The Ukrainian military is completing a ten-week training course with the Patriot SAM systems in the city of Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

The instructors emphasize that 65 Ukrainian servicemen quickly mastered the system and underwent an intensive training course.

US journalists visited the training, which should end in a few days.

VOA’s journalist Ostap Yarysh published a video from the test site.

Прямо зараз журналіст Голосу Америки @OstapYarysh перебуває на базі «Форт Сілл», штат Оклахома, де проходять навчання українських військових на системах ППО Patriot.

❗️ Стежте за соцмережами та сайтом Голосу Америки, незабаром Остап розповість, як проходять тренування! pic.twitter.com/LfEI03iTl1

— Голос Америки Українською (@holosameryky) March 21, 2023

The Ukrainian military learned the basics of the Patriot system so quickly that they were given extra, intensive training rarely afforded to their American counterparts completing the same course. CNN journalists who also worked at the Fort Sill military post reported this.

Taking photographs and videos of the training was prohibited.

“Our assessment is that the Ukrainian soldiers are impressive and absolutely a quick study due to their extensive air defense knowledge and experience in a combat zone,” said Brig. Gen. Shane Morgan, acting Fort Sill and Fires Center of Excellence Commanding General.

The Patriot air defense system is now set to be deployed in Ukraine in the coming weeks, much sooner than anticipated.

Evaluation of exercises

65 Ukrainian military personnel, men and women, ranging in age between 19 and 67, were trained in the USA. The training was conducted from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., six days a week.

They note that before the war, many of the Ukrainians who came to the USA were skilled engineers.

“I think just because of their combat experience back home, they were able to pick up on things really easily – the best I’ve seen so far, and I’ve trained numerous countries,” one US trainer shared.

It is emphasized that the US trainers worked to incorporate realistic threats and conditions into training. Yet often, the Ukrainians would essentially take over the training themselves, tailoring it to the most realistic types of threats they might face in real conditions.

“Normally, we don’t do that. But based on what these Ukrainian members are going to do, it was very important that we were able to have that dialogue and incorporate some of those realistic threats,” the trainer said.

The US military also gained experience by communicating with Ukrainian colleagues. The Ukrainian Battalion Commander had already conducted multiple intercepts of Russian missiles over the course of the war, but the US Battalion Commander, by contrast, has never conducted a real-world missile intercept. Therefore, the exchange of experience was relevant for both Ukrainians and Americans.

“Once in Ukraine, the soldiers will integrate these new systems into their layered air defenses, for one reason and one reason only – to help shield Ukraine from Russia’s wanton attacks on civilian infrastructure in densely populated urban areas. Fort Sill and the Fire Center of Excellence are enabling such protection. I’m certain their actions these past months will save lives,” Martin O’Donnell, US Army Spokesperson, said.

Ukrainian military personnel is also undergoing training in Germany. The instructors there highly appreciate the training and motivation of the servicemen.

As previously reported, at the end of 2022, the United States announced the transfer of one battery of the Patriot air defense system to Ukraine as part of the December military aid package.

At the beginning of January this year, the German government also decided to transfer this type of air defense system to Ukraine for protection against Russian air attacks.

Also, the air defense of Ukraine will receive two Patriot system launchers from the Netherlands.