CHAUBATTIA MILITARY STATION, India -- Soldiers of the U.S. Army's 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, and the Indian army's 99th Mountain Brigade learned room clearing techniques and improvised explosive device (IED) detection methods during Yudh Abhyas 2018, Sept. 21, 2018.

"We did a walkthrough of IED lanes with some of the simulated IEDs exploding," said Sgt. Jason Onikama, a medical noncommissioned officer with 1-23 Infantry. "At the conclusion of that we came up to the kill box where we got a live demonstration of what the training in the kill box comprised of, along with room intervention."

It is good for the U.S. Soldiers to see what other armies do across the world, Onikama added. The exercise prepares the Soldiers to be more adaptable and interoperable when the U.S. had to do a joint exercise or mission in the future. It is good to understand each army's technique so they can agree on one plan to ensure mission success.

It is really good training for both the U.S. and Indian armies, he added. It is good to learn from other soldiers and other cultures to compare how they do things to see what works well and what does not.

"It has been really good working with the Indian counterparts and to be able to share experiences we have gone through helps increase our understanding of different complex environments," Onikama said. "Sharing skills is why we are all here."