“We had multiple planning conferences, weekly sync calls, countless emails and phone calls. “The sheer amount of time and effort spent planning and preparing for an exercise on the other side of the world is amazing but worth it,” Cuevas said. This year, 105th Cavalry members worked with infantry soldiers from the 1st and 2nd Royal Pacific Infantry Regiments in two locations on tasks including infantry maneuvers, urban operations, stability operations, medical training, and noncommissioned officer professional development. forces to existing and potential incidents in the Indo-Pacific region - to prepare for this year’s exercise. Last year, several Soldiers from the 32nd Brigade observed Tamiok Strike - a bilateral training exercise to improve the integrated capabilities, readiness and response by the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) and U.S. The 105th Cavalry has been part of the 32nd since its division days.īut this was more than a trip down memory lane - the Wisconsin National Guard and Papua New Guinea are engaged in the State Partnership Program, which builds a cooperative, mutually beneficial relationship between the partners’ military, security and disaster response organizations.

In World War II, the division fought in the South Pacific, beginning with the bloody Buna Campaign on the northern coast of Papua New Guinea. Today’s 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team began 106 years ago as the 32nd Division, formed from the Wisconsin National Guard and part of the Michigan National Guard to fight in World War I. “I’m proud to say the exercise was the first time a Wisconsin Army National Guard and 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team company has been on the ground in Papua New Guinea since World War II, which is incredible given the lineage of Charlie Troop serving in the Papua Campaign.” “Tamiok Strike was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Troopers of the 105th Cavalry,” Cuevas said. Michael Cuevas, commander of the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s Troop C, 1st Squadron, 105th Cavalry Regiment, reflected on the historic nature of his unit’s participation in Tamiok Strike 2023 - a two-week joint military exercise in Papua New Guinea.

1st air cav playing cards