United States military forces from the 1st Battalion of 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) have completed an extensive military training exercise with the Indian National Security Guard (INSG) in Hyderabad.
US Consul General Katherine Hadda addressed the soldiers on Friday at the closing ceremony.
The month-long exercise prepared U.S and Indian soldiers for a wide range of challenging scenarios. The program included Emergency Medical training as well as Combat Marksmanship, Urban Close-Quarter Combat and Integrated Full-Mission training.
The exercise provided soldiers with hands-on experience in real urban settings, such as hotels and transportation hubs, in preparation for the possibility of terror attacks on vulnerable soft targets.
“Knowing how to respond to complex emergencies in urban areas is a vital skill that can save lives and protect our people”, U S Consul General Katherine Hadda said. “ Knowing how to respond together, with enhanced capabilities shared by both the Indian and U.S. armed forces, is even better.”
Planning for future training in furtherance of the U.S.-India military partnership is ongoing. These training events are part of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s Theater Security Cooperation Program, conducted by the U.S. military with a select group of nations in the Indo-Pacific region to enhance coordination and capabilities
The U.S. military works alongside India to increase interoperability, build partner capacity, prevent conflict, and promote regional strength and peace throughout the Indo-Pacific. The overall aim of the program is to enhance professionalism and the ability to operate together during times of crisis.
“As I said at the launch of this exercise, the U.S.-India security partnership is strong, and getting stronger,” commented Consul General Hadda. “Today we are honoring the exceptional partnership between India and the United States in providing for our common defense.”
The United States has recognized India as a Major Defense Partner. Military collaboration between the two countries is a result of growing, high-level trust and both sides’ consistent efforts to broaden the ways in which the United States and India can work together. Hyderabad has become a hub of US-Indian defense manufacturing, including joint-venture facilities, technology centers, and skills-development, she said. (UNI)
