| Bangorstu | 24 Feb 2015 10:01 a.m. PST |
link Seems we're sending 75 troops to train the Ukrainians on logistics, intelligence and basic infantry skills. Hmm…. |
| Jemima Fawr | 24 Feb 2015 10:16 a.m. PST |
We've been conducting exercises and training in Ukraine for some years. IIRC, a Troop from the Light Dragoons were there late last year. The Russians were also frequent participants in the joint exercises. |
| Zargon | 24 Feb 2015 10:20 a.m. PST |
How to make enemies and keep them. |
 Legion 4  | 24 Feb 2015 10:27 a.m. PST |
Hmmm … I think Zargon is making an interesting point … How to make enemies and keep them. Regardless I laud the UK sending troopers ! |
| GeoffQRF | 24 Feb 2015 10:51 a.m. PST |
link "Mr Cameron told a House of Commons committee that up to 75 British soldiers divided into four teams would go to an area well away from the conflict zone, to provide medical, logistics, intelligence and infantry skills." This does appear to be different from Rapid Trident which, as stated above, has been going on since about 1997. Rapid Trident is an annual exercise, conducted in western Ukraine. Participating nations' forces include Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Canada, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, and the U.S. It seems the UK is not the only one sending military advisers: "The United States has already said it is planning to send troops to train three Ukrainian battalions." I guess Russia could say they will start to train separatist battalions, but as there seems to be some evidence that they were trained in Russia, or by Russia, anyway presumably we will see no difference in quality. |
| Legion 4 | 24 Feb 2015 11:01 a.m. PST |
The United States has already said it is planning to send troops to train three Ukrainian battalions." I look forward to seeing that happen … if it happens … |
| GeoffQRF | 24 Feb 2015 11:22 a.m. PST |
That came off the BBC. Anyone from that side of the pond seen any other details? |
| Legion 4 | 24 Feb 2015 12:05 p.m. PST |
Have not heard that G, and I have the news on almost all day in my home office. So maybe we'll just have to wait and see. The Hollywood Movie Awards was Sunday, so that took up a lot of air time for the past few days …  |
| Mako11 | 24 Feb 2015 1:42 p.m. PST |
"… well away from the conflict zone..". Assuming of course that one of those snap Russian paratrooper exercises doesn't get blown westward by errant winds, putting them in close proximity to one another. I have heard the US plans to provide trainers as well, but no info on numbers, or timelines. |
| M C MonkeyDew | 24 Feb 2015 2:16 p.m. PST |
"I have heard the US plans to provide trainers as well, but no info on numbers, or timelines." I'm guessing January 2017. |
| GeoffQRF | 24 Feb 2015 2:20 p.m. PST |
Could it be this story? link "A U.S. military official says the Pentagon will be deploying a small number of troops to Ukraine to provide medical training to forces there who have been battling Russian-backed separatists. Between five and 10 service members will go to western Ukraine next week for what will be a second round of coaching and mentoring members of the Ukraine military, who will then go on to become trainers." |
| Mako11 | 24 Feb 2015 2:50 p.m. PST |
Hmmm, hadn't heard such an anemic force mentioned, for just medical training. I was under the impression it was to be about 300 troops, or so, for military training. Perhaps I'm getting exercises and training mixed up though. There have been lots of discussions of sending trainers, and military weapons, but I don't believe anything on the latter front has been finalized yet. |
| Jcfrog | 24 Feb 2015 3:38 p.m. PST |
The US gov who has frequently demonstrated its masterful understanding of the world and handling conflicts in the last ten years, has its favourite  s move ahead. That does not take anything off the US military who are sent on goose chases with faulty strategies and fight better than any one else. As I stated in a previous post. The Ukrainian government have the official good guys label (now difficult to unstuck if needed). Remember a year or so ago the same label was given to most of the Syrian opposition (freedom fighters, not foreign backed rebels?). Lets hope and history will tell. |
| Legion 4 | 25 Feb 2015 8:43 a.m. PST |
We'll just have to wait and see … but the US sends trainers[usually SF, Spec Ops types] all over the world. And it does not make the news. Many times for good reasons … |
| paulgenna | 25 Feb 2015 3:00 p.m. PST |
We need to send more than just a few trainers. Putin is playing us as Hitler played Chamberlin. |
| GeoffQRF | 26 Feb 2015 3:48 a.m. PST |
I was under the impression it was to be about 300 troops, or so, for military training About 1300 took part in Rapid Trident back in March last year (it was delayed slightly due to tensions in Ukraine in early 2014 as it normally takes part earlier in the year). Most of the personnel were American. Waiting to see what happens for the 2015 exercises, and I suspect it will get delayed slightly to see if separatists try and start more militant actions as the spring thaw rolls in. The US has already sent 12 warplanes and 300 personnel to Poland in the wake of Russia's takeover of Crimea. Possibly thinking of that? |
adds infantry to his Israeli force.
