An American soldier taking part in the joint Indo-US army drills Yudh Abhyas, which began in Uttarakhand on Thursday, is making heads turn. It has to do with his famous surname – Petraeus.
Stephen’s father General David Petraeus oversaw military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq before becoming director of the CIA in 2011. The celebrated general resigned a year later after an extra-marital relationship became public. “Most officers knew about my background. Lots of expectations with a name like that. Several Indian officers I met are from military families… that helps understand how things work in the army,” Captain Stephen Petraeus, 29, told HT.
More than 450 soldiers are taking part in the two-week army exercise that will focus on carrying out counter- terrorism operations in a UN peace-keeping scenario.
The discipline of Indian soldiers has impressed Petraeus, who was advised by his father to learn as much as he could from the experience.
“The Madras Regiment soldiers we are training with have served at heights of more than 20,000 feet at Siachen glacier. In all of the US, there’s no mountain that high. I find their high-altitude proficiency outstanding,” said the fifth-generation army officer. He said he would love to visit forward posts on the glacier.
{{/usCountry}}“The Madras Regiment soldiers we are training with have served at heights of more than 20,000 feet at Siachen glacier. In all of the US, there’s no mountain that high. I find their high-altitude proficiency outstanding,” said the fifth-generation army officer. He said he would love to visit forward posts on the glacier.
{{/usCountry}}In his seven-year career, Petraeus has been deployed to Afghanistan twice. “I have had the opportunity of interacting with foreign troops during those assignments. But this is the first time I am interacting with Indians and I am really excited about it,” he said.