Photo By Staff Sgt. Noshoba Davis | Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team...... read more read more
SZOLNOK, Hungary – Approximately 200 Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment (Mustangs), 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, participated in Hawk Strike 2020 alongside Hungarian forces in Ujdorogd, Hungary, Mar. 3 and 5.
Hawk Strike 2020 is an exercise that allows units to conduct movements in a realistic, high-intensity environment to ensure a unit's readiness for combat and their ability to fully integrate with National Alliance Treaty Organization (NATO) partners and allies.
Soldiers of the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, Hungarian Soldiers from Árpád Bertalan Brigade and the armored brigade from 5th Bocskai Training Center also participated in the exercise.
The air assault mission started with Soldiers from the Mustang Battalion and Hungarian forces loading UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and CH-74 Chinooks at the airfield in Szolonk.
“Our objective was 170 miles away from Szolnok Airbase,” said Cpt. Daniel Bader, commander of C Company, 1-8 CAV. “Once we landed we did a raid, essentially on target buildings in a ruined city at one of the Hungarian training areas.”
As both forces worked together to clear the town, opposing force (OPFOR) Soldiers created obstacles and try to prevent their efforts.
Hungarian OPFOR Commander 1st Lt. Csabakopasz said, “We play the red liberation front, acting as an irregular force that set up a hasty defense in the town. Our plan was to slow down the attack and if possible draw back to the (OPFOR's operating base) rat country.”
Csbakopasz explained that for small armies like Hungary’s Army, these exercises are important because both sides rely on each other for mission success. They also allow both sides to improve communication and interoperability.
Once the town was cleared, Soldiers set up defensive positions until helicopters were called in to pick the Soldiers up and bring them back to Szolnok Air Base.
Bader explained that rehearsals were the most important thing leading up to the exercise and gave other tips on how to guarantee mission success during Hawk Strike 2020.
“The great thing about doing air assaults like this at distance is you don’t have a dry or blank run essentially. You get one shot at the objective,” said Bader. “So how you do your rehearsals from 170 miles away can really affect the outcome of the mission, like it did out here.”
The exercise also created a unique opportunity for the newest Soldiers to learn not only from Hungarian counterparts, but also from senior noncommissioned officers in the Mustang Battalion.
“It’s been a great learning experience, it’s allowed us to see the different ways they do things and for them to see how we do things,” said Pfc. Barry Pogue, a fire support specialist and Ohio County, Kentucky native. "Exercises like this allow us to fill a gap that builds a bond and relationship with the other countries... a great chance for me and just another thing I can add to the list of things to tell the folks back home about.”
| Date Taken: | 03.07.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 03.11.2020 11:57 |
| Story ID: | 364771 |
| Location: | HU |
| Hometown: | BIXBY, OKLAHOMA, US |
| Hometown: | FORT CAVAZOS, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | KILLEEN, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 432 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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