US, Russian soldiers train together in Colorado

By The Associated Press
Thursday, May 17, 2012

DENVER — The Russians are coming — in fact, they’re already here — but it may not be what you think.

Twenty-two Russian army paratroopers are in Colorado for two weeks of training with the 10th Special Forces Group at Fort Carson outside Colorado Springs.

The two nations’ militaries have been conducting joint exercises for years, but U.S. officials say this is believed to be the first time Russian soldiers have trained on U.S. soil.

The soldiers are training together on basic combat skills ranging from firing weapons to making parachute drops.

It’s the first step toward joint exercises in more complicated anti-terrorism operations.

The training involves only unclassified weapons, and the Russians have U.S. escorts around the clock.

U.S. soldiers are expected to go to Russia for similar exercises next year.