock village Oct. 5, 2017, near Camp Buehring, ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Kuwait Soldier pulls security for U.S Army Soldiers during joint forces training
7 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A soldier with Kuwait's 55th Battalion, 26th Brigade, pulls security in a two-story building, Oct. 5, 2017 during a training mission with U.S forces. The training worked to promote interoperability between U.S. and Kuwait forces. (U.S. Army photo by ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

UDARI RANGE, Kuwait - Soldiers with 2nd Platoon, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, out of Fort Hood, Texas, partnered with Kuwaiti forces from 55th Battalion, 26th Brigade, Oct. 5 on Udari Range near Camp Buehring to participate in an air assault that culminated in the troops clearing a mock village.

This partnership exercise's purpose was to familiarize Soldiers with U.S and coalition forces of each others' clearing procedures, while providing an opportunity to increase unit readiness.

The four-day exercise consisted of helicopter mount and dismount training, village clearing and detainee procedures, said Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Barnett, the platoon sergeant for 2nd Platoon, B Co., 2-7 Cav. Rgt., a part of 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

"I honestly think that our training, this partnership handshake training, actually will help them save lives in future missions on the battlefield," said Barnett.

Fire teams could be seen clearing buildings while others provided security, bounding from building to building and neutralizing hostiles as necessary.

The partnered forces could be called upon to protect Kuwait and secure American interests if war breaks out nearby, said 1st Lt. Isaiah Hickman, platoon leader for 2nd Platoon. The joint training reinforces the interoperability between partners.

The Kuwaiti and American forces did more than just train together, though.

"We actually worked five, six, seven, eight hours together and then we would sit together and have a meal, drink tea and enjoy each other's company," said Hickman. "It really made us friends rather than just people who had to be together because the Army told us to be."

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