Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Overseas Operations
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Exchange program offers overseas experience to N.Y. Soldiers By Col. Richard Goldenberg
                New York National Guard
 LATHAM, N.Y. – New York Army National Guard 2nd Lt. Christian Larrabee normally leads an infantry platoon in Bravo Company of the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry. His unit training frequently takes him to Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, or Fort Drum, New York. But in September, the Sauquoit, New York, resident spent two weeks leading a platoon of the British army's Fifth Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in a training exercise in the mountains of Slovenia, thanks to the National Guard's Military Exchange Program. The experience, Larrabee said, was "invaluable." He got to see part of world and make new friends while seeing firsthand how other NATO allies fight, Larrabee said. "I learned what tactics and kits work best in different environments and for different units and I was also able to contribute valuable insight from U.S. Army doctrine and test those tactics while in command of a British platoon," he said. The Military Exchange Program places National Guard Soldiers in units from America's allied partners, including the German Army, the British Army Reserve, the Danish Home Guard and Estonian Army. In return, these nations deploy military members to participate in a host unit two-week annual training back in New York. Each general officer command in the New York Army National Guard annually nominates Soldiers to attend. Soldiers who participate can be company grade officers, Warrant Officers 1 through 3 and NCOs from Sgt. through Sgt. 1st Class who best represent the organization. Soldiers selected must be worldwide deployable, not on a temporary profile, be able to participate in field exercises and be compliant with Army physical fitness and medical deployment standards. "Historically two to five Soldiers are selected by a combined Office of the Secretary of Defense, National Guard Bureau and NATO committee after being vetted and prioritized by New York," said Sgt. 1st Class Paul Mulligan, who manages the program for the Operations and Training Branch. Larrabee's experience from September 10-21, 2018, highlights the program's benefits; placing American Soldiers with allied partners, in this case for challenging mountain warfare training. Larrabee applied in the fall of 2017 and was selected to join the Fifth Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, a part of the British Army Reserve, in their annual training in Slovenia. "Admittedly at the time, I could only tell you that Slovenia was in Eastern Europe. I didn't know their language, weather, terrain or much else for that matter," Larrabee said. His exchange with the Fusiliers supported the multinational training exercise known as Triglav Star 2018. Unlike the training areas back in New York, the training in the Julian Alps for Triglav Star was part of the NATO Multinational Centre of Excellence for Mountain Warfare. "It was immediately apparent that the Julian Alps were going to provide an interesting and challenging training environment for the two weeks to follow," Larrabee said. Arriving in Ljubljana, the Slovenian capital on a Royal Air Force transport plane, the troops moved on to the Slovenian 132nd Mountain Regiment base in Bohinjska Bela. Reception and staging operations included a staff ride to the Slovenian/Italian border to explore where German Gen. Erwin Rommel described his WWI combat actions as a platoon commander in his 1937 book, "Infantry Attacks." Larrabee led a platoon of Fusiliers through various training lanes, culminating with an attack across the high alpine mountains. The exchange program provided opportunities to train at the squad, platoon and even company level. "I was able to command a platoon of U.K. soldiers on a successful platoon attack comprised of four in-depth enemy positions over rugged terrain," Larrabee said. "It was enlightening to learn how the U.K. army fights and draw similarities with our own U.S. tactics. I was able to both benefit from their techniques and provide them with useful solutions from our doctrine." Units taking part in the exercise came from the Slovenian armed forces, U.S. and British forces, he said. The U.S. component also included 100 Colorado Army National Guard Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 157th Infantry, a mountain warfare unit. The battalion is part of the Colorado National Guard's State Partnership Program with Slovenia. "It was a grueling climb to the top and a complex fight across the mountain ridgeline scattered with pill boxes and trench systems," he said. "Simulated casualties were extracted via helicopter rescue and provided an added touch of realism to the exercise." The training is an opportunity every junior leader should seek out, whether officer or NCO, Larrabee said. "There are very few opportunities in the Army Guard that afford the experience and benefits of the Military Exchange Program," he said. "It gives young leaders the opportunity to develop critical skills in mission planning and execution alongside our allied partners. You get to see the world and meet incredible people." "Be ready to have fun, but be ready to be challenged. This experience will test communication skills, leadership style, and the mental and physical stamina of a leader," Larrabee said. Applications for the 2019 annual training season are available through December 10, 2018. Soldiers with inquiries about the program can contact Sgt. 1st Class Paul Mulligan, the New York Army National Guard Operations and Training Branch NCOIC at (518) 786-6070 or paul.a.mulligan.mil@mail.mil.
 SHARE
 PRINT
 Massachusetts Guard Helps Host Crisis Leadership Seminar Guard News • 9 hours ago
 Massachusetts Air Guard Airmen Test New Air Combat Tactics Guard News • 9 hours ago
 Nebraska National Guard Assists with Tornado Response Guard News • 13 hours ago
 Enduring Partners 2024 Begins with Thai-US Airmen Exchange State Partnership Program • 13 hours ago
 Virginia National Guard Formalizes Partnership with Finland State Partnership Program • 15 hours ago
 2024 (14)  2023 (57)  2022 (71)  2021 (58)  2020 (41)  2019 (56)  2018 (55)  2017 (46)  2016 (31)  2015 (36)  2014 (48)  2013 (64)  2012 (134)  2011 (163)  2010 (179)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil