WEBVTT

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- [Reporter] For two weeks in July,

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the Shirak Rescue Service welcomed soldiers

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from the Kansas National Guard and the British Army

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into fire rescue stations across northwestern Armenia

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to reinforce multinational partnerships

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at the ground level between peers.

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- I have not been to any location where I've not had

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^an almost immediate offer of coffee, fruit,

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and a sit-down, and that welcome shake-hand.

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- [Reporter] For many of the Kansas Guard

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and British soldiers, this was their first visit to Armenia

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and they noticed similarities

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in their lifesaving counterparts.

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^- I quickly noticed that they are the exact same

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^as the guys I work with back in the States.

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It doesn't matter what country we're from,

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or what flags we wear on our shoulders.

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Firefighters all speak the same language

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and we're all friends and brothers no matter what.

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- [Reporter] While this was the first peer exchange

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of experience of its kind,

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contributors on all sides hope that it's not the last.

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- I think that we've really, really built some strong bonds

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and we've definitely been invited back.

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Anyone I've talked to has been, you know,

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^"You can come and stay at my house when you come back."

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^I mean, that is a bond right there.

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That's about as good as you can get.

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- [Reporter] For the Kansas National Guard,

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I'm Sergeant Zach Sheely.