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U.S. and Ukraine forces put on a show for distinguished visitors
A high mobility multi-wheeled vehicle from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) provides fire support for a Ukraine engineer vehicle during a water gap crossing demonstration as part of Rapid Trident 2019 in Yavoriv, Ukraine, Sept. 20, 2019. RT19 is an annual, multinational exercise occurring from Sept. 13-28, 2019, which involves approximately 3,700 personnel from 14 nations, that supports joint combined interoperability among partner militaries of Ukraine and the United States, as well as Partnership for Peace nations and NATO allies. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kyle Larsen.)
Photo by: Sgt. Kyle Larsen
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United States European Command Image
A firing squad from 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Infantry Division (Air Assault), in a High Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicle right, and a Ukrainian armored military vehicle from the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade prepares to engage targets during a defensive maneuvers during Rapid Trident 2019 in Yavoriv, Ukraine, Sept. 26, 2019. The meeting is to discuss the first ever brigade sized element joint mounted defensive maneuver live fire exercise performed by the U.S. and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which demonstrates the defensive capabilities of the multi-national force to build a stronger and more unified Europe. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kyle Larsen.)
Photo by: Sgt. Kyle Larsen
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U.S. and Ukrainian Army open Rapid Trident 19 during ceremony
Cpt. Jason Lieuallen, the 115th Regional Support Group Operations Officer with the California Army National Guard, stands in formation during the opening ceremony for Rapid Trident 2019, which involves approximately 3,700 personnel from 14 nations, Sept. 13-28, 2019, at the International Peacekeeping Security Centre near Yavoriv, Ukraine. Rapid Trident is an annual, multinational exercise that supports joint combined interoperability among the partner militaries of Ukraine and the United States, as well as Partnership for Peace nations and NATO allies. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kyle Larsen.)
Photo by: Sgt. Kyle Larsen
YAVORIV, Ukraine (Sept. 28, 2019) – From the raising of the U.S. and Ukraine flags on Sept. 13, 2019, to the lowering of the flags on Sept. 28, 2019, hard work and intense multinational training with over 3,700 Soldiers from 14 different nations, Rapid Trident 2019 came to a close in Yavoriv, Ukraine.
After two weeks of coalition forces training that included the largest U.S. and Ukraine wet gap crossing, the first ever U.S. and Ukraine live fire exercise and numerous other training demonstrations, the training efforts by the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) were on full display as they trained the Armed Forces of Ukraine for months prior to the exercise.
“We came here as mentors,” said Lt. Col. Michael Starz, commander of 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). “We take a lot of pride in the fact that Brigades leave here to fight in the conflict in the East.”
While most countries travel back to their native region, some will stay as the Ukrainian forces, freshly trained, travel to the East for their ongoing war. The units who participated in the training appeared eager to learn alongside their American counterparts to transform their Army to meet North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) standards.
“We use sample scenarios, we use multinational [equipment] and we plan future actions together with our colleagues,” said Armed Forces of Ukraine Maj. Artem Karpus, deputy commander of the Civilian Defense Battalion. “We use NATO standards because it is important for us and because we want to be professionals.”
As advisors, U.S. Troops trained the Ukrainians on decontamination of military vehicles, room clearing techniques and medical training. Shots fired in the distance as the medical team composed of U.S. and Ukrainian forces ran to the aid of a simulated casualty and the rest of the squad provided perimeter security.
“Casualty care is not just something specific to the U.S, it really applies to any combat situation,” said Staff Sgt. Nate Mitcavish, a civil affairs noncommissioned officer with the civil military cooperation field team one. “We trained the Ukrainian forces on conducting tactical combat casualty care while under fire and I was really impressed with how quickly they were able to learn and would be glad to work with our Ukrainian partners in the future.”
The exercise concluded with the first ever U.S. and Ukraine live fire demonstration with various vehicles and squad movements, as Ukrainian BMP-1s rolled over the vegetation and U.S. high mobility multi-wheeled vehicles guided the uneven terrain providing fire support with M-2 .50 caliber and M-240B machine guns mounted on the turrets.
“It is the first time that we integrated Ukrainians firing large direct fire weapons systems and indirect fires alongside U.S. forces doing the same,” said 1st Lt. Daniel Jones, platoon leader for 2nd Platoon, Company D, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). “Both mounted and dismounted personnel need to move with adjacent fire covering them and the .50 cal. and 240B allow them to do that.”
Every objective trained and completed during RT19 was important for the development of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and building the defense of their border and multinational interoperability. This will ensure a stronger and more united Europe for the collective defense against all potential adversaries.
“I want to thank every nation here today for their hard work and dedication,” said U.S. Army Col. Tim Cleveland, the exercise co-director. “It was all of your hard work that made Rapid Trident 19 a great success.”
