JB MDL reservist returns from joint exercise with Indian army

Published Oct. 2, 2014
By Lt. Col. Daniel F. McLaughlin
Atlantic Division, 75th Training Command

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Col. James C. Bulkowski recently returned to the 3rd Brigade Atlantic Division, 75th Training Command, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., after his participation in Yudh Abhyas as Observer, Controller, Trainer chief.

The tenth annual exercise in India ran from Sept. 17-30, 2014, and brought together troops from an Indian army mountain brigade and a company and brigade headquarters of the U.S. Army.

Yudh Abhyas, Hindi for "training for war," began in 2004 and has moved from platoon-level operations to brigade-and battalion-level operations in the Ranikhet Cantonment in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.

The focus of this year's exercise was on conducting counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations in mountainous terrain in support of United Nations peacekeeping missions.

While the overall responsibility for U.S. forces during the exercise belonged to the
U.S. Army Pacific Command (USARPAC), it was soldiers such as Bulkowski and elements of the California National Guard who made significant contributions to the overall success of the mission.

The 3rd Brigade's mission is to conduct post-deployment battalion and higher Battle Command Staff Training for all Army Component Forces in support of Army Force Generation (ARFORGEN) cycle.

The brigade is frequently called upon to participate in multinational training exercises given its training expertise and its emphasis on exercises focusing on the war on terrorism.

Col. Walter Thomas, II, Atlantic Division's deputy commander, praised Bulkowski and the 3rd Brigade, noting that "Bulkowski's mission in India is indicative of the high caliber training support that the Soldiers of the Atlantic Division provide during both U.S. Army and multinational exercises."