U.S. Army U.S.

Above left, U.S. Army sol- diers conduct live-fire train- ing on the Combat Outpost Live Fire Range, which falls under control of Joint Multi- national Training Command (JMTC), headquartered in Grafenwoehr, Germany. Above right, SFC Serafin Graciani from the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC), Timber- wolves Observer-Controller Team, teaches Romanian troops to conduct a search and document evidence in October 2010 in Cincu, Ro- mania. Right, soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team train at the multinational training center for deployment to Afghanistan. The soldiers refined their skills in mounted and dismounted patrols, small unit tactics, military operations in urban terrain, air assault tech- niques, counter-improvised explosive devices and long- range marksmanship. The soldiers also trained with coalition Afghan National Army soldiers during their time at Hohenfels.

72 ARMY I March 2011 oday’s soldiers are combating the deadly impro- vised explosive device (IED), the mountainous and harsh terrain in Afghanistan and a war of wills, which involves more than gaining territory or con- trolling physical terrain. Today’s fight is about gaining trust and winning the hearts and minds of the Afghan people, according to GEN David H. Petraeus, com- mander, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)/ U.S. Forces-Afghanistan. Fighting today’s war means train- ing soldiers to win the “battle of wits,” while working closely with our international and Afghan partners within a coalition and combined operational environment. About 84 percent of the troop-contributing nations fight- ing alongside U.S. soldiers are from Europe. To ensure that the ISAF commander’s intent is met, U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR) boasts the Army’s largest training command outside the continental United States, which provides facili-

U.S. Army/SPC Arthur Ruepong Army/SPC U.S. ties using live, virtual, constructive, simulation and gaming

assets: the Joint Multinational Training Command (JMTC) By Denver Makle in Grafenwoehr, Germany. It is the only U.S. Army training command that regularly trains U.S. forces with multina- tional partners for deployment and coalition operations in Afghanistan. “We’ve just completed our 17th iteration of operational mentor liaison teams (OMLT) from 24 countries,” said BG Steven L. Salazar, commanding general, JMTC. “More than 6,000 multinational soldiers have been trained here to be mentors. There is a synergy among observer-controllers (O-Cs) who have trained mentors from multiple different nations. I can’t think of a single joint enabler that we have not been able to employ here that you might otherwise be able to employ at another CTC [combat training center]. “One of the advantages we have in Europe is that all of our units are focused on Afghanistan,” BG Salazar said. “These guys are training with the same folks whom they are going to fight with when they go downrange.” The combat training center is located in central Europe. In addition to 57,000 acres of ranges and training areas at the Grafenwoehr Training Area (GTA) and 40,000 acres at the neighboring Hohenfels Training Area (HTA), there are multiple German and American satellite training areas that extend from Schweinfurt to the Alps. Through co-usage agreements with the German military and established maneuver rights areas, training can be ex- panded beyond GTA and HTA. In 2009, the training areas accommodated more than 7,000 people from the 173rd Air- borne Brigade Combat Team and 12th Combat Aviation Brigade for a historic training event, during which two brigades simultaneously prepared for deployment in sup- U.S. Army/Gary L. Kieffer U.S.

March 2011 I ARMY 73 SFC Mathew Salinas, JMRC Timberwolves Observer-Controller Team, teaches Roman- ian troops the steps of escalation of force at an established check point in October 2010, at Cincu Forces Combat Training Area. port of counterinsurgency operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. “We can bring soldiers a more realis- tic training experience using host-na- tion lands and training areas, which al- low us to expand the training terrain,” said Reinhold Plossner, JMTC maneu- ver coordination officer. Plossner said special agreements with the German military and host-nation government

contribute to a more dynamic training Arthur Ruepong Army/SPC U.S. environment. The JMTC provides combat-maneuver train- table. At that time, units prepared for conventional, force- ing in addition to specialized training for special operations on-force warfare, with an emphasis on heavy and mecha- such as high-altitude alpine training and survival training nized gunnery. “In the 1990s, Grafenwoehr saw 12,000 sol- using these maneuver rights areas. diers training per day,” said Cropps, GTA scheduler. “Today “One of the unique aspects of GTA is that we can build a we are fully booked with 3,000.” Cropps noted that al- training event or range based on a unit’s desired training though fewer soldiers train daily, training is more dynamic objectives,” said MAJ Kevin Broadnax, chief of the rota- than ever before. Many ranges have been modified and up- tional exercises branch at JMTC. “For example, a static dated to support current operations and diverse training re- qualification range can be modified to train soldiers on quirements. Today units such as the 170th Heavy Brigade counter-IED [C-IED] tactics, techniques and procedures.” Combat Team (BCT) prepare for a wide spectrum of tasks At GTA, the addition of multinational forces expands and tactics as they prepare for operations. BCTs must be the training value for any unit, offering cultural and lin- trained for force-on-force tactics as well as counterinsur- guistic training in addition to the normal training objec- gency, asymmetric warfare and urban combat. tives, MAJ Broadnax said. Just as the Infantry and Armor branches have combined “We know that current and future fights and threats will their training centers to accommodate maneuver, so, too, require multinational teams to counter them. That is why have the ranges on the GTA combined. Ranges are no we train in a multinational environment nearly every single longer listed as “Bradley,” “Scout” or “Tank” gunnery day at our JMTC training venues,” said COL Curtis J. Car- ranges. They are now scheduled and utilized as multipur- son, chief of JMTC training. “Through the process of sev- pose ranges, where a training element can conduct multi- eral different training and scheduling conferences, includ- ple training scenarios on one range complex. ing U.S. and multinational military attendees, the JMTC is “Upgrading the ranges to allow units to conduct multi- able to turn nearly every large-scale collective training purpose training increases the effectiveness of training by event into multinational training events. The access we allowing units to train several different tasks simultane- have to multinational planners at these conferences makes ously,” said Ernest L. Roth, JMTC maneuver coordination putting together multinational events routine.” officer. Range 118 is probably the range that has undergone Last fiscal year, the JMTC hosted nearly 200 visits, or ap- the greatest transition, said Roth. The 2009 upgrades to proximately 600 diplomats and leaders from all over Eu- GTA’s Range 118 include a five-story shoot house and a rope, Africa, Southeast Asia and the United States. two-story 360-degree live-fire structure, three-dimensional “Here they see firsthand the extensive training provided mannequin-type targets, multiple E-type targets, day-and- for both U.S. and NATO partner nations contributing to night cameras, and a speaker system to provide realistic ISAF,” said COL Michael S. Higginbottom, chief of staff of sound effects during training. the JMTC. “Since Range 118 opened in November 2009, more than 3,000 soldiers have trained on it,” said SFC Daniel Muren, Training for Current Operations the maneuvers branch noncommissioned officer-in-charge. As a former 1st Armored Division master gunner, Ray “The majority of units that request 118 use all of 118. Based Cropps remembers when Bradley fighting vehicles and on lessons learned, we have added a high-explosive box, tanks lined the tank trail, waiting their turn at the gunnery which is a mini impact area for units to fire mortars into during training on the range. Denver Makle serves as the deputy public affairs officer of the “How units train on Range 118, the interim battle area Joint Multinational Training Command. complex, is driven by their commanders,” said SFC Muren.

74 ARMY I March 2011 The training scenario is similar to a real-life mission. ISAF soldiers were at- tacked by the Taliban at their COP in northern Afghanistan in October 2009. The attack left eight soldiers dead and many more injured. The lessons learned from real-world experiences are incor- porated into predeployment training at the training center to ensure that sol- diers master certain skills before they go downrange.

Professional Opposing Forces and Specialty Teams Creating a realistic training environ- ment employs the ingenuity of the sol-

U.S. Army/SPC Eric Cabral U.S. dier. For example, a replicated village SPC Matthew Benzing of Company D, 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, U.S. at HTA is reminiscent of Kunduz, Army Europe, collects biometrics data from a villager using the handheld inter- Afghanistan. During a typical mission agency identity detection equipment system in Zabul Province, Afghanistan, in rehearsal exercise, the concrete build- June 2010. Company D is deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. ings are decorated with traditional rugs and tapestries, and the Pashto “We allow them the flexibility to conduct training based on translations of the names of establishments are prominently their mission essential task lists. We only ensure that the displayed alongside the English words; the streets are filled range can be used the way they want to use it and that it is with people dressed in traditional Afghan garb while a safe.” replicated radio station plays news, songs and commentary. The range is a modern, multipurpose complex that allows Soldiers develop a familiarity with the music, language, units to train dismounted and mounted tasks and to inte- culture—the sights and sounds associated with a deploy- grate dismounted and mounted forces in a live-fire environ- ment to Afghanistan—before ever setting foot in country. ment with real-time feedback for after-action review. With seasoned soldiers training other soldiers—U.S. and “[If soldiers are using] up to .50-caliber weapons systems, multinational—for the rigors of deployment, predeploy- we can generally keep a unit on the same range and set up ment training at the JMTC’s HTA is invaluable. the appropriate targetry, based on the needs of the unit The Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) pro- training,” said MAJ Scott Moore, chief of GTA range opera- vides challenging and realistic boots-on-the-ground, force- tions. “There are approximately 13 multipurpose maneuver on-force training to U.S. Army, joint service, NATO and al- ranges, and we can integrate dismounted and mounted ma- lied forces. neuvers and call for close air support and artillery.” “We support four annual rotations of OMLT training Grafenwoehr is one of the few places in Europe where (Phase II) at the HTA,” said Bill Kastner, chief of interna- that is possible, he said. tional military training. “Up to 800 students per rotation In July 2010, the Army’s first combat outpost (COP) live- can participate in the training.” The OMLT training con- fire exercise training facility opened at GTA. The 360-degree tributes to the development of the Afghan National Army. facility allows soldiers to confront enemy assault while pro- OMLT teams coach, mentor and train soldiers. tecting the COP. In addition to tough, relevant training scenarios that are

Bulgarian land forces of the 61st Mecha- nized Brigade from Karlovo provide security while others capture a high-value target, a role played by a U.S. Army soldier of the 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regi- ment, out of Vilseck, Germany, during bilat- eral training conducted in September 2010. Bulgarian and American forces trained to- gether as part of Joint Task Force-East ex- ercises, part of a continuing effort by the United States and its partners in the region to improve interoperability and develop re- lationships with partner militaries that lead

to success in theater security operations. Army U.S.

76 ARMY I March 2011 Soldiers of the 172nd Infantry Division train at the JMTC shoot house facility at Camp Aachen in the Grafen- woehr Training Area. The shoot house, which allows units to train in a variety of interior possibilities in any weather, is equipped with video cameras to capture the training for later review and lessons learned.

complemented by the urban villages and rugged terrain of Germany, the center has a dedicated, ex- perienced team of professional opposing forces that contributes real-world knowledge of current operations in theater. Since about 90 percent of the O-Cs, opposing forces and staff have recent combat experience and experience working with multinationals in the combat setting, the center’s staff considers it-

self the U.S. Army’s Center of Excellence for Army U.S. Coalition Training. what happens in theater, including both counterdrug and “The JMRC’s operations group is structured to support counterterrorism training, according to CPT James L. Mar- the training of Army BCTs with O-C/Ts [observer-con- steller, JMTC’s multinational exercise officer. troller/trainers] who are qualified in their specific MOS, and Last November, there were 17 OMLTs and nine POMLTs who have deployed in support of current contingency oper- from different NATO countries training at HTA. At Hohen- ations in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said MAJ Nick Sternberg, fels, the training also consists of counter-IED training. The JMRC spokesperson. “The teams are specialized to support training can also be offered off-site. the basic BCT support functions such as artillery, the for- “O-Cs train troops—not just here at JMRC, but also [in] ward support battalion, special troop battalions and so on.” the other coalition countries in Europe. Every rotation is a The JMRC has expanded the OMLT and is also conducting different experience and a different challenge,” said MAJ special training for NATO police—the Police Operational Sternberg. Mentor and Liaison Teams (POMLTs), said MAJ Sternberg. The POMLTs are trained to contribute to the development of Counter-IED Training the Afghan National Police. Again, the training replicates With little investment, limited resources and basic skills, insurgents have conducted spectacu- lar attacks against U.S. and coalition forces, wounding and killing those who serve and attempting to weaken political alliances. In March 2010, Sec- retary of Defense Robert M. Gates or- dered combatant commanders to sup- port and increase the effectiveness of partner-nation forces against IEDs. Because IEDs are a major threat to U.S. and ISAF soldiers operating in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Combined Arms Training Center (CATC) at Rose Bar- racks, near Grafenwoehr, introduced two new courses to support C-IED training for deploying units. The first course, the mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) Master Driver course, certifies a unit’s NCOs to train and license soldiers on the maintenance and operation of a spe- U.S. Army/PVT Alexandria Robinson Army/PVT U.S. cific MRAP vehicle. The second is a C- During a route-clearance exercise, an Army Buffalo vehicle scans a bronze cylindrical can that is identified as an improvised explosive device (IED) IED Master Trainer course for mid- along the side of a road in Grafenwoehr Training Area. Cameras attached to grade NCOs and junior officers. This the vehicle scan IEDs. Once the IED is identified, the explosive ordnance course develops subject-matter ex- disposal personnel disable the device before other vehicles pass by. perts to advise commanders of the

78 ARMY I March 2011 U.S. Army U.S. Army U.S. Above left, an aerial view of the main post area of the military installation in Grafenwoehr. The installation continues to modernize its infrastructure through the Efficient Basing Grafenwoehr project, an initiative to consolidate command-and-control headquarters and six battalion-sized elements. Above right, an aerial view of the Netzaberg Housing Area in Grafenwoehr. The 830 three- and four- bedroom units were built as part of a build-to-lease housing program made possible by the Efficient Basing Grafenwoehr project. tools available to support the C-IED training of their units and capacity building,” said MAJ Phillip J. Borders, senior at the company and battalion levels. observer-controller/trainer at the JMRC. “C-IED training “The ‘train-the-trainer’ aspect of both these courses is ef- focuses on collective training from patrol-size elements to fective for U.S. forces because it allows us to get the training brigade-and-battalion battle staffs.” to more soldiers by creating instructors in every unit,” said The JMRC currently teaches three courses to help part- SGM Lance Dyckman, CATC. “By developing leaders in ner nations build capacity as well as multinational C-IED our partner nations who are able to provide high-quality cooperation, said MAJ Borders. training on relevant subjects, we are building the capacities As U.S. forces continue to serve as part of multinational of these armies to train autonomously, not just providing operations, USAREUR continues to maximize opportuni- training to a few of their soldiers.” ties to train the forces with allies. The ISAF commander’s The MRAP drivers training program started in May guidance points to managing expectations and fostering 2010, shortly after the JMTC received a significant number lasting solutions. of MaxxPro and MRAP all-terrain vehicles for their mis- Defeating the IEDs, the terrain and the war of wills sion rehearsal exercise training fleet. means empowering U.S. and multinational units with a “These vehicles gave us the capability to train students, common foundation to mitigate the effects of IEDs on to- which was an opportunity usually only received in theater day’s battlefield. from a new equipment training team, or from a few train- In 2010, the Grafenwoehr military community marked a ing locations in the continental United States,” said SFC major transition point in the U.S. Army-initiated project Brandon Fairchild, CATC master driver. “Poland was the called Efficient Basing Grafenwoehr. After 10 years, the in- first to take advantage of this opportunity, and 15 Polish tent of the project was realized as the base expanded its fa- soldiers from a brigade deploying to Afghanistan success- cilities to support a brigade-size unit. The Army built 830 fully trained at Rose Barracks in May.” three- and four-bedroom units, along with 12 new barracks. More than 380 soldiers from Poland, Georgia, Slovakia, Soldiers and families can enjoy the Grafenwoehr shopping Slovenia and Bulgaria were scheduled to complete the center, which is the second largest U.S. shopping facility in course by the end of 2010. The course promotes the same Europe. It has a 250-seat food court, a PX, a commissary, a standards used to certify U.S. soldiers. Partner-nation sol- small concessions mall with several stores, including a diers, once trained, can return to their countries confident beauty and barber shop, an optometrist, a flower shop and a that they can train soldiers to use safe driving tactics while day spa. Soldiers can use the modern physical fitness center, defeating the potentially deadly impacts of an IED attack, which features a gymnasium, an aerobics room, a basketball SFC Fairchild stated. court, a large area with free weights and exercise machines, The JMTC and JMRC have incorporated C-IED tactics and three softball fields, a running track and a multipurpose procedures based on the three pillars that the Joint IED De- field. A new addition was added to the Grafenwoehr clinic feat Organization and ISAF use during C-IED operations: to consolidate medical and dental operations, providing the attack the network, defeat the device and train the force. ability to offer additional medical services. In the future, the This year alone, more than 4,000 multinational soldiers base will continue to improve its infrastructure by adding throughout Europe participated in C-IED training at the additional barracks and facilities. JMRC. There are C-IED situational training lanes and IED The Grafenwoehr military community remains commit- awareness training at remote locations based on the needs ted to building an infrastructure that facilitates quality of the host-nation military. training while providing quality-of-life support commen- “It is a natural fit to conduct partner-nation training at, surate with the sacrifices of its 42,000 soldiers, families and or from, Hohenfels to assist our partners in C-IED training civilians. (

80 ARMY I March 2011