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Feature Stories

NEWS | May 25, 2018

Jordan, Task Force Spartan Soldiers celebrate JOEPs graduation

By Staff Sgt. Matthew Keeler Task Force Spartan

Soldiers with the 11th Battalion, Jordan Armed Forces celebrate their graduation from the Jordan Operational Engagement Program after their formal graduation ceremony on April 29, 2018. Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Combat Team, Task Force Spartan, worked in unison with the Jordan soldiers to improve their communication and improve the interoperability between the two countries.
Soldiers with the 11th Battalion, Jordan Armed Forces celebrate their graduation from the Jordan Operational Engagement Program after their formal graduation ceremony on April 29, 2018. Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Combat Team, Task Force Spartan, worked in unison with the Jordan soldiers to improve their communication and improve the interoperability between the two countries.
Soldiers with the 11th Battalion, Jordan Armed Forces celebrate their graduation from the Jordan Operational Engagement Program after their formal graduation ceremony on April 29, 2018. Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Combat Team, Task Force Spartan, worked in unison with the Jordan soldiers to improve their communication and improve the interoperability between the two countries.
180429-Z-IX878-0288
Soldiers with the 11th Battalion, Jordan Armed Forces celebrate their graduation from the Jordan Operational Engagement Program after their formal graduation ceremony on April 29, 2018. Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Combat Team, Task Force Spartan, worked in unison with the Jordan soldiers to improve their communication and improve the interoperability between the two countries.
Photo By: Staff Sgt. Matthew Keeler
VIRIN: 180429-Z-IX878-0288
After an arduous nine weeks of training, soldiers with the Jordanian Armed Forces’ 11th Battalion, Border Guard, graduated from the Jordan Operational Engagement Program on April 29, 2018.

“The life of a Soldier is not an easy one,” said Capt. Blaine Cox, plans officer for 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, Task Force Spartan, and the acting master of ceremony for the JOEP’s graduation. “It is marked with physical and mental stress. In short, it is a hard life that is lived daily by hard individuals who have the privilege of calling themselves soldiers of the Jordan Armed Forces.”

The soldiers of the JAF worked in tandem with soldiers from the 1-184th throughout the nine weeks of training in different Soldiers skills. This training included sniper and indirect fire operations, infantry patrolling principles, offensive and defensive battle drills, machine gun training, combat medical skills, base operations and the culminating combined arms live fire exercise during Eager Lion.

The border guard training began several cycles ago with elements of the 28th Infantry Division’s 110th Infantry Regiment starting the program.

Recently the 28th’s Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion took over the mission of Task Force Spartan from the 35th Infantry Division.

 

"The 28th Infantry Division and members of the JAF continue that partnership that we started many years ago."Brig. Gen. Mark McCormack, 28th Infantry Division, Task Force Spartan

 

“The 28th Infantry Division and members of the JAF continue that partnership that we started many years ago,” said guest speaker Brig. Gen. Mark McCormack, assistant division commander of 28 ID, Task Force Spartan. “Members from my organization and your organization have worked together to help support the border guard mission of the Jordanian Army, as well as to solidify the partnership between the United States Army and the Jordanian Armed Forces.”

The 28th, which recently took over the Task Force Spartan mission, is the higher headquarters of the 1-184th while they are part of Task Force Spartan. Both units are Army National Guard units; the 28th is from Pennsylvania and the 1-184th is from California.

In all, 48 personnel were trained throughout the program. The training emphasized important topics like physical training, training soldiers on their specialization with both night and day firing, and first aid training said JAF Lt. Col. Zakarea I. Al-Ababneh, commander of the 11th Battalion.

“Two battalions are making history and creating enduring friendships for a lifetime,” said Lt. Col. Phillip Armstrong, 1-184th commander. “Every day I observed the hard-work and dedication of your soldiers, and I can say without reservation that the great people who make up Jordan’s citizenry are in excellent and capable hands due to the courage of the 11th Border Guard force.”

The graduation ceremony concluded after the speeches and the presentation of awards to the leaders of the companies, both officers and NCOs. The graduating soldiers received a certificate, formalizing their completion of training and providing them something to memorialize their time with the 184th Infantry Regiment.

 

Soldiers with the Jordan Armed Forces and U.S. Army celebrate the graduation of soldiers from the Jordan Operational Engagement Program on April 29, 2018. The nine-week program trained soldiers from the 11th Battalion, Border Guard forces, JAF, on a collection of soldier skills like mortar firing and combat life-saver.
Soldiers with the Jordan Armed Forces and U.S. Army celebrate the graduation of soldiers from the Jordan Operational Engagement Program on April 29, 2018. The nine-week program trained soldiers from the 11th Battalion, Border Guard forces, JAF, on a collection of soldier skills like mortar firing and combat life-saver.
Soldiers with the Jordan Armed Forces and U.S. Army celebrate the graduation of soldiers from the Jordan Operational Engagement Program on April 29, 2018. The nine-week program trained soldiers from the 11th Battalion, Border Guard forces, JAF, on a collection of soldier skills like mortar firing and combat life-saver.
180429-Z-IX878-1200
Soldiers with the Jordan Armed Forces and U.S. Army celebrate the graduation of soldiers from the Jordan Operational Engagement Program on April 29, 2018. The nine-week program trained soldiers from the 11th Battalion, Border Guard forces, JAF, on a collection of soldier skills like mortar firing and combat life-saver.
Photo By: Courtesy Photo
VIRIN: 180429-Z-IX878-1200