Photo By Staff Sgt. Jason Lay | Soldiers from the 56th Stryker Brigade, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, receive...... read more read more
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RUKLA, Lithuania – Soldiers with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard are training with Lithuanian Land Forces as part of Operation Saber Rattle, a joint training exercise between U.S. and Lithuanian forces in support of Saber Strike Lithuania 2014.
Guardsmen with Troop C, 2nd Squadron, 104th Cavalry Regiment, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, arrived in Lithuania June 6 and have spent their time training with Lithuanian Land Forces on weapons tactics, stability operations and military battle drills in preparation for the joint training exercise.
Saber Rattle is an annual joint training exercise between the Pennsylvania National Guard and Lithuanian Land Forces. This year, they will be training in conjunction with Operation Saber Strike 2014 in Lithuania. During the operation, the Soldiers will work alongside NATO forces from throughout the Baltic region to include Lithuanian, Latvian and Polish forces.
“This is my first experience overseas. It’s a great opportunity to be here and get to experience the culture and lifestyle, along with their military tactics and weapons,” said 1st Lt. Mark Dwyer, executive officer of the 56th Stryker Brigade.
The Soldiers of the 56th linked up with the Lithuanian reconnaissance platoon to familiarize them with the Stryker Assault Vehicle and preliminary marksmanship instruction on the M2 .50 caliber and M240L machine guns.
Members of the Lithuanian reconnaissance platoon split up between four Stryker vehicles to play a role as one of the seven-member scout teams consisting of a driver, gunner, Stryker commander and four cavalry scouts.
Over the course of their training in Lithuania, the 56th plans to demonstrate to Lithuanian Land Forces how to use their Unmanned Aircraft System that will assist Stryker teams on the ground with aerial surveillance and reconnaissance.
“I would like to become familiar with the equipment they have here,” said 2nd Lt. Andreus Gasperavicius, reconnaissance platoon commander for the Lithuanian Land Forces, in reference to the Stryker’s weapons and tracking systems. “…and to work closely with the soldiers on the ground.”
Day two consisted of Lithuanian Land Forces taking U.S. Soldiers to the firing range for weapons training drills and tactics.
The U.S. and Lithuanian soldiers also spent the day firing the M9, Glock17-9mm pistols, AK-47, M4 and G36 assault rifles.
Pvt. Darian Hose, cavalry scout with the 56th, has only been with the unit for four months before coming to Lithuania.
“I never shot an M4 before going to basic. I’m really excited to get to shoot their weapons,” said Hose.
Both forces participated in target identification, pop up drills, reflexive fire, movement drills, and a buddy team obstacle course.
“My favorite was the obstacle course,” said Spc. Chris Richmond, cavalry scout with the 56th. “Going full speed with live ammo isn’t something we get to do much in the U.S.,” he said. “It was pretty awesome.”
The state partnership between the Pennsylvania National Guard and Lithuania has helped strengthen relationships between the two forces since 1993.
| Date Taken: | 06.08.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.15.2014 06:20 |
| Story ID: | 133141 |
| Location: | RUKLA, LT |
| Web Views: | 265 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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