FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTUU/KTVF) – In an unprecedented joint training initiative, the United States and Indian Armies have been conducting exercises in interior Alaska, specifically at Ft. Wainwright and the Yukon Training Area near Salcha, over the past two weeks.
The focus of this collaborative effort has been live-fire artillery training, where teams from both nations are honing their skills in crew drills and operational integration.
According to Captain Chapman Johnson, the leader of Chaos Battery in the 28th Field Artillery Regiment, both nations utilize similar weapon systems, enhancing their capacity for cooperation in indirect and direct fire exercises.
Preparations for this training commenced approximately a year ago, with collaboration between the two militaries intensifying in recent months as logistical and operational plans were finalized.
“The integration is from every single level, all the way from our number one man on the Howitzer that’s running ammunition, all the way to the section chief who’s giving that final command to fire,” stated Johnson, highlighting the comprehensive nature of their cooperation.
Sgt. 1st Class Carlos Gonzalez added that the language barrier posed initial challenges, but many younger Indian soldiers possess strong English abilities, significantly aiding communication.
The training emphasizes Arctic readiness, as troops from the U.S. 11th Airborne Division are imparting their knowledge about combat in sub-Arctic conditions to their Indian counterparts.
“We’ve had them look and learn on our 10-man tents, our SHAs, and there’s actually been some good TTP sharing,” Johnson explained, referring to tactics, techniques, and procedures exchanged between the armies.
Conversely, Indian soldiers have also contributed their expertise, drawing from their experiences in colder regions of India to inform their U.S. counterparts.
The training program encompasses not only weaponry but also the geographical and climatic factors that influence military operations in the region.
“Specifically, to artillery, as we look to these mountains and peaks and valleys, how does that affect how we shoot? There’s some technical things that we have to adjust for in all aspects of it,” Johnson elaborated on the considerations necessary for artillery operations in the Alaskan environment.
Gonzalez noted that the Indian soldiers, equipped with experience in the Himalayan Mountains, have been instrumental in navigating the diverse terrain of the Yukon Training Area, which features similar rocky landscapes.
“Given our activities in securing fire missions, their insights have been incredibly beneficial,” he remarked.
While the military exercise aims to strengthen operational capabilities and integration between the two forces, they also contend with the presence of civilians in the vicinity, particularly moose hunters, which can complicate training activities.
During this artillery training segment, approximately 40 soldiers from the 11th Airborne Division, alongside their Indian counterparts, took part, but the larger exercise, known as Yudh Abhyas 25, has engaged nearly 1,000 soldiers from both nations working as a combined force.
This training exemplifies the ongoing commitment of both countries to enhance cooperative military readiness and operational effectiveness in diverse and challenging environments.
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