Different Uniforms, Shared Mission: Montana Guardsmen Return From Germany
BUTTE, Mont. — Different uniforms, different weapons and different languages, but the same commitment to service, readiness and standing shoulder to shoulder when it matters most.
For six Montana Army National Guard Soldiers, that shared purpose crossed the Atlantic in September as they participated in the 2026 Military Reserve Exchange Program (MREP) in Germany from Sept. 6-27.
The three-week exchange provided an opportunity to experience another military's operations, share professional knowledge, sharpen skills and strengthen relationships that support multinational readiness. Joining 21 U.S. service members representing 11 states and territories, Montana's Guardsmen helped reinforce military partnerships essential to future allied operations.
Representing Montana were Capt. Shawn Peden, Capt. Jacob Henry, 1st Lt. Ashley Rose, Capt. Austin Lehrer and 1st Lt. Thadius Fried of the 1st Battalion, 163rd Infantry Regiment, along with Capt. Joseph Wirtz of the 1889th Regional Support Group.
Far from their familiar Montana training grounds, the Soldiers worked alongside members of the German armed forces, known as the Bundeswehr, to exchange ideas, compare operational approaches and gain insight into the responsibilities and challenges shared by both nations' service members.
The exchange included infantry tactics, homeland defense operations, marksmanship, military police activities and familiarization with German armored vehicles. Leadership discussions, physical challenges and German military traditions provided additional opportunities to develop professional relationships and understand how allied forces prepare for military operations.
"The exchange of ideas between the United States and our allies creates cohesion," Wirtz said, emphasizing the importance of building coordinated responses among NATO forces.
Beyond the immediate training experience, the program offered opportunities to improve interoperability by exposing participants to different military structures, operational procedures and equipment.
The knowledge gained during the exchange also has lasting value for the Montana Army National Guard. Soldiers returned with new perspectives on tactics, leadership and allied capabilities that can be shared within their formations to strengthen readiness and improve operational effectiveness.
"These exchanges also create lasting professional connections that directly benefit our own forces when we examine and refine our Tactical SOPs," said Capt. Chiara Warner, Montana Army National Guard state MREP coordinator.
Warner emphasized that understanding an allied nation's military structure, equipment and operational doctrine provides practical opportunities to improve cooperation and strengthen the ability of Soldiers to operate together during future missions.
The exchange also built upon an existing relationship between Montana and its German military counterparts. Earlier in 2026, German Soldiers trained alongside members of the 163rd Infantry Regiment and 1889th Regional Support Group in Montana, sharing their knowledge while experiencing the state's military training environment.
Warner said it was particularly rewarding to learn how the visiting German Soldiers planned to apply lessons from their Montana experience to their daily operations.
The September exchange provided Montana Guardsmen an opportunity to experience that partnership from the other side, returning home with new professional connections, operational perspectives and a deeper understanding of the allied forces they may serve alongside in the future.
While military partnerships are established between nations, their lasting strength is built through the Soldiers who train together, exchange knowledge and put those relationships into practice.
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