Spc. Jacob Darbonne patiently explained to a soldier assigned to the 6th Battalion, Kumaon Regiment of the Indian Army how his M-4 works.

Through halting English, the Indian soldier said he appreciated what Darbonne, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, had told him.

"This is good for us to come here and learn about and from you Americans," he said.

About 150 Indian soldiers are spending the next two weeks training for the first time at Joint Base Lewis-McChord during the 11th annual Yudh Abhyas exercise.

"This is a fantastic opportunity," said Darbonne.  "We are expanding our knowledge of their training and culture."

The exercise underscores the partnership the Army is nurturing with its counterparts on the other side of the Pacific Ocean.

"It shows the advantage of JBLM as a power-projection platform, more importantly the opportunity of these countries to train here," said Lt. Gen. Stephen Lanza, commanding general, I Corps, said last Wednesday during the opening ceremony.

The Indian Army's visit comes at a time when other countries in Asia are spending more money on defense.

China's defense spending is growing, and India and Japan are expanding their spending as well.

While U.S. defense spending remains static, its military leaders remain involved with their Asian colleagues. JBLM leaders will head to Asia in 2016 for a string of exercises designed to coordinate efforts - should a crisis arise - called Pacific Pathways.

"We must work together, shoulder to shoulder, to operate at the speed of trust," added Brig. Gen. Rob Ulses, one of two deputy commanders of JBLM's 7th Infantry Division.

Far away from the speeches and in the middle of Leschi Town, a true-to-life training center, the American and Indian soldiers integrated by comparing their weapons.

PV2 Jose Garcia was in the thick of the comparisons.

"This is the sight, and this is where we attach our optics," said the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment soldier, as he showed four Indian soldiers his M-4.

Before long, the soldiers began Stryker Integrated Training (SIT), during which the soldiers of the Kumaon Regiment learned from their American counterparts about breeching maneuvers, dismounting, recovery operations and casualty evacuation.

Throughout the training, the soldiers talked as they learned from each other.

"This is excellent training," said Lt. Col. J.S. Ulshai, with a smile.  "We will learn a great deal while we are here."