For the first time, a NATO battlegroup has expanded into a brigade-sized formation.
Synopsis
For the first time, a NATO multinational battlegroup has expanded from a battalion to brigade-sized formation.
The reinforcements came from the US Army’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment (2CR), which conducted a multi-day road march to travel from Vilseck, Germany to NATO multinational battlegroup Poland’s home base in Bemowo Piskie. During exercise Griffin Shock, they focused on providing what Lithuanian Colonel Darius Vaicikauskas, Chief of Staff of NATO’s Multinational Division North East, called the “deep fight”, using long-range artillery and attack helicopters to augment the battlegroup’s existing firepower.
Exercise Griffin Shock marks an important milestone for NATO’s efforts to strengthen the defensive posture in the eastern part of the Alliance. During the 2022 Madrid Summit, Allies agreed to make forces available to reinforce the multinational battlegroups where and when needed. Exercise Griffin Shock proves that significant combat power can be brought to bear quickly and effectively.
Footage includes shots of the US Army’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment arriving at battlegroup Poland and carrying out exercise Griffin Shock alongside UK and Croatian soldiers, as well as interviews with Lithuanian Army Colonel Darius Vaicikauskas, Chief of Staff of NATO Multinational Division North East, and a US Army Major.
Transcript
---SHOTLIST—
(00:00) VARIOUS DRONE SHOTS (MUTE) – US ARMY STRYKER INFANTRY FIGHTING VEHICLES ARRIVING AT BATTLEGROUP POLAND
(00:30) MEDUM SHOT – STRYKERS ARRIVING AT BATTLEGROUP POLAND
(00:38) MEDUM SHOTS – US ARMY BRADLEY INFANTRY FIGHTING VEHICLES DRIVING PAST
(00:49) VARIOUS SHOTS – 2CR SOLDIERS PREPARING FOR LIVE-FIRE DRILLS
(01:49) VARIOUS DRONE SHOTS (MUTE) – 2CR STRYKERS GETTING READY AND MOVING OUT
(02:34) VARIOUS GOPRO SHOTS – STRYKER MOVING THROUGH SHRUBBERY AND FIRING 30MM CANNON
(02:43) VARIOUS SHOTS – 2CR SOLDIERS ENGAGING TARGETS DURING LIVE-FIRE EXERCISE
(02:55) VARIOUS DRONE SHOTS (MUTE) – SOLDIERS LYING DOWN SUPPORTING FIRE WITH LIGHT MACHINE GUNS
(03:02) VARIOUS SHOTS – SOLDIERS ON THE MOVE DURING LIVE-FIRE EXERCISE
(03:25) VARIOUS DRONE SHOTS (MUTE) – SOLDIERS CLEARING TRENCH
(03:34) VARIOUS SHOTS – SOLDIERS ENGAGING TARGETS DURING LIVE-FIRE EXERCISE
(03:44) VARIOUS SHOTS – STRYKERS MOVING UP TO FIRING LINE DURING EXERCISE
(04:15) WIDE SHOT – STRYKER FIRING TOW ANTI-TANK MISSILE
(04:17) SLOW-MO SHOT (MUTE) – STRYKER FIRING TOW ANTI-TANK MISILE
(04:21) SLOW-MO SHOT (MUTE) SOLDIERS LEAVING FIRING LINE FOLLOWING LIVE-FIRE EXERCISE
(04:31) VARIOUS SHOTS – AH-64 APACHE ATTACK HELICOPTERS MOVING AROUND FORWARD ARMING AND REFUELLING POINT
(04:50) WIDE SHOT – APACHE PERFORMING LOW-PASS FLY BY OF TROOPS
(04:54) SLOW-MO SHOT (MUTE) – APACHE PERFORMING LOW-PASS FLY BY OF TROOPS
(05:03) VARIOUS SHOTS – CROATIAN ARMY PANZERHAUBITZE 2000 MOBILE ARTILLERY PERFORMING LIVE-FIRE EXERCISE
(05:28) VARIOUS SHOTS – BRITISH ARMY SOLDIERS TALKING TO US ARMY SOLIDER
(05:44) MEDIUM SHOT – BRITISH ARMY JACKAL RECONNAISSANCE VEHCILE DRIVING BY
(05:47) GOPRO SHOTS – BRITISH ARMY SOLDIERS DRIVING IN JACKAL AND FIRING WEAPONS
(06:02) GOPRO SHOTS – US ARMY SOLDIERS FIRING 120MM MORTAR FROM STRYKER
(06:14) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – US Army Major Ryan Mannina, Operations Officer, 2nd Cavalry Regiment
“The significance of this exercise is that it's demonstrating the United States’ resolve to NATO, and the future of NATO force posture in Europe. So about a year ago last summer in Madrid, NATO leaders got together and they decided that we were going to expand the NATO battlegroups. At the time there were there were four and there were four more standing up. They decided they were going to expand those battlegroups to brigade-sized elements, from battalions. This is part of an effort to demonstrate proof of concept for how we can do that. Initial proof of concept is going to be to do that on a rotational or temporary basis. And then eventually, they want to expand them to brigade size permanently.”
(06:59) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – Lithuanian Army Colonel Darius Vaicikauskas, Chief of Staff, NATO Multinational Division North East
“So we are currently now in Bemowo Piskie, Poland, and we have exercise, Griffin Shock exercise, where the US Second Cavalry is attached under the HQ MND North East, the Headquarters Multinational Division North East.”
(07:16) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – Lithuanian Army Colonel Darius Vaicikauskas, Chief of Staff, NATO Multinational Division North East
“You know, we are first time interacting with a US brigade-sized unit. So this is the first one. Another thing is, another significant thing is that we have embedded US personnel into our HQ where they are coaching, mentoring and teaching us how to provide the divisional deep fire. And this is really unique, and for the first time it happens in our HQ’s history, in fact.”
(07:41) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – Lithuanian Army Colonel Darius Vaicikauskas, chief of staff, NATO Multination Division North East
“Because our neighbourhood is not safe, due to the obvious reasons, and due to those unpredicted neighbours, so that’s why the expansion of the [enhanced Forward Presence] battlegroups and this similar kind of exercise shows our willingness to the society, or not even our willingness, our commitment to the society, because the society is investing into us as a military, to stand in case of aggression by the close neighbours.”
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