US, British train together in Poland

By Sgt. Tara Fajardo ArteagaFebruary 14, 2022

British and U.S. Train Together in Poland
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Trooper Shaun Brooke, assigned to the Royal Dragoon Guards, Black Horse Troop, British Army, smiles as he talks with Soldiers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 34th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, at Drawsko Pomorskie, Poland, Feb. 08, 2022. British soldiers traveled to Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area to learn more about the U.S. M1A2 Abrams tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Spc. Hedil Hernandez) VIEW ORIGINAL
British and U.S. Train Together in Poland
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 1st Lt. Tasha Abts, an infantry officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion "Dreadnaughts," 34th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, provides information about M1A2 Abrams tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles to British soldiers at Drawsko Pomorskie, Poland, Feb. 08, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Spc. Hedil Hernandez) VIEW ORIGINAL

DRAWSKO POMORSKIE TRAINING AREA, Poland -- British Troops traveled from Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Poland, to Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area, Poland, to meet with Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion "Dreadnaughts," 34th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division to learn more about American-tracked vehicles and discuss similarities and differences between how the two armies operate.

The British soldiers are part of The Royal Dragoon Guards, Black Horse Troop and had previously met the Dreadnaughts in October, 2021, during exercise Victory Eagle. Victory Eagle is a live-fire training exercise between Polish Land Forces and other allied nations with the common goal of enhancing tactical and operational interoperability. Since October, the British soldiers have continued the conversation with the Dreadnaughts, and have been interested in returning to DPTA to learn more about allied tanks, according to Cpl. Stuart Higham, “after the exercise we kept in touch…and set up the training. It’s been great.”

According to U.S. Army Europe and Africa, comprehensive interoperability is essential, and it is not just about technology. It is a priority for operational concepts, modular force elements, communications, information sharing, and equipment. Junior enlisted soldiers from both U.S. and British armies discovered quite a bit in common about their roles in and around tracked vehicles.

British and U.S. Train Together in Poland
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – From left, Trooper Shaun Brooks, and Trooper Toni Smith, both from the British Army, ask questions about the Bradley Fighting Vehicles and M1A2 Abrams tanks of Sgt. 1st Class Carl Cazee of Headquarters and Headquarters Company 2nd Battalion "Dreadnaughts," 34th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, at Drawsko Pomorskie, Poland, Feb. 08, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Spc. Hedil Hernandez) VIEW ORIGINAL
British and U.S. Train Together in Poland
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A group of British soldiers assigned to the Royal Dragoon Guards, Black Horse Troop stand on top of an M1A2 Abrams tank while taking a tour with Soldiers assigned to the Alpha Company "Orphans," 2nd Battalion "Dreadnaughts," 34th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, at Drawsko Pomorskie, Poland, Feb. 08, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Spc. Hedil Hernandez) VIEW ORIGINAL

Trooper Shaun Brook, a tanker with the British Army, described the difference in how they change a trackpad, “our tracks are probably a bit lighter than yours, it’s easier to get a track link off.” However, they also discussed differences. One key difference was the designated spot in the British tanks to make tea. "The truck commander has to be on point with the cups of tea," laughed Brook.

Sgt. 1st Class Carl Cazee and 1st Lt. Tasha Abts, both assigned to 2nd Battalion, 34th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, prepared a classroom portion where specifications of the Bradley Fighting Vehicles and M1A2 Abrams tanks were discussed before the group went out to get hands-on experience with the equipment.

“They wanted to come down and check out the capabilities of our fighting vehicles,” Abts said, “they were getting in the Bradley and spinning the turret, having a great time.”

After the training the troops stood in the rain talking, soaking up the opportunity to spend time with their allies learning about a different perspective.

"Developing our collective ability to compete below the level of armed conflict requires concerted, ongoing outreach and learning with other U.S. agencies, allies, and partners to determine where and how the U.S. European Command can support," said General Tod D. Wolters, commander of U.S. European Command NATO's 19th Supreme Allied Command Europe.

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