Sam Dhanraj
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2007
- Messages
- 450
- Reaction score
- 0
Strangely most of people were not even aware of the exercise taking place until the missing soldiers news came out....probably it was meant to be a low key affair
Marine Corps News
Exercise Shatrujeet 2008 a learning experience for “Blackhearts”, Gorkhas
March 15, 2008; Submitted on: 03/28/2008 03:41:24 PM ; Story ID#: 2008328154124
By Lance Cpl. Timothy T. Parish, 15th MEU
NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER, FORT IRWIN, Calif. (March 15, 2008) -- The Marines and Sailors of Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team 2/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Soldiers with 1/1 Gorkha Rifles, Indian Army, recently conducted Exercise Shatrujeet 2008 at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif.
The two-week bilateral exercise, which was part of the 15th MEU pre-deployment training, combined live-fire ranges, weapons and tactics familiarization, and was designed to build interoperability and positive relations between Marines and the Indian Army.
During the integrated training between the Marines and the Gorkha Rifles, the “Blackhearts” of Fox Company got a chance to see how other friendly forces operate, according to Sgt Daniel J. Lemere, Weapons Platoon Sergeant.
“We set up static displays to let them [the Gorkha Rifles] see our weapons. We did a range with a day squad attack and a night squad attack. We integrated some of their squads into ours. We got real hands on with them for us to see how they train and for them to see how we train,” Lemere said.
Another advantage of bilateral training is to see and learn the tactics of friendly counties for application in unit standard operating procedures, according to Lemere, a native of Maple Hill, N.C.
“The way it is now, we only see the Marine Corps way of doing things. With the Indian Army we get to see how the other half of the world trains, to see their tactics versus ours,” said Lemere. “We can pick up some good things from this, things we can use in our tactics in the future.”
For some of the Marines of Fox Company, the exposure to people of a different culture was a surprise.
“A lot of times when we deploy and go overseas, we are going to be in contact withdifferent units from different countries, so [having worked with foreign militaries] it won’t be as big of a culture shock,” said Lance Cpl Daniel B. Motamedi, Rifleman, 3rd Platoon.
Despite the barriers of language and culture, the “Blackhearts” were able to see that the 1/1 Gorkha Rifles are true professional, according to Motamedi. The professionalism of the Indians in 1/1 Gorkha Rifles is not surprising, given the fact that many of their Soldiers have been in service since before the younger Marines of Fox Company were alive, according to Motamedi, a native of Santa Clarita, Calif.
“I was completely impressed by the Indians professionalism because I had no idea that they would be so experienced. I think they are amazingly skilled. Some of these guys have been in service before I could even walk, let alone shoot a rifle.”
“They adapted to our weapons systems - even though they’re very different - and learned them really quickly,” said Motamedi.
For many of the Indian Soldiers, this is the first bilateral training with the Marines, according to Rifleman Deepak Rai, a rifleman with 1/1 Gorkha Rifles. The Marines have proven themselves to be everything the Marine Corps stands for, in esprit de corps and initiative, Rai said.
“What I like about the Marines is they are very motivated, and there is a feeling of unity. They are always doing something,” said Rai, a native of Dehra Dun, India.
Exercise Shatrujeet 2008 is a unique experience for both the Marines and the Soldiers of 1/1 Gorkha Rifles, according to Rai. Both the Marines of Fox and the Soldiers of 1/1 Gorkha Rifles will come away with a better understanding of the other nation’s forces, Rai said.
“This is a joint exercise, so we are here to learn something, and the Marines are definitely going to learn something. Firstly, [Exercise Shatrujeet 2008] will share our different cultures, and it will bring about a feeling of brotherhood between our nations,” said Rai.
“Secondly, we will know the strength of our different forces,” Rai said. “Mostly, in the future, a good relationship will be built up, and if a good relationship is built up, we will overcome the problem of terrorism.”
The 15th MEU is in the work-up cycle for a scheduled Western Pacific Deployment beginning in the summer of 2008.
Marine Corps News -> Exercise Shatrujeet 2008 a learning experience for “Blackhearts”, Gorkhas
All Pictures and description below by By Lance Cpl. Timothy T. Parish, 15th MEU
Marines with Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team 2/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and 1/1 Gorkha Rifles Indian Army Soldiers display unit colors during the opening ceremonies of Shatrujeet 2008.
Marines with Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team 2/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit display unit colors during the opening ceremonies of Shatrujeet 2008
Tactical vehicles from Combat Logistics Battalion-15, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team 2/5, 15th MEU are staged on a dirt road after transporting Marines of Fox Company and 1/1 Gorkha Rifles Indian Army Soldiers to a live-fire range as part of Exercise Shatrujeet 2008
Marines with Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team 2/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit hold their weapons in the air to conduct a weapons count as part of Exercise Shatrujeet 2008
Lance Cpl Adam L. Snodgrass, Squad Automatic Weapon Gunner, Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team 2/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit counts SAW ammunition for a live-fire exercise as part of Exercise Shatrujeet 2008
Marine Corps News
Exercise Shatrujeet 2008 a learning experience for “Blackhearts”, Gorkhas
March 15, 2008; Submitted on: 03/28/2008 03:41:24 PM ; Story ID#: 2008328154124
By Lance Cpl. Timothy T. Parish, 15th MEU
NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER, FORT IRWIN, Calif. (March 15, 2008) -- The Marines and Sailors of Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team 2/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Soldiers with 1/1 Gorkha Rifles, Indian Army, recently conducted Exercise Shatrujeet 2008 at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif.
The two-week bilateral exercise, which was part of the 15th MEU pre-deployment training, combined live-fire ranges, weapons and tactics familiarization, and was designed to build interoperability and positive relations between Marines and the Indian Army.
During the integrated training between the Marines and the Gorkha Rifles, the “Blackhearts” of Fox Company got a chance to see how other friendly forces operate, according to Sgt Daniel J. Lemere, Weapons Platoon Sergeant.
“We set up static displays to let them [the Gorkha Rifles] see our weapons. We did a range with a day squad attack and a night squad attack. We integrated some of their squads into ours. We got real hands on with them for us to see how they train and for them to see how we train,” Lemere said.
Another advantage of bilateral training is to see and learn the tactics of friendly counties for application in unit standard operating procedures, according to Lemere, a native of Maple Hill, N.C.
“The way it is now, we only see the Marine Corps way of doing things. With the Indian Army we get to see how the other half of the world trains, to see their tactics versus ours,” said Lemere. “We can pick up some good things from this, things we can use in our tactics in the future.”
For some of the Marines of Fox Company, the exposure to people of a different culture was a surprise.
“A lot of times when we deploy and go overseas, we are going to be in contact withdifferent units from different countries, so [having worked with foreign militaries] it won’t be as big of a culture shock,” said Lance Cpl Daniel B. Motamedi, Rifleman, 3rd Platoon.
Despite the barriers of language and culture, the “Blackhearts” were able to see that the 1/1 Gorkha Rifles are true professional, according to Motamedi. The professionalism of the Indians in 1/1 Gorkha Rifles is not surprising, given the fact that many of their Soldiers have been in service since before the younger Marines of Fox Company were alive, according to Motamedi, a native of Santa Clarita, Calif.
“I was completely impressed by the Indians professionalism because I had no idea that they would be so experienced. I think they are amazingly skilled. Some of these guys have been in service before I could even walk, let alone shoot a rifle.”
“They adapted to our weapons systems - even though they’re very different - and learned them really quickly,” said Motamedi.
For many of the Indian Soldiers, this is the first bilateral training with the Marines, according to Rifleman Deepak Rai, a rifleman with 1/1 Gorkha Rifles. The Marines have proven themselves to be everything the Marine Corps stands for, in esprit de corps and initiative, Rai said.
“What I like about the Marines is they are very motivated, and there is a feeling of unity. They are always doing something,” said Rai, a native of Dehra Dun, India.
Exercise Shatrujeet 2008 is a unique experience for both the Marines and the Soldiers of 1/1 Gorkha Rifles, according to Rai. Both the Marines of Fox and the Soldiers of 1/1 Gorkha Rifles will come away with a better understanding of the other nation’s forces, Rai said.
“This is a joint exercise, so we are here to learn something, and the Marines are definitely going to learn something. Firstly, [Exercise Shatrujeet 2008] will share our different cultures, and it will bring about a feeling of brotherhood between our nations,” said Rai.
“Secondly, we will know the strength of our different forces,” Rai said. “Mostly, in the future, a good relationship will be built up, and if a good relationship is built up, we will overcome the problem of terrorism.”
The 15th MEU is in the work-up cycle for a scheduled Western Pacific Deployment beginning in the summer of 2008.
Marine Corps News -> Exercise Shatrujeet 2008 a learning experience for “Blackhearts”, Gorkhas
All Pictures and description below by By Lance Cpl. Timothy T. Parish, 15th MEU
Marines with Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team 2/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and 1/1 Gorkha Rifles Indian Army Soldiers display unit colors during the opening ceremonies of Shatrujeet 2008.
Marines with Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team 2/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit display unit colors during the opening ceremonies of Shatrujeet 2008
Tactical vehicles from Combat Logistics Battalion-15, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team 2/5, 15th MEU are staged on a dirt road after transporting Marines of Fox Company and 1/1 Gorkha Rifles Indian Army Soldiers to a live-fire range as part of Exercise Shatrujeet 2008
Marines with Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team 2/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit hold their weapons in the air to conduct a weapons count as part of Exercise Shatrujeet 2008
Lance Cpl Adam L. Snodgrass, Squad Automatic Weapon Gunner, Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team 2/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit counts SAW ammunition for a live-fire exercise as part of Exercise Shatrujeet 2008
