Read Issue 3 of "The Bongo Warrior", the Newsletter of "B" Company 4th Yorks. This issue includes articles on "Exercise Glow Worm", "Yorkshire Warrior", the Reserved Forces Association Competition in Germany, Exercise Bongo Adventure Company Adventure Training Weekend, and a description of life in the Northallerton Centre amongst other items.
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JULY 2007 - THE 4TH BATTALION TRAIN WITH THE GEORGIA NATIONAL GUARD IN THE U.S.A.

The 4th Battalion have recently completed two weeks training with the Gorgia National Guard, in Fort Stewart in the U.S.A.
The following report is taken from the website of the Georgia National Guard, and was written by PFC Adam Dean of the National Guard.

Georgia Army National Guard Sgt. Lee Harrell (left), a UH-60 Blackhawk crew chief with Marietta’s Company A, 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation, briefs soldiers of Britain’s 4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, before they board the helicopter during training at Fort Stewart’s National Guard Training Center.

New-trans Atlantic ties were forged during annual training 2007 as an element of the 48th Infantry Combat Team got a chance to show a British Army unit how Georgians train in the south Georgia heat. Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry, and Britain’s 4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment traipsed through the “muck and mire” of Fort Stewart late last month each learning techniques from the other that both will find invaluable in the future.

The men and women of Britain’s “4th Yorks,” as they call themselves, make up a volunteer force that is that country’s equivalent to America’s Guard and Reserves forces. Many of the British troops training at Fort Stewart are scheduled to leave for Afghanistan in the next nine months to bolster coalition forces already committed to the War on Terror in that country.

During this phase of the exchange, the Georgians are training their British counterparts on the use of small arms such as the M16A1 rifle and the M252 mortar, said Lt. Col. Mark London, 2-121’s commander.

“And the British shot very well,” he said, adding that the Soldiers qualify on their military rifle, the L85A2, twice a year.

In addition to weapons training, the Guardsmen also are teaching their UK allies U.S.-style urban combat tactics.

“We started adding squad-level training this week,” London said. “While there are differences, you’d be surprised how many similarities exist. It’s a continuous learning experience for everyone involved.”

Some of the urban warfare training 2nd Foot’s doing includes teaching the British how American Soldiers clear buildings during search and seizure missions. Major Jeremy Dodd, officer commanding the 4th Yorkshire, explained that the British commonly send two-man teams into buildings, compared to the American use of four-man teams.

“That has been a great training opportunity for our guys. Many of them haven’t fought in an urban environment yet, and the Americans excel at this type of training,” said Dodd.

Another stateside thrill for some of the UK troops is flight time aboard the Georgia Army Guard Black Hawks. These, for example, recently took six squads from the 4th Yorkshire to Camp Blanding, Fla., for a two-day training exercise.

“We don’t get much of a chance to work around helicopters,” Dodd explained. “It’s all been a great experience for us.”

Specialist Joseph McCain of Griffin, and an infantryman with 2-121 is one of the Guardsmen who accompanied the British to Blanding. He monitored the group during its time at the camp’s Military Operations on Urban Terrain (MOUT) site.

"It went really great,” said McCain. “They really learned a lot about cordons and different urban attack elements.

“I’ve got to say, they’re really fast learners.”

The best part about the troop exchange, he added, is the opportunity he and his fellow Soldiers have had in getting to know their English counterparts.

“We have a great time together. I mean, they’re our strongest allies, and it’s been fun finding out how much we have in common,” McCain said, with a great smile. “We may have different words for different things, but we all use them to talk about the same sorts of things, like families back home, and wives and girlfriends.

“No matter where they’re from, Soldiers are Soldiers,” he said.

Private Shaun Williams of the 4th Yorkshire is working in McCain’s squad. Williams related that he feels this type of exchange is especially important in light of today’s world events.

“It’s important for us to get to know each other, because we’ve been such close allies for so long,” Williams said. “Now that we serve side by side in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, it’s good that we know how the other does things.”

McCain added that the one thing that surprised him the most was the patriotism he found common among the British.

They’re just as dedicated to the Global War on Terror as anyone, he said.

“For us it’s all about defending the red, white and blue, while it’s all about protecting Queen and country, for them,” McCain said.

“But in the end, I guess we’re all fighting for the same thing.”

For further photos taken during this training exercise, see below.

29 June 2007 PHOTOS (and RESULTS) FROM THE 4th BATTALION SHOOTING WEEKEND

The photographs below are from the recent 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment shooting weekend. B Company retained the Champion Company trophy, and L/Cpl Lee (B Coy) won the best overall shot trophy.