Greater than 300 U.S. and Colombian troopers stood tall in formation on the parade area of Tolemaida Navy Base, Colombia, through the opening ceremony of Train Southern Vanguard 23. The train is U.S. Military South’s premier annual coaching train on the operational and tactical ranges and is meant to extend interoperability between the US and Western Hemisphere forces.
“Your position right here on this train is the only most essential part of constructing partnerships between nations,” mentioned Brig. Gen. Rodney Boyd, Assistant Adjutant Normal for the Illinois Military Nationwide Guard, throughout his opening remarks on the ceremony. “Your work is what makes our militaries interoperable.”
He went on to clarify a few of what the Troopers assigned to the a hundred and thirtieth Infantry Regiment, thirty third Infantry Brigade Fight Staff, Illinois Military Nationwide Guard and the first Battalion, 54th Safety Power Help Brigade, Georgia Military Nationwide Guard can count on to expertise working alongside their Colombian Military companions.
“Over the subsequent week, the junior NCOs and company-grade officers will take the baton and develop the connection between our two nations on the tactical stage,” he mentioned. “You’ll construct deep private connections as you conduct mixed, company-level tactical operations.”
Brig. Gen. Fredy Coy, Colombian Military Chief of Workers of Operations, emphasised the connection between the armies of the US and Colombia and the historical past of their interoperability relationship again greater than 50 years in the past.
“This relationship began a very long time in the past once we responded in Korea and carried out operations collectively,” he mentioned throughout his remarks. “In Korea, this was the primary time we had been interoperable with our associate nations.”
Whereas mixed coaching workouts similar to ExSV23 construct upon the lethality, effectiveness and interoperability of all armies concerned, the lasting friendships are equally essential.
Boyd recalled his expertise as a battalion commander coaching alongside the Ghanaian Military explaining that amongst his fondest recollections are the friendships he made working alongside his Ghanaian companions.
“To this present day, I’m involved with a member of the Ghanian Military that I met throughout that train,” Boyd mentioned. “Hopefully, you all will construct related recollections over the course of the subsequent week.”
Coy concluded his remarks by thanking the planners from each nations for creating and planning the train and by professing his hope that ExSV23 will likely be a terrific train for everybody concerned.
Because the ceremony ended, Troopers from each armies, as an alternative of going their separate methods, lingered to debate the coaching that lies forward of them all through the length of the train.
