Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Zane Craig | A Lithuanian Soldier from the Iron Wolf Mechanized Infantry Brigade changes out the...... read more read more
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RUKLA, Lithuania- Paratroopers from Able Company, 173rd Airborne Brigade and soldiers of the Lithuanian Armed Forces’ Iron Wolf Mechanized Infantry Brigade conducted field training incorporating each other’s equipment and tactics September 15 through 19 at Brig. Gen. Kazys Vieverskis Kazlu Rudos Training Area, Lithuania.
The training was part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a multinational operation showing U.S. commitment to our NATO allies in Eastern Europe.
“Atlantic Resolve shows our support for our NATO allies by reinforcing interoperability, said Capt. Mark Spiering, commander of Able Company, and a North Plains, Oregon native. You can take a Brigade Combat Team, take NATO ally units from the Baltic states and other places, train us together in the same theater of operations and we all do things the same way, with the same muscle movements,”
U.S. Army Europe has allocated Soldiers and equipment to conduct a series of combined training exercises in Eastern Europe. Atlantic Resolve is intended to strengthen interoperability between the U.S. and its NATO allies and partners in Eastern Europe to reassure our commitment to their security.
“We’ve trained through platoon stick drills with Lithuanian rifle platoons, we’ve done squad live fires, we’ve done weapons density, weapons familiarization with U.S. and Lithuanian weapons systems, demolition ranges, and air assault executions,” said Spiering.
Throughout the training in Kazlu Ruda, the paratroopers of Able Company lived in Lithuanian barracks, ate local food in the chow hall, and trained at close quarters with their Lithuanian counterparts for the duration of the exercise.
“They’re pretty good … they know what they’re doing and I’d definitely want them with me if I ever go to a fight,” said Spc. Justin Lowder, radio telephone operator with Able Company and an Elizabethtown, Kentucky native.
Lowder said the language barrier caused some issues at first, but that both sides were able to learn to communicate effectively.
Spiering said that although there are language barriers at times, all the Soldiers speak the same universal military language.
Several paratroopers from the 173rd said working with a foreign military in an unfamiliar country has helped them expand their horizons and prevented complacency from setting in.
“When you go through training, you have your certain battle drills that you’re always practicing … then you go out with the Lithuanians and it’s a great time,” said Pvt. Ivan Fonzeca, an infantryman with 1st Platoon, Able Company and a Salem, Oregon native. “It makes you think beyond your own thought process, beyond what you’re taught in basic training.”
OAR has allowed the paratroopers from the 173rd to go beyond their comfort zone and beyond their normal scope of training, and embrace the bonds they’ve forged with Soldiers from Iron Wolf Mechanized Brigade.
| Date Taken: | 09.15.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 09.25.2014 03:17 |
| Story ID: | 143208 |
| Location: | RUKLA, LT |
| Web Views: | 389 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Sky Soldiers train with the Iron Wolf Brigade, by SFC Zane Craig, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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