Yudh Abhyas 2009 - Indo-US military tango.

RPK

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A taste of India for US soldiers

A taste of India for US soldiers

NEW DELHI: Up with the sun to sit cross-legged, finishing the day with curry and naan, the 250-odd US soldiers in India for a fortnight-long joint exercise got more than what they expected -- but they weren't complaining.


Apart from the mechanised exercise, the men from 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division of the US Army, took off their running shoes and traded their standard physical training for yoga.

They rose with the sun, sat on a mat in the grass, cross-legged, eyes closed, fist closed and controlling their breathing. A qualified instructor was deputed from the Indian side to teach them yoga.

"It was a different experience for them. Besides swapping soldiers, sharing equipment and trading war stories we also gave a taste of Indian culture. The US troops were given yoga classes twice or thrice a week," said a senior Indian Army official.

And at mealtimes, the hamburgers and fries were swapped for curry and naan.

US Army first Lt. Joseph Lewandowski, the squadron's information operations officer, said: "Some troops were hesitant at first to try the food. Some even opted for field rations rather than give the spicy food a try. Two chow halls were set up, one offering American food and the other offering Indian cuisine. Eventually, most US soldiers tried the Indian specialities, and liked them."

The US troops also celebrated Diwali with their Indian counterparts.

"The troops were treated to special dinners and dancing. They participated in the local Diwali celebration, the Hindu festival of lights. By the end of the training, troops were trading e-mails, and becoming friends on Facebook," the US Army's official website said after the conclusion of the exercise.

The first joint exercise of Indian and US mechanised forces was conducted recently at the Indian Army's training range at Babina, near Jhansi, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

The US Army website said: "The (US) soldiers were deployed here to train with the Indian army's 7th Mechanised Infantry Battalion. The two armies soldiered side by side, firing weapons and trading equipment. But perhaps the most valuable lessons learned were not those on the battlefield."

The Indian Army familiarised itself with the US Army's Stryker combat vehicles which boast of an integrated computer network system. The US Army's deployment of 17 Stryker armoured vehicles was the largest number deployed outside Iraq and Afghanistan by the US.
 

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Yudh Abhyas 09 Closing Ceremony



CAMP BUNDELA, India (Oct. 27, 2009) – Lt. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon, commanding general,U.S. Army, Pacific, addresses the Indian Army’s 7th Mechanized Infantry Battalion, 94th Armored Brigade, 31st Armored Division and the U.S. Army’s 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment,“Strykehorse,” 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, from Schofield Barracks,Hawaii, at the Exercise Yudh Abhyas closing ceremony. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Crista Yazzie, U.S. Army, Pacific Public Affairs)



CAMP BUNDELA, India (Oct. 27, 2009) – Indian Army Lt. Gen. A.S. Sekhon, Indian army director of general military operations, and U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon, commanding general, U.S. Army, Pacific, conduct a pass and review of the troops during the closing ceremony of Exercise Yudh Abyas 09, a bilateral exercise involving the Armies of India and the United States. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Crista Yazzie, U.S. Army, Pacific Public Affairs
 

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CAMP BUNDELA, India (Oct. 27, 2009) – Lt. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon, commanding general, U.S. Army, Pacific, greets Indian Army Lt. Gen. Rajinder Singh at the Exercise Yudh Abhyas 09 closing ceremony. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Crista Yazzie, U.S. Army, Pacific Public Affairs)
 

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CAMP BUNDELA, India (Oct., 27, 2009) -Lt. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon (right), commanding general, U.S. Army, Pacific, and Lt. Gen. A.S. Sekhon, director general of Indian military operations, salute members of 2nd squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, Strykehorse, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division and the Indian Army?s 7th Mechanized Infantry Battalion, 94th Armored Brigade, 31st Armored Division at the closing ceremony for Exercise Yudh Abhyas in Babina India, Oct. 27. YA09 is a bilateral exercise involving the Armies of India and the United States. The primary goal of the exercise is to develop and expand upon the relationship between the Indian and U.S. Army. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Rodney Jackson, 18th Medical Command Public Affairs)



CAMP BUNDELA, India (Oct., 27, 2009) - Lt. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon, commanding general, U.S. Army, Pacific, and Lt. Gen. A.S. Sekhon, director general of Indian military operations, pose with 2nd squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, Strykehorse, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division and the Indian Army?s 7th Mechanized Infantry Battalion, 94th Armored Brigade, 31st Armored Division at the closing ceremony for Exercise Yudh Abhyas in Babina India, Oct. 27. YA09 is a bilateral exercise involving the Armies of India and the United States. The primary goal of the exercise is to develop and expand upon the relationship between the Indian and U.S. Army. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Rodney Jackson, 18th Medical Command Public Affairs)
 

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