An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Nov. 12, 2019

Indiana National Guard Soldiers train with Slovak allies

By Senior Airman Jonathan Padish Indiana National Guard

LEŠT, Slovakia — Communicate. Move. Shoot. Communicate again. Inside the confines of a former Soviet-era barracks, U.S. forces methodically worked their way through the building. Step by step. Room by room. Floor by floor. The goal: reinforcing old and learning new war-fighting skills alongside Slovak allies to be a more lethal and effective unit.

With that in mind, Soldiers assigned to the 1st Squadron, 152nd Cavalry Regiment, 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 38th Infantry Division, Indiana Army National Guard, trained with Slovak Armed Forces allies during Slovak Shield 2019 at Lešt military training center, Slovakia, Nov. 10.

The training focused on urban warfare — an area of operations in which the 1-152nd CAV typically does not engage.

“It’s called Military Operations in Urban Terrain, or MOUT,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Tyler Lekse, an Indianapolis soldier assigned to the 1-152nd CAV. “So, clearing a building and building operations training.”

Working alongside Slovak allies provided an opportunity for the Soldiers to practice with a different type of war-fighting skill set.

“MOUT is a whole other world,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Matthew McKinney, an Indianapolis soldier with the 1-152nd CAV. “You have to know each other’s language. You have to learn how to communicate with each other so you can play basketball together.”

Soldiers engaged in the training appreciated the opportunity to learn something new with their Slovak counterparts.

“It’s not something we get to do a lot,” said U.S. Army Spc. Austin Kredit, a Shelbyville, Ind., soldier assigned to the 1-152nd CAV. “So, this is a great opportunity.”

Indeed, the Soldiers took advantage of the opportunity to train alongside NATO allies. From tactical reloads to searching immobilized enemy personnel, 1-152nd CAV Soldiers honed their war-fighting capabilities. Step by step. Task by task. Always improving. Always communicating. Always ready.

 

 

Related Articles
U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 108th Medical Company Area Support, 213th Regional Support Group prepare dummies for a simulated casualty evacuation at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, July 17, 2025. The 108th Medical Company engaged in a weeklong field medical exercise to validate their readiness and elevate their medical and basic Soldier skills. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Capt. Christopher Booker)
Pennsylvania Guard Medics Simulate Chaos in Exercise
By Capt. Christopher Booker, | July 18, 2025
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Soldiers assigned to the Pennsylvania National Guard's 108th Medical Company Area Support, 213th Regional Support Group, are engaged in a comprehensive two-week field medical exercise here.The...

Nevada Air National Guard's 152nd Maintenance Group and 152nd Logistics Readiness Squadron personnel load Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) equipment onto MAFFS #8, aircraft #554 at the Nevada Air National Guard Base on July 12, 2025. U.S. Northern Command activated two Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) Aircraft, one from the 152nd Airlift Wing out of Reno, Nevada, and one from the 146th Airlift Wing out of Channel Islands Air National Guard Station in California. Two C-130 aircraft equipped with MAFFS and their associated personnel will support firefighting efforts in the Western United States. The 152nd Airlift Wing’s “High Rollers” and 146th Airlift Wing's “Hollywood Guard” report on July 14, 2025, and will be initially based out of Channel Islands Air National Guard Base in California and are anticipated to be in place through August 14, 2025.
Nevada Air Guard Wing Assists in Firefighting Efforts
By Senior Master Sgt. Paula Macomber, | July 18, 2025
RENO, Nev. – U.S. Northern Command has activated two Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System Aircraft, one from the Nevada Air National Guard’s 152nd Airlift Wing out of Reno, Nevada, and one from the 146th Airlift Wing out of...

Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, 30th Chief of the National Guard Bureau, and Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, SEA to the CNGB, join Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Air Force Maj. Gen. Thomas Suelzer, the adjutant general of Texas, for an aerial assessment of flood-affected areas in Central Texas and to visit Guardsmen on duty supporting civil authorities with response efforts, Kerrville, Texas, July 15, 2025. To date, National Guard search and rescue operations, led by the Texas National Guard, have resulted in the rescue of more than 525 Texans. Hundreds of Guardsmen remain on mission to continue working with interagency partners in search and rescue and recovery operations.
Nordhaus, Raines see Heroism, Partnerships in Central Texas
By Master Sgt. Zach Sheely, | July 18, 2025
KERRVILLE, Texas – Early on July 4, almost 30 inches of rain fell within hours across Central Texas’s Hill Country, surging the Guadalupe River and triggering catastrophic flash flooding.Within hours, Texas National Guard...