Kalistani Major History

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Anantanese Pact Drills: "Operation Leapfrog" Afteraction Report
Kalistani Defense Minister:  "Drills were successful"
Three Nations of the Anantanese Ocean Pact Participated
Eshar, Odufaray
February 17, 4112

Kalistani Defense Minister Cpl Gina White announced that the Anantanese Ocean Pact drills held in Odufaray and the Odufart Sea for the second half of 4111 were now complete.  "The Drills were successful.  Over the six months, we expended more than one million rounds of ordinance over more than two dozen training areas in the District.  We coordinated elements of three National militaries and two Paramilitary organizations.  And our troops built bonds with one another which will last a life time.  The training was certainly hard.  We expected a lot from our forces, and the war games really pushed these men and women to their limit, but the ultimate goal was served-  I believe we effectively demonstrated Kalistani military doctrine to our neighbors, and learned a lot from Baltusia and the Commonwealth in return."


RSMoK Artillery, widely seen as some of the best in Selaya, fire missions in support of advancing Infantry,
just before deploying forward to a site just 3 km behind the front lines

The Land wargames, which were the main focus of the six month combined Drill, included modern siege tactics which involved chasing an enemy from the field and into a mockup city which was simulated at the Normalcy Training Base.  This simulation also included training in close combat and MOUT clearing and securing tactics. Troops familiarized themselves with various crew served weaponry, and employed them in maneuver training.  Through many of the exercises, the speed of maneuver was excessively quick, as Allied units practiced the leapfrog tactic which utilizes a highly unorthodox tactic of moving Artillery forward of its normal position and softening targets AS infantry are moving onto the firing range.  As infantry approaches to within 500 m of the targets, the artillery falls silent, and advances to begin fire missions on targets to the rear and on the flanks of the front line, essentially isolating the main defensive force from potential reinforcements and flanking maneuver.  Modern cryptocomm make such close coordination, which was previously extremely difficult, finally possible, and the lightning tactic which involved mobilizing artillery is seen as an innovation in ground assault tactics.  Airpower was not generally on display during these drills, and so the Kalistani, Baltusian and Commonwealth units, supported by RSMoK Artillery and Baltusian special forces, both fore and aft the main forces demonstrated what could be accomplished in countries with few air assets.


Mobility was a high priority in the Six Month Drills, and is greatly facilitated by these Baltusian APCs in this mixed, Three Nation unit

Other drills in Odufaray included responding to disasters, both man-made and natural.  The city of Bowendorf, in Borkistan, was the site of a major chemical weapons drill.  Said Donald Hewitt, Mayor of Bowendorf, "It was great-  quite fun actually.  Most of the companies gave the people a paid day off to go and participate in the drill, and play the roles of the people who had been hit by chemical weapons.  Just because we don't have them in Kalistan doesn't mean that other nations don't.  So we should be prepared..."  Minister White added, "The people of Bowendorf were incredibly patient in working with the drills, and our medical station didn't disrupt the town at all.  It was a real treat to be able to coordinate with civilian authorities in getting this training."


Kalistani Marine Partisans, serving in LAFA packs, mock "assault" a Kalistani Corvette to practice fast attack doctrines of the Kalistani Navy

The Sea Drills, which were apparently not without controversy dealt primarily with giving the Partisan LAFA packs some practice.  The Kalistani Navy, which carries much of the security burden in the Anantanese Ocean, began the drills as targets of Militia raids.  Kalistan's LAFA forces provide significant sting to the Regular Navy's spear in that they are far more mobile and can quickly swarm enemy ships, board them and put an assault force aboard the ship in some small time, which the main guns of the larger ships have a difficult time addressing adequately.  "We know the packs do well in war,"  Minister White said, "but they get so rare an opportunity to serve in marine capacities because the militia is really only active during wars, and then the Party is still required to maintain and train the forces during peacetime.  This is the first time that the Kalistani Navy has agreed to let our Marines take over their ships, and it was a real blast for the Militia and I think for the Regulars."  The second part of the drills focused on defensive tactics for the Regular Navy, with the LAFAs in support.  A fictional adversary known as "Indrunia" was portrayed by a squadron of regular forces, while those playing Kalistan forces attempted to outmaneuver the invaders.  Once the initial round was completed, the roles were switched and offense became defense.


Kalistani Defense Minister, RSMoK Cpl. Gina White, LK-SLC, takes a break at the Operation CP to
Discuss comments by Commonwealth Justice Minister Lucian Petrescu

As to the above mentioned controversy with the Commonwealth's Justice Minister and Leader of the Hosian Democratic Union, Minister White was asked for her opinion.  "Look-  I am not a politician.  I am a simple partisan, and have been one my entire adult life.  If the Kizenian Justice Minister wants to comment on the drills, I suppose he is free to do so.  Calling our government a sham one Party system displays a real ignorance about what Kalistan is and does, but you know-  that's totally his opinion."  When told that the Kalistani Ambassador to New Endralon and Kizenia was quite incensed about the tiff, Cpl White responded,

"I imagine he would be, but if it were me, I would let it roll off my back.  I know what Kalistan is capable of, and I know we are at peace with their country.  They sent us a unit who is really showcasing some ingenuity and flexibility here on the field.  I think we are much stronger together.  But, we have satisfied our obligations in informing the Government, and their Defense Minister was thrilled to be a part of the drills.  So at the end of the day, naval drills in the Anantanese Ocean really shouldn't be of that great a concern to the Justice Minister.  I don't think this little spat will do much to dampen the new relations we have with our neighbor to the north, and it is more likely that New Endralon will realize the benefits of having a highly trained and capable navy watching over the sea, should nations further to the South of us ever decide that they need to restore some of their old influence in Keris and Northern Dovani."

Overall the six month drill was seen as both incredibly important, as well as quite enjoyable for all involved.  One Baltusian Partisan who came north for the drills told The Republic, "My goodness, we have done it all and seen it all.  And the Kalistanis were incredibly receptive to our suggestions.  Our Staff Sergeant was actually put in command of an all Kalistani Battery, just so we could show the difference between Baltusian tactics and Kalistani Tactics.  In another case, I served in a mixed company of Baltusians, Commonwealth forces and Kalistani Partisans.  It was really an education, for sure, and I hope we can do it again, definitely." 

On the day before the formal striking of the bivouac, Minister White Addressed the combined forces assembled in Odufaray:  "You all have accomplished something quite special here." she said in Luthori, with a translation into Kizenian immediately following her.  "We have organized the militaries of three nations, and Partisan forces from two of those three.  With the Naval units, this represents six total forces drilling over several hundred thousands of square miles for six months.  And I am proud to report, not one incident of friendly fire, not one fatal accident, and not one single report of mistreatment of any civilians.  We have all worked really hard for this distinction, and I will be authorizing a campaign ribbon for all Kalistani Participants, and will make an official request to the Governments of Baltusia and the Commonwealth for joint recognition.  Congratulations on a successful drill."  The Minister asked the various unit commanders to offer their troops liberty, and two tankers full of Kalistani Beer were trucked in for the consumption of anyone who wanted it that evening.