All Aboard!” – 48th IBCT (L) Soldiers prepare to fly-out to a British ‘bivvy’ camp courtesy of the Royal Navy in Devon , England 2007.  This year, HHB, 118th FA Soldiers will train in Barry Buddon, Scotland with the British 4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment as an extension of the ongoing reciprocal UK-US training partnership in the global war on terror.  (photo by Sgt. Tracy J. Smith, 48th IBCT (L) Public Affairs)

Citizen-Soldiers
partner with British troops in Scotland

By Sgt. Tracy Smith
48th IBCT Public Affairs 

ATLANTA, Georgia –  With the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s upcoming Afghanistan mission in the ‘crosshairs’ of the Volunteers next deployment, going down-range means taking to the hills in preparation.

Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 118th Field Artillery in Savannah will train alongside the British Army’s 4th Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment, for two-weeks in Barry Buddon, Scotland .  The mission is an extension of the on-going reciprocal UK-US infantry training partnership.  Elements of the 4 Yorks Territorial Army, British Army National Guard component, were hosted by the 48th IBCT during the multi-national, multi-reserve force-in-readiness Exercise Patriot ’08 in July.

The Regiment, whose history dates back to 1751 as the Georgia Militia in the District of Savannah, focus will be to “train for the race” according to the British Ministry of Defence, Regimental Sergeant Major of Infantry (RSM), Harry French. 

"Fundamentally the advantage of our training to the 48th Brigade Soldier, as it relates to this Territorial Army/Reserve piece, is the (British) Army have a more adaptive concept of training for THE War, whether it is in Iraq or Afghanistan," explains WO1 French who is familiar with the Lightning Brigade and its combat tactics. As the RSM for the Kings Own Border Regiment in 2005, he and his Soldiers arrived in An Nasiriyah at the same time as 48th IBCT.  "Of greater significance is the ability to do training that allows the individual (combat) flexibility in making snap decisions during those crucial moments and give the Soldier an edge in adapting to the environment."

While this concept will allow the Soldier, British or American, autonomy when it counts the environmental and atmospheric aspects of the training may be the most daunting as the variable temperatures and terrain are similar to conditions in Afghanistan .  The 2,300 acre Barry Buddon training facility, spans the East coast, and is one of the British Forces finest infantry training centers.  It also boasts the largest rifle range complex with 20 varying range scenarios.  This range circuit will challenge the company as they familiarize with the British Army’s 5.56mm SA-80 rifle and enhance individual and team confidence with high intensity qualification in individual and team live-fire sequences.

The affirming of camaraderie is what Captain Kevin M. Nicklay, commanding officer for HHB, 118th FA, knows will be invaluable as the deployment date nears.   

“Motivation and comprehension is the key to driving our mission with our coalition partners,” Captain Kevin M. Nicklay, HHB, 118th FA company commander said.  “My expectations, as it relates to our Soldiers’ preparedness, remain consistent.  We realize this (mission in Afghanistan ) requires our being constant in the approach to staying in-step with the physical and mental preparedness to continue to win.

Our job, for the next two weeks, is specifically to learn their tactics and share ours so that once we are down range we move as one unit.”

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