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 | Feb. 26, 2020

US, Kuwait artillery lights up night sky

By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry Task Force Spartan

UDAIRI RANGE, Kuwait – The rockets' red glare, the rockets streaming in air lit up the night sky over a sea of sand in Kuwait.

The U.S. forces supporting Task Force Spartan and Kuwait Land Forces worked shoulder-to-shoulder to test their capabilities firing their respective truck-based, artillery rocket launchers.

"It's important what we're doing here because we're working together," said Sgt. Dexter Jones, a fire control direction chief and a liaison officer for the 115th Field Artillery Brigade during the combined exercise.

The Kuwaitis invited their American counterparts to participate in Dasman 1 as a precursor to Dasman Shield in late February.

Kuwait Land Force Maj. Mohammad B. Alafasi, a liaison fire control officer for the Kuwait and U.S. forces, agreed that the two forces working together would benefit the troops of both nations.

It's important because the two forces can learn from one another and, God forbid, in case something happens there would be a combined operation against a common enemy, Alfasi said through an interpreter.

Over five days, more than 200 troops with the two nations learned how each military works at Udairi Range along Kuwait's northwestern border.

This interaction will help deter regional aggression.

"We're increasing the interoperability, increasing the capabilities between us and Kuwait, and maximizing our readiness between our countries," said Jones from Frederick, Colorado. "This exercise is a great showcase in our capabilities and what we can do together."

The Task Force Spartan joint fires coordinator agreed.

"If we have to be in a fight tonight scenario, our biggest effort is to protect in an event of an invasion," said 1st Lt. Jonathon Stinnett, with the 38th Infantry Division and a fires coordinator during the exercise. "So we're basically joining artillery and learning how to combine fires, along with our Air Force fires as well."

Not only did the countries combine to become a lethal force against a common enemy, but they also developed a bond with each other.

"As we call them out here, they're our brothers, they're our artillery brothers," said Stinnett from Brownsburg, Indiana. "They treat us like family, and we do the same for them."

 

 

Related Articles
Nebraska Army and Air National Guard recruiting and retention specialists exchanged ideas and best practices with their counterparts from the Czech Armed Forces during a State Partnership Program engagement Feb. 25, 2025. The exchange focused on maintaining strength in their respective military departments.
Nebraska Guard, Czechs Share Recruiting and Retention Tips
By Kevin Hynes, | March 27, 2025
LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska Army and Air National Guard recruiting and retention specialists exchanged ideas and best practices with their counterparts from the Czech Armed Forces during a February State Partnership Program...

South Carolina Army National Guard UH-60 Black hawk and  CH-47 Chinook helicopters conduct aerial, water-bucket operations on the Table Rock and Persimmon Ridge wildfires in Pickens County, South Carolina March 23, 2025.
South Carolina National Guard Fights Upstate Wildfires
By Maj. Karla Evans, | March 27, 2025
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Following a successful fire suppression support mission in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina National Guard aviation units are helping control wildfires in the Upstate.U.S. Army Soldiers from Alpha Company,...

Maryland Air National Guard Lt. Col. Steven Montalvo, 175th Wing inspector general and A-10 pilot for the 104th Fighter Squadron, gestures farewell to fellow Guard members while taxiing to the runway in the A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft 705 at Warfield Air National Guard Base at Martin State Airport, Maryland, March 26, 2025. The aircraft was the first to be sent from the 175th Wing to the boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Arizona, as part of the initial process of divesting the Maryland Air National Guard A-10C Thunderbolt II fleet.
Maryland Air National Guard Begins Divesting A-10s
By Maj. Benjamin Hughes, | March 27, 2025
MIDDLE RIVER, Md. - The Maryland Air National Guard divested an A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft at Warfield Air National Guard Base at Martin State Airport March 26.The U.S. Air Force announced in March 2024 a plan for the...