WEBVTT 00:04.929 --> 00:07.096 We're currently in Criac training area 00:07.449 --> 00:09.616 and we've got uh an exercise immediate 00:09.616 --> 00:13.289 response 25 ongoing . And that 00:13.289 --> 00:16.049 involves 8 partner nations , 7 NATO 00:16.049 --> 00:18.160 allies in the US . We've got multiple 00:18.160 --> 00:20.327 units here , active duty , guard , and 00:20.327 --> 00:22.770 reserve , and really is a validating 00:22.770 --> 00:24.826 exercise for us . It's a significant 00:24.826 --> 00:26.826 collective training event , um , so 00:26.826 --> 00:28.826 it's a big deal for us to come over 00:28.826 --> 00:30.826 here and do overseas deployment for 00:30.826 --> 00:32.881 training like this . Where we really 00:32.881 --> 00:35.048 win is to watch the relationships that 00:35.048 --> 00:37.048 happen at the soldier level they're 00:37.048 --> 00:39.103 here making friends they're building 00:39.103 --> 00:41.214 lifelong partnerships , relationships 00:41.214 --> 00:42.992 that come out of this . They're 00:42.992 --> 00:45.159 learning from each other , uh , at the 00:45.159 --> 00:47.437 individual and collective level . It's , 00:47.437 --> 00:49.603 uh , mutually beneficial and and to be 00:49.603 --> 00:51.770 honest , I , I can't replicate some of 00:51.770 --> 00:53.937 the experiences that we have here with 00:53.937 --> 00:53.619 anywhere in the United States . um , 00:53.630 --> 00:55.574 it's just a phenomenal thing to to 00:55.574 --> 00:57.669 watch our soldiers be a part of . It 00:57.669 --> 00:59.947 drives readiness . It drives lethality , 01:00.310 --> 01:02.619 it drives strength and stability . All 01:02.619 --> 01:04.841 those things are critical to the future 01:04.841 --> 01:07.008 of our partnership . It's no secret we 01:07.008 --> 01:08.952 live in a pretty contentious world 01:08.952 --> 01:11.119 right now . Exercises like this , um , 01:11.119 --> 01:13.286 emphasize the importance of being able 01:13.286 --> 01:15.008 to work together , focusing on 01:15.008 --> 01:17.063 interoperability and being ready for 01:17.063 --> 01:19.175 that challenge when and if it comes , 01:19.175 --> 01:18.870 it's , it's important for us . One 01:18.870 --> 01:21.148 thing that we've done better than most , 01:21.220 --> 01:23.553 I believe when it comes to partnerships , 01:23.553 --> 01:25.553 you take an exercise like this . We 01:25.553 --> 01:27.831 will do a detailed after action review . 01:27.831 --> 01:30.109 We'll get feedback from our battalions , 01:30.109 --> 01:32.331 our companies are supporting allies and 01:32.331 --> 01:34.442 partners here , and I will send it to 01:34.442 --> 01:36.553 the International affairs director at 01:36.553 --> 01:38.720 National Guard Bureau . I will send it 01:38.720 --> 01:38.535 to Major General Compton , who's the 01:38.535 --> 01:40.635 deputy commanding general for URAF . 01:40.875 --> 01:42.931 Those are lessons learned . It's all 01:42.931 --> 01:44.931 the goodness and it's areas that we 01:44.931 --> 01:46.986 need to improve so we don't make the 01:46.986 --> 01:48.764 same mistakes twice . This came 01:48.764 --> 01:50.819 together incredibly well when you're 01:50.819 --> 01:52.986 talking about the complexity and level 01:52.986 --> 01:55.042 of operations . And honestly some of 01:55.042 --> 01:57.208 it's dangerous . I mean , so this is a 01:57.208 --> 01:57.040 battalion level live fire exercise 01:57.290 --> 01:59.512 that's a big deal , uh , and to be able 01:59.512 --> 02:01.679 to do that in 2 weeks here at Crivalac 02:01.679 --> 02:03.846 training area , that's important . One 02:03.846 --> 02:06.012 thing that we all have in common is we 02:06.012 --> 02:07.846 wear the cloth of our respective 02:07.846 --> 02:09.679 nations , and there just comes a 02:09.679 --> 02:11.457 commonality with that . There's 02:11.457 --> 02:13.512 immediate kinship , um , that we all 02:13.512 --> 02:15.568 serve the same purpose , uh , but to 02:15.568 --> 02:17.679 come here and work together as allies 02:17.679 --> 02:19.290 and partners and build those 02:19.290 --> 02:21.457 friendships and relationships , that's 02:21.457 --> 02:23.790 heartening to me that that's how we win . 02:23.790 --> 02:23.630 And that's something that we do better 02:23.630 --> 02:24.110 than anybody .