Photo By Staff Sgt. Dennis Glass | Lt. Gen. Hodges visiting Drawsko Pomorskie during Exercise Anakonda 16. Anakonda 16 is...... read more read more
DRAWSKO POMORSKIE TRAINING AREA, Poland – The commanding general of U.S. Army Europe, Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, said the U.S. Army Reserve and Army National Guard are providing important and significant contributions to American and multi-national units participating in Exercise Anakonda 2016.
In a visit to 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3d Infantry Division, on June 8, Hodges said he couldn’t meet the expectations of the Polish-led, multi-national exercise without the support of the reserve components.
Anakonda 16, running from June 7-17, is designed to test the ability, readiness, and interoperability of the Polish Armed Forces with allies and partners while conducting a large-scale joint defensive operation. With approximately 31,000 soldiers, airmen, and sailors from more than 20 nations participating in the exercise, United States participation shows that America is dedicated to regional security and deterrence.
“We saw it as a great opportunity to do a large-scale, multinational, joint exercise,” Hodges said. “Our principle objectives were improving interoperability, large-scale logistics, freedom of movement, and all the things that are necessary for us to provide a credible deterrent force. (Coming to) Poland gave us an unbelievable opportunity.”
Hodges said 25 percent of the U.S. soldiers serving during Anakonda 16 are either U.S. Army Reserve or Army National Guard, with multiple states being represented.
He highlighted the contributions of the U.S. Army Reserve 364th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, whose soldiers opened and continue to maintain the theater for all the forces, and the 412th Theater Engineer Command, who established bring crossings on the Vistula River for maneuver units.
“Everything that we need comes out of the reserve components,” Hodges said. “We have made it a particular emphasis in U.S. Army Europe because I don’t have the capacity to do what I need to do without significant contributions from the guard and reserve.
“We have 30,000 soldiers in Europe. We used to have 300,000 and we still have the same mission – to deter Russia. The guard and reserve fill so many gaps. It’s essential (to meet our mission).”
Hodges said training events like Anakonda 16 also helps the Army achieve better individual and unit readiness not only within our own components but with our Allies and partners as well.
“We are not ever going to fight by ourselves,” he said. “We don’t have the capacity to do things by ourselves. Our president has made it clear we are always going to be with allies or in a coalition and our most reliable allies come from Europe, Canada and Australia. You’ve got to come here to be able to do that.”
| Date Taken: | 06.08.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.09.2016 09:36 |
| Story ID: | 200486 |
| Location: | DRAWSKO POMORSKIE TRAINING AREA, PL |
| Web Views: | 362 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
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