Shaping the international environment through training at Grafenwoehr By Spc. Manda Walters, 129th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, South Dakota Army National Guard
“They now have the internal capability to conduct their own version of the course in their home country, using knowledge and proficiency acquired as a JMTC 7th Army WLC participant,” added Loveless. “We are using Poland’s training success as a model.” Peter Fodor, an International Agreements Specialist who arranges logistical support at JMTC, said there is an interchange of ideas, experience and culture at JMTC unlike anywhere else. “JMTC training transfers knowledge from experienced instructors to U.S. and multi-national students, and just as importantly, they learn from each other,” Fodor said. “Some of the Polish WLC graduates returned as assistant instructors, gaining new perspectives as leaders.” More than 6,000 multi-nationals visited the JMTC this year to prepare for Afghanistan deployments. However, in spite of the large number of forces trained here, there is a proposed reduction in U.S. European forces. “As we draw down U.S. forces in Europe, more emphasis is going to be placed on making sure countries here have what they need,” said Loveless. “JMTC is going to support multi-nationals by training them on the internal security of the EUCOM Theater.” He also said as personnel shifts occur in Afghanistan and Europe, and areas of focus may change, JMTC’s success-driven training structure will not.
Photo: Spc. Evangelia Grigiss
“The U.S. Army’s role of shaping the international environment is an investment we cannot afford to forego,” said Gen. Raymond Odierno, U.S. Army chief of staff, in a recent Army Senior Leadership post, where he stressed the importance of establishing and maintaining relationships with the international community. The JMTC is shaping the international environment by serving the military training needs of more than 40 European partners , alongside U.S. counterparts, the U.S. European Command, and the U.S. Army in Europe. JMTC supports NATO and non-NATO countries alike, with uniform best-practice training programs that are localized to the needs of European nations preparing for individual missions, internal defense, or deployments to Afghanistan. “Our programming is region and enemy specific,” said Col. Adam Loveless, JMTC chief of training. So for us to run a generic, non-specific program wouldn’t be effective.” Some countries look to JMTC to help their Servicemembers gain proficiency in particular skill sets, such as counter-IED measures, advising Afghan military or leadership development. Poland is a prime example, with 260 of its nationals recently completing the Warrior Leadership Course, called WLC at JMTC’s NCOA.
JMTC TRAINING JOURNAL
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