Local Guard infantry soldiers train with European counterparts

Cpl. Douglas Mackintosh, of the British Army's 7th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, participates in light infantry combat training with Missouri National Guard Soldiers as part of Operation Golden Coyote in the Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota. Mackintosh was participating in a National Guard soldier exchange program in which an American Soldier, Sgt. 1st Class Charles Hasse, of Neosho, will serve with British troops in Scotland for two weeks beginning in September. (Bill Phelan photo)

By Bill Phelan
Ngmo.pao@US.ARMY.MIL
LAWRENCE COUNTY, SD. - Missouri National Guard Soldiers from Newton and Cole counties will soon be training with their counterparts in Europe as part of a National Guard soldier exchange program.

Sgt. 1st Class Charles Hasse, of Neosho, and Capt. Kevin R. Burkman, of Jefferson City, have spent the last two weeks training with soldiers from Scotland and Germany in Operation Golden Coyote, a large-scale military exercise conducted in and around the Black Hills of South Dakota. National Guardsmen from as many as eight states participate in the annual event.

For Haase and Burkman, both of whom serve with the 1st Battalion, 138th Infantry Regiment, Golden Coyote was a chance to work directly with allied soldiers in the field. Hasse, a 13-year Guard veteran, trained with Cpl. Douglas Mackintosh of the 7th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland. Burkman, a 21-year military veteran, trained with Lt. Col. Johannes K. Duerr of the German Army's Mountain Reconnaissance Battalion 230.

"The National Guard has an international exchange program with the reserve military forces of several other countries," Hasse explained. "First they send their soldier to us for two weeks and then we will go to that nation for two weeks of training."

"Sergeant Hasse will come to Scotland in September and join us for annual training to learn about our tactics in the British Army," added Mackintosh, a resident of Inverness, Scotland.
Hasse, Mackintosh, Burkman, and Duerr all believe that serving together will benefit their respective armies and the alliances between them.

"In order to work together as allies we have to have the same operational principles and same tactics," said Duerr, of Fuessen, Germany. "So it's important for us to see how the American troops train, how you're equipped and compare that to how we train in Germany. I've already seen some small things that will help us train better."

"This training will definitely come in handy in future operations if we meet an American unit," said Mackintosh. "It will give us a better understanding of American tactics so as to work alongside them and vice versa."

"Having Cpl. Mackintosh here is a big benefit to me because I'll know what to expect when I go to Scotland and how the British Army conducts business and their rank system," added Hasse.
During Operation Golden Coyote, soldiers from Missouri and their overseas counterparts used the rough South Dakota terrain to hone their combat skills in raid and ambush, reconnaissance, treated wounded comrades, dealing with prisoners of war and familiarizing themselves with various weapons systems.

"It's really amazing how similar our tactics are," said Burkman, who will travel to Germany in August. "There are only a few differences, but we speak the same language even though we come from different countries. And it's really beneficial to be able to speak to another career officer from the other side of the earth."

Hasse admits to chomping at the bit in anticipation of the opportunity to train with British Soldiers.
"I cannot wait to get to Scotland," he said. "I'm looking forward to learn more about other militaries."
Sgt. 1st Class Hasse serves with D Company, headquartered in Kansas City. He and his wife, Amber, are the proud parents of four children, Charlie, 8, William, 6, Jimmy, 3 and Cheyenne, 18 months.
Capt. Burkman is the commanding officer of B Company, headquartered in south St. Louis. He and his wife, Karla, have three children, Rylee, Carter and Masen.

The 1-138th Infantry Regiment is headquartered in Kansas City and maintains units in St. Louis, Boonville, Perryville, Monett, Anderson and Jefferson City.

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please visit www.moguard.com and our social media sites:
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