Photo By Staff Sgt. Seth LaCount | Servicemembers from Canada, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Germany, Lithuania,...... read more read more
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RUKLA, Lithuania - 2,500 service members from Canada, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Germany, Lithuania, Luxemburg, the United Kingdom and the United States began Iron Sword 2014, a 2-week multi-national military exercise combining partnered nations to further enhance combined arms tactical proficiency and communication across multiple strategic channels at Lithuanian military installations near Pabrade and Rukla, Lithuania, Nov. 3, 2014.
The opening ceremony for the exercise was attended by distinguished speakers including Maj. Gen. Almantas Leika, Lithuanian Land Forces commander; Juozas Olekas, Lithuanian Minister of National Defense; Marijus Velicka, Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Defense; and Zoltan Pecze, Ambassador of Hungary.
“It’s not just a military exercise,” said Pecze. “But also a real expression of the solidarity of so many countries, of different military capabilities, different geographical locations, different sizes, but united in one goal: to protect the area of the North Atlantic Treaty.”
Throughout the exercise, soldiers from the partnering countries will get the opportunity to work across lines of communication and practice field operations in a joint environment. This includes communication during convoy operations, performing search and seizure procedures during house clearings and urban assault, and field movement while assaulting an objective. All of these are executed with the goal of improving and assessing joint battle tactics and overcoming language barriers to be able to cooperate fluidly.
“The aim of this exercise is to train together and ensure that we achieve interoperability while conducting military operations,” said Leika. “Besides this, we are building and developing trust and confidence amongst us, amongst our soldiers, commanders, and units.”
These activities are part of the U.S. Army Europe-led Operation Atlantic Resolve land force assurance training taking place across Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to enhance multinational interoperability, strengthen relationships among allied militaries, contribute to regional stability and demonstrate U.S. commitment to NATO.
| Date Taken: | 11.03.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 11.06.2014 05:55 |
| Story ID: | 147134 |
| Location: | RUKLA, LT |
| Web Views: | 215 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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