Community outreach proves beneficial in Saber Strike

Photo By Spc. Daisy Zimmer | U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers with Charlie Company, 457th Civil Affairs Battalion, Wackernheim, Germany, working together with Soldiers from 2d Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany, led multiple engagements with local civil authorities in Lithuania to review crisis management plans in support of exercise Saber Strike 18, June 7-8. Saber Strike is a long-standing U.S. Army Europe-led integrated training exercise that helps facilitate cooperation amongst the U.S., Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and other allied and partner nations, June 3-15 (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Spc. Daisy Zimmer, 221st Public Affairs Detachment).  

KULAUTUVA, LITHUANIA

06.17.2018

Courtesy Story

2d Cavalry Regiment

Written by Capt. John Cappiello, civil affairs officer, 2d Cavalry Regiment

In the U.S. Army, civil affairs is a job that many Soldiers and Officers believe they understand. The common belief is that civil affairs Soldiers talk to people and help them by completing projects, such as the construction of a well or a soccer field. The truth is, civil affairs Soldiers are generally given a mission that is often broad and a significant amount of analysis must go into pre-mission planning.

Ultimately, civil military operations are designed to ensure military operations do not interfere with the local populace and vice versa. The civil affairs teams will compile information regarding the capabilities, limitations and tendencies of the populace during emergency situations to help military commanders make decisions that will limit and/or alleviate human suffering.

Saber Strike 18, a U.S. Army Europe-led multinational exercise, May 28 – June 25, 2018, demonstrated NATO’s resolve to improve interoperability, strengthen the alliance and enhance readiness. The training exercise had more than 18,000 participants from 19 allied and partner nations spread out across four host countries. The local populace’s interest peaked as the sounds of military vehicles and helicopters drew near to their communities.

To ensure the local populace had a clear understanding of the necessity to conduct such exercises, U.S. and host nation civil affairs and psychological operations Soldiers teamed up and met with community leaders to inform them of the pending increase in noise and traffic. The civil affairs and psychological operations Soldiers also conducted various outreach events within these communities to build rapport with the students, parents and teachers.

“These kind of events are important as they serve for positive communication,” said Tadas Petrikauskas, linguist at Mission Essential and Lithuanian native. “By showing the attention, we built a good image of NATO. The local community was reached and was left with a good impression”

In the town of Kulautuva, Lithuania, there had been a number of questions from the local populace regarding military operations near their community. Some attended outreach events and meetings out of curiosity and others for fear of disruptive noise and possible property damage.

After conducting school visits in Kulautuva and Zapyskis, and as students shared information with their parents, the civil affairs and psychological operations teams garnered overwhelming support from the populace at an opposed wet gap crossing, June 13. In some instances, teachers decided to conduct a field trip and took their entire class to witness the military exercise. These outreach events increased the level of communication and helped ensure the populace knew which routes were safe for civilian traffic and helped ease their worries.

“It’s essential to be involved with the youth here in Lithuania,” said Capt. Sean Rios, team leader, 457th Civil Affairs Battalion. “We are setting a professional appearance that the children can look up to, while also allowing them to instill trust in us and form everlasting relationships with the future leaders of Lithuania.”

U.S. and host nation civil affairs and psychological operations integrated with the local populace at every possible opportunity. The rapport they built led to additional support for NATO and helped the populace gain a deeper understanding of NATO’s mission. Additionally, the teamwork between U.S. and host nation civil affairs and psychological operations Soldiers set a new standard for interoperability. Saber Strike 18 was a great success and the impacts will positively affect the future of NATO operations.

• Date Taken: 06.17.2018
• Date Posted: 06.17.2018 05:02
• Story ID: 281269
• Location: KULAUTUVA, LT