By U.S. Army Spc. Amber Porter
RC-East PAO

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Task Force Talon, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade aviators met with Task Force Baek-Du, a Republic of Korea Army aviation unit, early one February morning to continue their efforts toward establishing joint operation training on Bagram Air Field.

This is Talon’s sixth time meeting with TF Baek-Du. The two coalition forces have been planning a strategic day- and night-training mission on one of the many mountains surrounding Bagram.

The training will involve more than 40 TF Talon and TF Baek-Du soldiers.

Despite a language barrier and differing tactics, techniques and procedures, mission planning is slowly progressing. It’s a time for each unit to adapt to each other and begin to work in harmony before the first boots hit the ground in the exercise.

“I want both of our units to have a better appreciation for one another and improve our ability to work together,” said U.S. Army Maj. Brad Bertinot of Bayou Blue, La., Task Force Talon’s executive officer. “We are coalition partners; the more we do it the easier it is to work together.”

The U.S. Army conducts joint training excercises worldwide so U.S. forces can share knowledge with it’s partners.

“Joining our forces has made this deployment an excellent experience,” said TF Baek-Du executive officer, Maj. Jin Seok Hwang, of Seoul, Korea. “It has improved our aviation techniques, skills and knowledge, which will help teach our aviators back in Korea upon redeployment.”

Task Force Talon regularly works closely with ROK aviation assets, conducting monthly joint live-fire training in UH-60 Black Hawks, and providing armed escort during combat missions.

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