One of the largest mission rehearsal exercises taking place in Hohenfels, Germany

[lebkuchen]

They say the rehearsal is for Iraq. And here I thought that mission had been accomplished May 1, 2003.


http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=44774

More than 6,000 personnel — most headed for Iraq or Afghanistan — are participating in one of the largest mission rehearsal exercise at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center.

The personnel includes more than 4,000 troops from the Iraq-bound 12th Combat Aviation Brigade and the Afghanistan-bound 173rd Airborne Brigade.

It also includes 1st Infantry Division Military Transition Teams headed to Afghanistan, troops from Poland, Bulgaria and Afghanistan plus police and staff from a Combat Surgical Hospital, according to Joint Multinational Training Command spokesman Maj. Eric Bloom.

The exercise began last week and ends Tuesday

...

However, the aviators are practicing the techniques, tactics and procedures they will use in Iraq.

For example, they are training to perform complex attacks, which are common in Iraq instead of going after targets of opportunity the way they would in Afghanistan, Hoff said.

JMRC observer controller Maj Brian Hammer, 39, of Houston, said the large number of units, soldiers and role players in the exercise is a challenge for the people running it.

“Usually you get one unit that comes here with one focus so from a training perspective this is unique,” he said.

[pinto]

1. They really want to pull this one out of the fire. I don't think it'll happen,

can see their point, yet feel it's awfully wasteful of our personnel, material and money as well as of little use given the anarchy that Iraq has become. Tragic all around, and sad.

I hope a realistic plan gets in place, and soon, for all parties.

[kineneb]

2. practice for Iran?

just askin'...
:-(