Photo By Spc. David Dumas | A U.S. Army Soldier, assigned to 5th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery, 3rd Brigade...... read more read more
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SMÂRDAN, ROMANIA — Enveloped by rolling fog and the biting chill of autumn air, soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division demonstrated steadfast dedication as they conducted Exercise Dynamic Front 25 in Smardan, Romania, from Nov. 4 to Nov. 24, 2024. The NATO-led multinational artillery training exercise prioritized precision, coordination, and resilience amongst NATO Allies during the exercise.
Exercise Dynamic Front 25 was the largest edition of the exercise to date, taking place across Europe with training in countries like Finland, Estonia, Germany, Poland, and Romania. The focus of the exercise was to streamline artillery operations at every level and ensure field artillery systems from the U.S., NATO allies, and partner nations could seamlessly work together.
While Romania and the U.S. Army regularly train together to improve tactics, techniques and procedures, Dynamic Front 25 allowed the 10th Mountain Division and Romanian Land Forces, to build unit readiness in a multinational environment, increase the lethality of the NATO Alliance through long-range fires, and leverage host nation capabilities to increase USAREUR-AF’s operational reach.
"Interoperability with the Romanian forces is a critical objective,” said Sgt. 1st Class Justin Smith, a platoon sergeant assigned to Bravo Battery, 5th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. “We will always be working closely with our allies, and familiarizing ourselves with them now will only benefit us in the future."
The exercise focused on a series of multi-day live-fire exercises, training on the use of advanced artillery systems, including the HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) and various Howitzer models. These exercises provided an opportunity to enhance coordination, refine tactical procedures, and demonstrate the combined effectiveness of allied artillery capabilities in a simulated combat environment.
“Everything we do in training has to prepare us for real world combat,” said Sgt. 1st Class Smith. “It goes with the age old saying of ‘train as you fight’ so everything we’re doing here all has a purpose and a goal and it is supposed to replicate real world combat.”
In addition to live fires, this exercise will incorporate several technologies such as the Artillery Systems Cooperation Activities, or ASCA, network, an encrypted software that eliminates language barriers across artillery units.
“We were fielded with new radio and communication equipment,” said Lt. Col. Jamie Neely, battalion commander of 5th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. “With this new equipment, we now have the ability to rapidly link sensors digitally through the kill chain as it goes up to the command post and back to us, the delivery system. Dynamic Front is helping us to test the speed of the equipment so we may achieve timeliness.”
ASCA enhances the ability of forces to work together seamlessly in joint, high-intensity operations across multiple locations. By standardizing target data, map graphics, and communication, it creates a common framework for coordination. During this exercise, ASCA was used by the United States and 14 other nations, highlighting NATO’s strength in synchronizing multinational live-fire artillery operations from the Arctic Circle to the Black Sea.
Exercise Dynamic Front 25 showcased the partnership, unity, and strength of the NATO Alliance. This exercise represents a commitment to the Alliance’s readiness, with warfighting and peacekeeping drills like Dynamic Front ensuring that the United States, NATO, and partner nations are prepared to deter threats and defend Europe.
“The Romanians were a full participant with us for Dynamic Front,” said Lt. Col. Neely. “There are three different components of interoperability: there’s the technical dimension, the procedural dimension, and then the human dimension. Here in Smardan, Romania, we really focused on the procedural and human interaction with them while we shared the training area and worked together to accomplish the mission.”
| Date Taken: | 11.22.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 11.25.2024 02:12 |
| Story ID: | 485909 |
| Location: | SMARDAN, RO |
| Web Views: | 158 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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