The 1st Battalion of the Ukrainian Armed Forces last week completed a combined arms training course on the use of US M2 Bradley armored vehicles.
As Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder reported on February 18, “635 Ukrainians underwent an approximately 5-week training period that included basic combat missions such as shooting, medical training, interaction between squad, platoon and company, and battalion”.
At the Grafenwur training ground in Germany, additional combined arms training at battalion level has already started. Another mechanized battalion from Ukraine began training on the M2 Bradley two weeks ago, as well as a field artillery battalion based on the M109 Paladin (710 men in total). The 2nd Field Artillery Battalion and the first Ukrainian unit of M1126 Stryker combat vehicles will begin training next week (total strength of 890 men).
The training is overseen by US European Command, US Army Europe and Africa and organized by the 7th Army Training Command with support from other organizations including the Joint International Training Group Ukraine.
“The training program,” General Pat Ryder said, “is part of a continuing global effort, led by the United States and supported by more than 50 countries, to help Ukraine defend against Russia’s brutal and unprovoked war, which began nearly a year ago.”
