"We Are Fighting Together ..."                                                                                              By Sgt. Tommi Meyer

“We are fighting together, our guys with your guys,” said Slovak Maj. Milosav Marcanak  during a recent visit to Indiana National Guard training facilities. That relationship is strengthened, according to  Marcanak, through the State Partnership Program which allows Indiana Soldiers to train alongside Soldiers with the Republic of Slovakia military.

Through the program, states are paired with countries to mentor and share training techniques, as well as work on language barriers. The value of this is apparent in the operating environment overseas, according to 1^st Lt. Jared Leinart, State Partnership Program coordinator for the Indiana National Guard.

During their visit to Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, 1^st Sgt. Bob Hempstead led the tour and shared his thoughts on how buildings and training areas at the facility can be a great challenge and training opportunity. “The possibilities are endless,” he told the group. “Just this building [the school at MUTC] could be used for MOUT (Military Operation in Urban Terrain) for a company-size element, with platoons coming in from different locations… securing the exits and perimeter, clearing the rooms… it could keep a lot of guys busy just learning the basics.”

“The level of realism is hard to achieve, but it is something we all need more of,” said Leinart when speaking to the visitors on full immersion training and attention to details.

Those details can include language challenges according to Marcanak but those challenges are exactly what he is hoping to improve upon. “We want to train to the same Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) you do, learning the commands and practicing so as we improve our skills, we can work better together.”

Marcanak added that in Iraq and Afghanistan where Slovak and U.S Soldiers currently serve together, communication and standard operating procedures that work across language barriers are key in safety. “It will help us to work together and can really save lives, and that is our most important concern.”