Stand-To!- Rapid Trident 2008

[stand-to at www.lists.army.mil]

Edition: Mon, September 15, 2008
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SENIOR LEADERS ARE SAYING
“On the one hand, you see the horrors of war; on the other hand, you  
see the courage of the people that have volunteered to serve. I  
marvel when I come to Walter Reed. I marvel at the fact that people  
say to me, ‘Mr. President, I'd do it again.’”

- President George W. Bush, visiting the wounded at Walter Reed

President visits wounded warriors at Walter Reed

TODAY'S FOCUS
Rapid Trident 2008

What is it?

Exercise Rapid Trident 2008 is a training exercise conducted in the  
Ukraine by the United States, Ukraine and 17 other nations. This  
year’s exercise will build upon lessons learned in previous  
exercises. The exercise focuses on preparing Ukrainian and U.S.  
forces for their upcoming participation in Kosovo Force (KFOR) and  
future NATO and coalition operations.

What has the Army done?

Exercise Rapid Trident, formerly known as Peace Shield, has been  
conducted for 13 consecutive years with participants from the U.S.  
and Ukrainian ground forces. This year, Soldiers from U.S. Army  
Europe, the Army Reserve and National Guard—along with Soldiers from  
the Ukraine and 17 other European and Central Asian nations—are  
engaged in a combined, joint exercise with a Multinational Brigade  
(MNB) staff in peace enforcement operations. Using a Kosovo scenario,  
the training will encompass small unit tactical training up to  
brigade-level staff exercises with a focus on enhancing  
interoperability among all participants and nations. Participating  
Soldiers from the Ukraine and the 1st Squadron, 18th Cavalry  
Regiment, California Army National Guard, are scheduled to conduct  
rotations as members of the NATO KFOR Multi-National Task Force East  
in the near future, making the training both timely and relevant.

What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future?

Rapid Trident is only one of the exercises conducted under the  
framework of the NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP) program. Each year  
the U.S. Army supports multiple PfP exercises. The purpose of the PfP  
program is to increase stability, diminish threats to peace and build  
strengthened security relationships between individual partner  
countries and NATO, as well as among partner nations. Twenty-four  
nations currently participate in the PfP program. U.S. military  
support for the PfP program aids the Ukraine and other nations  
aspiring for full NATO membership by assisting their militaries’  
transformation into professional, modern military forces.

Why is this important to the Army?

The nations in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility  
provide close to 87 percent of the coalition Soldiers in Afghanistan  
and 87 percent of the Soldiers in Iraq. Exercises such as Rapid  
Trident are vital to enhancing interoperability between the U.S. Army  
and other coalition nations. Additionally, participants in these  
exercises gain valuable experience working with Soldiers of other  
nations in peacetime which provides useful lessons applicable to the  
asymmetric battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Resources:

Rapid Trident Web site

USAREUR Web site

NATO Partnership for Peace Web site
INFORMATION YOU CAN USE
• 2008 Strategic Communication Guide - Read the 2008 Army Strategic  
Communication Guide for key messages and updates

• Strategic Communication Coordination Group (SCCG) Workspace

• Army Public Affairs Portal

• Stories of Valor

• Speaker's Toolkit

• Information Papers with " 2008 Army Posture Statement"

A CULTURE OF ENGAGEMENT
The Army Community Relations Calendar

Bloggers Roundtable

CALENDAR
September 2008
: National Preparedness Month

Sept. 11, 2008
: Patriot Day

Sept. 18, 2008
: National Preparedness Awareness Day
Sept. 19, 2008
: POW/MIA Recognition Day

SOCIAL NETWORKING
Army Media Player
Flickr: Army images
YouTube: Army videos
Twitter: Army updates
del.icio.us: Army links
NEWS ABOUT THE ARMY
Five nations begin joint training event in Germany (ARNews)
Texas Guardsmen focus on rescue missions in Ike's wake (ARNews)
G-1, Pentagon employees remember 9/11 fallen (ARNews)
CSA inspires Hawaii recruiters (ARNews)
Army adding 4,200 Soldiers in the Pacific (AT)
Video: From Baghdad to Beijing (NYT)
Video: G.I.'s in Iraq remember 9/11 (NYT)

WAR ON TERROR NEWS
Odierno taking the reins as Iraq chief (AT)
Pentagon chief in Iraq to transfer war command (WP)
Troops facing increasingly aggressive kids (S&S)
Pakistan’s dangerous double game (NW)
Analysis: Will Iraq squander the gains of the surge? (AT)
OF INTEREST
Bunker-busting bombs added to U.S. arsenal (USA)
Program preps families for Soldier's return (NO6)
Gadgets that collect information are also gathering success (WP)
NATO envoys will offer their support in Georgia (NYT)
The plan post-Kim: No plan (NW)
WORLD VIEW
Iraq: al-Qaida intensifies its stranglehold in the world's most  
dangerous city (GRD | Story)
Taliban claim weapons supplied by Iran (LDT | Story)
Related to article under Interest: Israel slated to buy U.S. smart  
bombs (JP | Story)
Pakistan soldiers 'confront U.S.' (BBC | Story)
Kabul frees al-Qaeda suspect's son (AJ | Story)
WHAT'S BEING SAID IN BLOGS
In memoriam: The war's casualties (BS)
Image: Keep it brief (TR)
Army focuses on preventing suicides during Suicide Prevention Week (SM)
Thank a Soldier this week! (TSRE)
Revisiting Sept. 11: What keeps you up at night? (MG)
External Links Disclaimer
ARMY SPORTS
Sports at a glance

Top Army football stories

Volleyball tops Northeastern, 3-1

Marist men's tennis squad has big day at Army Invitational

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