Photo By Sgt. Justin Updegraff | U.S. Marines with the Combined Arms Company prepare an Anti-Personnel Obstacle...... read more read more
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NOVO SELO TRAINING AREA, Bulgaria - U.S. Marines with the Combined Arms Company, Black Sea Rotational Force completed two weeks of mechanized integration training alongside Bulgarian and Romanian forces during exercise Platinum Lion at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, Oct. 26 – Nov. 6, 2015.
The NATO-led exercise marks the first multinational live-fire engagement in which the Combined Arms Company participated with mechanized and artillery assets.
Over the course of the exercise, the Marines and allied service members conducted multiple mechanized maneuvers with U.S. M1A1 Abrams tanks and BMP-1s, mechanized-infantry integration and conducted combat life savers classes and non-lethal weapons training.
The Bulgarian and Romanian forces also observed and operated the Combined Arms Company’s M-777 Howitzer during a live fire exercise. U.S. Marines were afforded the opportunity to operate the BMP-1s, as well as shoot their 120 mm Mortars leading up to the final exercise.
“The time spent training with the Bulgarians was very rewarding,” said Cpl. Patrick Taylor, a field artillery cannoneer with the Combined Arms Company. “We learned about their 120mm Mortars; they got a chance to fire our M-777s during a live fire exercise. This exercise was a valuable learning experience and I look forward to training with them in the future.”
The two-week exercise started with small group exercises working on tactical movements, clearing rooms and live fire drills. All leading up to a full scale tactical movement towards an objective utilizing M1A1 Abrams tanks, M-777 howitzers, Bulgarian BMP-1s and MTLBs.
“During the last two weeks, you’ve worked together, you’ve increased your personal and collective skills and you have increased the interoperability of your units,” said Col. Yavor Mateev, Commander of Bulgarian Joint Training Facilities. “The demonstration that was given today was proof for your success.”
Platinum Lion is an annually-scheduled series of exercises designed to increase readiness and build partner capacity through realistic combat scenarios and objective-focused training.
| Date Taken: | 11.12.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 11.13.2015 09:36 |
| Story ID: | 181878 |
| Location: | NOVO SELO, BG |
| Web Views: | 335 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Steel Sharpens Steel: NATO nations complete multilateral exercise with tanks, artillery to strengthen regional defense, by Sgt Justin Updegraff, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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