As a part of the bilateral military exercises, the 17th session of the India-US joint training exercise ‘Ex Yudh Abhyas 21’ commenced at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska, United States. The 14-day training drill is seen to be massive for both the countries with 300 US Army soldiers belonging to First Squadron (Airborne) of the 40th Cavalry Regiment and 350 soldiers of 7 Madras Infantry Battalion Group of Indian Army are participating.
The joint training exercise was commenced with an opening ceremony that saw the unfurling of the National Flags of both countries amidst playing of the National anthems, “Jana Gana Mana” and “The Star-Spangled Banner”.
Amid the drills, the troops carried out a joint yoga session at the Buckner Physical Training centre at the Elmendorf Richardson in Anchorage. The Indian yoga instructor heading the training session taught a total of 17 ‘asanas’ including the Surya Namaskar to the troops.
The drill is the only bilateral drill between the Indian and US armed forces. India has previously declined the State’s request to include Japan in the drill. The jam-packed schedule consists of counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency exercises in extreme conditions to train the armed forces for any unprecedented circumstances.
As per the Indian Army, the exercise is being conducted in Alaska this time, to help the Army undertake operations at the battalion level in mountainous terrain with cold climatic conditions, which will prepare them for the future.
