Top guns: India's Insas vs America's M-4 rifles

The annual Indo-US joint military exercise Yudh Abhyas is currently underway in the foothills of Himalayas of Chaubattia in Uttarakhand.

In the 10 years since Yudh Abhyas began, the exercise has grown from platoon-level operations to brigade-and battalion-level operations.

This year the training is focused on combined training events within three key elements; a command post exercise, a field training exercise and expert academic exchanges.

The two week long event will see the contingents hone their tactical and technical skills in countering insurgency and terrorism in UN Peace Keeping scenario involving a Brigade Headquarters, an Infantry Company and a detachment of Special Forces.

State of the art equipment for surveillance and tracking, specialist weapons for close quarter battle with terrorists, explosives and IED detectors, as well as the latest communication equipment are being fielded by both sides.

Both sides will train, plan and execute a series of well developed combined tactical drills for neutralization of likely threats that may be encountered in UN peace keeping operations.

Soldiers from 5-1 Cavalry and the Indian army’s 2nd Battalion, 9th Gurkha Rifles are participating in the field training exercise and 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division Soldiers are taking part in the command post exercise.

The field training exercise places Indian and US soldiers in field training events, including a jungle live-fire rifle range, a reflexive fire range, a ropes confidence course, an obstacle course and rock climbing.

Soldiers from both armies have conducted classes and demonstrations on peacekeeping operations ranging from crowd control to cordon and search, providing an opportunity to see familiar tasks done in a different way.

Watching the sunrise above the Himalayas while practicing yoga, rock climbing and rappelling as monkeys jump through the trees overhead; it sounds like an adventure vacation.

But for more than 75 US Soldiers from Fort Wainwright, Alaska, it’s an opportunity to work with the soldiers of the Indian Army to enhance the cooperation and coordination necessary during peacekeeping operations.

“They have different ways to do things than we do which is good; they can teach us and we can teach them as well,” said Staff Sgt Brianna Warren, a team leader with 5-1 Cavalry who calls Racine, Wis, home.

Warren said she will return to Alaska, with a new respect for the Indian Army and how their experiences differ from hers.

For many of the US Soldiers, working with another nation’s military is a new experience with many benefits.

“The Soldiers are really benefiting from seeing the discipline of the 2/9 Gurhkas; I think it’s seen both ways as well,” said Mayer.

“We are training off of each other, we are learning how we function,” said Sgt Michael Higgenbottham, a cavalry scout with 5-1 Cavalry. "They have unique experience that I think anybody would be able to appreciate."

While the Soldiers may be focused on training, they are sharing experiences and building relationships.

“Now we are finally starting to mesh with the platoon we have been lined up with and we are finally starting to build that relationship that we are looking to create while we’re here,” said Mayer.

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