1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Desert Centurion Exercise 2013

1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

Desert Centurion

May 2013

‘Raiders’ build skills, partnership during Desert Centurion

1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs

Story by Spc. Andrew Ingram

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait - “Raider” Brigade troops and Kuwaiti Army soldiers demonstrated their heavy ordnance
capabilities with mortars, artillery, tanks and other armored vehicles, collaborating to identify and destroy simulated
enemy targets, during Operation Desert Centurion, May 20-21.

“During this exercise we demonstrated our ability to conduct combined operations,” said Maj. Jonathan Bender, plans officer,
1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. “We developed a better shared understanding of unit tactics,
techniques and procedures, to enable future planning and operations.”

By working hand in hand with Kuwaiti forces, the soldiers of the Raider Brigade gained a better understanding of their
partners’ capabilities, and the importance of consistent lines of communication, said Bender.

“These units demonstrated the ability to conduct combined planning and operations,” he said. “This will lead to
stronger bonds between these two forces, and greater interoperability during operations.”

The exercise integrated soldiers from the company level up to brigade staff to identify targets, request fire support,
analyze the target location and execute direct and indirect fire missions.

Working in a partnership role motivated the Raider troops to surpass the standard at every opportunity during the exercise,
said Pfc. Scott McColl, fire support specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st ABCT.

“It was very interesting to see how the Kuwaitis operate in the field,” McColl said. “Some of their tactics and procedures
are similar to ours, but I think learning each others’ differences are what will make us stronger as a whole.”

Mortar men assigned to 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division,
fire at simulated enemy targets during Desert Centurion, May 21, 2013.

(U.S. Army image by Spc. Anthony Kozluechar, 1st ABCT PAO, 4th Infantry Division)

By conducting a field exercises with the Kuwaiti forces, U.S. troops build the trust and respect necessary for continued,
long term partnerships, said Staff Sgt. Mathew Crane, battalion targeting noncommissioned officer, Headquarters and
Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment.

“Missions like this help us better understand how they operate, and helps them understand how we do business,” Crane said.
“We’ve done a pretty good job integrating with each other; their executive officer is sitting right next to ours, and their
intelligence soldiers are working with our intelligence soldiers, so we are learning a different way of operating
even as we strengthen our own skills.”

Soldiers of the Raider Brigade will continue working with Kuwaiti forces for the duration of their deployment
to strengthen the nations’ partnership and enhance regional security.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Mathew Crane, the battalion targeting Noncommissioned officer, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company,
1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, intercepts reports on simulated
enemy activity during Operation Desert Centurion at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, May 21, 2013.

(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Andrew Ingram/Released)

BACK