JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash –
Forward together we go, or in Hindi, Chalein Saath Saath!! The U.S. Army Pacific
and I Corps welcomed the Indian army to the 19th India-U.S. Land Forces
Executive Steering Group at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, March
11-13.
Lt. Gen. P.R. Kumar, director of General Military Operations,
Indian army, accompanied by fellow Indian army delegates teamed up with Lt. Gen.
Stephen Lanza, I Corps commander, U.S. Army, and U.S. Army representatives to
continue to maintain and strengthen the Indo-Asia-Pacific
partnership.
"India and the U.S. have a lot of the same perspectives,
which creates a strong and lasting bond," said Maj. Gen. S.K. Jha, an Indian
army delegate.
Over the three-day visit, the Indian army and U.S. Army
delegates underwent countless discussions about the two forces and their roles
in Pacific Pathways, nine exercises with 12 Indo-Asia-Pacific countries over the
next five years.
The two armies hit on topics concerning threat
perception focusing on the underlying threat of war and unconventional threats,
such as cyber security, illegal immigration, human trafficking and environmental
degradation that threatened each nation.
"We have so many similarities
in our threats, but a difference in our situation," said Lanza after listening
to S.K. Jha give a brief overviewing the Indian army. "Our homeland has just
recently became a part of the battle space, whereas India has had the [domestic]
threat for years."
Throughout the discussions representatives from both
armies repeated and often concluded that there is no future by trying to fight a
war alone and that we must continue to build and foster our relationships,
specifically the U.S. and India, in order to be victorious.
"Together, we
compliment each other," said S.K. Jha. "We have shared values and mutual trusts,
which will lead us to victory."
The partnership between the two forces
has not only benefited on the battlefield, but there has been positive feedback
from Soldiers as a result of the union.
"Efforts like these are not only
great because we are building lasting relationships with foreign countries, but
it gives potential Soldiers another added incentive to join the U.S. armed
forces," said Spc. Samuel Barry, a satellite communications systems operator and
maintainer, Company C, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, I Corps. "Being
able to travel to places like India as part of your job is an adventure most are
eager to take on."
Together the Indian army and U.S. Army have been
paving the "Pacific Pathways" and are forming a partnership for the rest of the
world to model.
"As a junior enlisted Soldier, I see this as a stepping
stone for our [the U.S.] future, and the future of the world," said Barry.
"Forming an alliance based on peace and prosperity is something that any person
can take something from ... and bigger than that, any country!"