24.04.2017.
Joint Engineer Training of SAF and US Armed Forces
At Borovac training ground and Vrtogos shooting range a part of the members of the 310th Engineer Battalion of the 3rd Army Brigade and the 15th Engineer Battalion of the US Armed Forces European Command have demonstrated the knowledge acquired during the joint training conducted from 7th – 28th April around the South Base.
During the exercise involving 29 members of the Serbian Armed Forces and 19 members of the US Armed Forces European Command the engineer and geodesic reconnaissance of a road section was carried out followed by the reconstruction of the road on the basis of given data and project documentation. During the exercise one-wall, one-floor construction of the Bailey bridge was designed and launched over a dry obstacle. There was a display of launching the block of the heavy mechanized bridge over the water obstacle at the training ground. Furthermore, this was an opportunity to see the manner of designing the part of battlements at the base camp of the wire container (the HESCO bastion) filled with earth and stone material.
“The training has been successfully conducted. Our members together with the members of the 15th Engineer Battalion of the US Armed Forces European Command gave their maximum and became trained for performance of all planned training content”, Brigadier General Dusko Zarkovic said.On behalf of the US Armed Forces the display has been attended by Colonel Douglas Faherty from the US Embassy in Belgrade and Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Hall, the Commander of the 15th Engineer Battalion of the US Armed Forces European Command. The Commander of the Battalion stressed that the training and exercise are conducted on two levels – the one which involves training in the use of engineer equipment and devices whereas the other one involves the enhancement of interpersonal relations and the defence cooperation between two armies.
The objective of this joint training, besides the main enhancement of key capabilities and acquisition of experience in working in the international environment, is training of the members of the 31st Engineer Battalion on engineer devices of the US Armed Forces European Command, which should be the subject of the US donation. The donation should be handed over by the end of 2017, and it consists of five engineer machines and two tippers.
The continuation of joint training is planned for May 2017 in Germany, where the Engineer Battalion of the US Armed Forces European Command is stationed.
