Basseterre, St. Kitts, June 05, 2018 (SKNIS): Training for Phase 1 of Exercise Tradewinds 2018 (TW18) officially began on Tuesday (June 05) in St. Kitts. Land forces from various countries participated in a number of sessions including weapons training at Bakers Range, as well as military operations in urban terrain (MOUT) and close quarters battle (CQB) at Camp Springfield and Fort Thomas Hotel.
Second Lieutenant Logan Boomgarden was among a number of United States Marines conducting and supervising the training at Camp Springfield during the early morning session. Military personnel from Antigua and Barbuda, Haiti, Guyana, and Dominica were busy executing a number of exercises.
“We’re teaching all the gentlemen out here how to move through an urban environment, and clear out rooms and engage enemies throughout those rooms. … So far it is going really well. People seem to be picking up on the tools that we’re providing them and our Marines are happy to be out here teaching,” 2ndLt Boomgarden said.
The Marine, along with the other members conducting the morning training, are based at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina. This is his first time participating in Exercise Tradewinds, which is coordinated by the United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM).
When asked about his impression of TW18, he said: “I could not be any happier sir. This is an excellent opportunity for me and my Marines and we hope to come out here as much as we can in the following years.”
Other activities that were held today for TW18 were in port drills for cutters and a Table Top Exercise for an aircraft disaster that will be simulated at the R. L. Bradshaw International Airport on Saturday, June 09. Phase 1 will run from June 04 to 12 in St. Kitts and Nevis.
An opening ceremony was held on Tuesday (June 04) to mark the start of the annual exercise. Phase 2 will be held in the Bahamas from June 13 to 21.
