Photo By Staff Sgt. Megan Leuck | U.S. Dragoons of 1st Platoon, Lightning Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment...... read more read more
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PABRADE TRAINING AREA, Lithuania – Dragoons of Lightning Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment conducted their final joint training exercise with their Lithuanian counterparts during a three-day live-fire exercise at Pabrade Training Area, March 2-4.
The exercise was the culminating training event between Lightning Troop and Lithuania’s 3rd Company, Algirdas Mechanized Infantry Battalion in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.
Operation Atlantic Resolve, led by U.S. Army Europe, strives to assure NATO allies of U.S. commitment to the alliance and improve interoperability within the region, to include Poland, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania.
The operation represented Lightning Troop’s first experience training directly with NATO allies. It was also a rare opportunity to train outside of Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany.
“It allows us to break the mold, get away from the training areas and the ranges that we’re so used to,” said 1st Lt. Moses Hopkins, a platoon leader.
Hopkins added how there are not as many opportunities at Grafenwoehr to train and rehearse the realistic combat scenarios they encountered training with their NATO allies in Lithuania.
“It’s been nice to be here and have a chance to [train] and have our Soldiers go through these operations as well,” he said. “That has been very rewarding.”
Training in a new environment that included unfamiliar terrain has built versatility within the entire troop, especially among the Stryker drivers and gunners Hopkins said.
“Since arriving in Lithuania, I’ve noticed my Soldiers have become more versatile,” he said. “Our Soldiers have become more adaptable and can fight alongside different forces, which is great.”
This joint training has allowed both U.S. Troopers and Lithuanian soldiers to learn each other’s standard operating procedures as well as learn how to integrate new components into training missions.
“Building the interoperability here and strengthening our ties has better prepared us for the future and for follow-on missions,” said Hopkins. “I could not ask for more from the guys, both the Lithuanians and ours.”
| Date Taken: | 03.06.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.08.2015 16:25 |
| Story ID: | 156374 |
| Location: | PABRADE, LT |
| Web Views: | 372 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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