BREA Minnesota, Norway resume troop
exchange at Camp Ripley after two-year break
LITTLE FALLS, MN, UNITED STATES
03.26.2022
Story by Sgt. Mahsima
Alkamooneh
Minnesota National
Guard
13
March 26, 2021 (CAMP RIPLEY, Minn.) — Nearly 100
service members from the Norwegian military’s Home Guard, known as the
Heimevernet, arrived at the Minnesota National Guard’s 133rd Airlift Wing in
St. Paul on March 25, 2022.
The Norwegian Home Guard members are participating in the U.S.-Norwegian
Reciprocal Troop Exchange (NOREX), an annual exchange that began with a
handshake 49 years ago.
“We are happy to welcome back our Norwegian friends,” said Army Chief Warrant
Officer 2 Kristin Tritz, Camp Ripley Joint Visitor’s Bureau Chief. “Through the
pandemic, we had to get creative in keeping the partnership active.”
NOREX continued over the last two years during the COVID-19 pandemic through
planning during quarterly virtual meetings and site visits with key leaders
from each nation. This kept the communication and partnership alive.
This year’s exchange will include various training events such as weapons
qualifications, land navigation, situational training exercises, a biathlon
race, and asymmetric threat training with Minnesota National Guard service
members and various Minnesota law enforcement agencies.
“The early training will prepare them for a culminating event with local law
enforcement,” said Army Maj. Timothy McPherson, the Training Support Unit’s
assistant operations officer. “They will learn to support civilian authorities
with different types of threats.”
Additionally, NOREX participants will learn about Camp Ripley’s history and
American culture in Minnesota through cultural events such as a trip to Duluth,
shopping at the Mall of America, and a formal American meal.
The program allows each nation to partner with allies and benefits from winter
survival training as both countries learn best practices and new tactics each
year this exchange occurs.
Camp Ripley’s state-of-the-art facilities residing on 53,000 acres of training
space offer housing, food, and training onsite and have helped the partnership
grow to be the U.S.’s longest-running military exchange program.
The 49th annual exchange officially commenced with an opening ceremony on March
26, 2022, at Camp Ripley. American and Norwegian flags were posted in front of
a formation of Home Guard, Camp Ripley’s Training Support Unit, and 2nd
Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment Soldiers to signify the cooperation and
unity of this longstanding partnership.
“We are here to support the Norwegians as they train over the next several
days,” said Army 2nd Lt. Matthew Michels, who leads one of the teams supporting
part of the Norwegian service members. “But we’re also here to learn from them
and with them. As allies, our nations build each other up.”
Ingen kommentarer:
Legg inn en kommentar
Merk: Bare medlemmer av denne bloggen kan legge inn en kommentar.