In Starychi, Ukraine, at the International Peacekeeping and Security Center (IPSC), a multinational effort is underway as American, Canadian, and Lithuanian troops have converged to provide training for our Ukrainian allies. The training focuses on basic soldiering skills and common infantry maneuvers.

This training has thus far been a success. The international effort has efficiently re-cast the die of the Ukrainian military, and is steadily fostering a new and wholly more competent force than the one that encountered Russian-backed belligerents in early 2014.

The United States-led mission is providing Ukraine with advisors who have been recently battle-tested in the theaters of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), and those instructors are consequently providing Ukraine with realistic training based on the hard lessons they’ve learned. This training has armed the Ukrainian soldier with in-ranks competencies for a much more capable and professional force. The overall plan has been designed to empower Ukrainian forces with the skills necessary to defend themselves.