Task Force - East

Story by Spc. Sophia Lopez

NOVO SELO TRAINING AREA, Bulgaria – Bulgarian and U.S. forces practiced reconnaissance and reacting to enemy contact as part of Joint Task Force-East on the training ranges here from Sept. 10-17.

Bulgarian Land Forces 61st Mechanized Brigade out of Karlovo and Dog Company of U.S. Army 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, from Vilseck, Germany, trained on squad- and company-level tactics and techniques during three-week rotations. This is the second rotation of three rotations of 2nd SCR Soldiers following the Tennessee Army National Guard's rotation.

Training is set up into three basic areas: squad attack, military operations on urban terrain and attacking an entrenched enemy. These training events operate simultaneously rotating the squads through each event. The Bulgarians and Americans train alongside each other, observing each other's techniques and sharing them through discussion. The Soldiers receive fire support from Strykers, which are eight-wheeled armored infantry vehicles used to transport Soldiers into combat.

During the squad attack training, troops practiced separating into two elements; one to suppress enemy fire and one to maneuver toward the target to secure and search enemy forces.

Troops then practiced clearing buildings to ensure they are empty of enemy threats, gaining ground over them and saving hostages during the military operations on urban terrain training.

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class John S. Carville, a mortar platoon sergeant in Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, said the goal of the training was for the "exchange of tactics and techniques."

The trench training objective was to capture a known improvised explosive device maker. Forces encounter a trench en route to a mock village. The trench serves as an early warning of the upcoming target. Service members then assault and clear the trench to secure it before moving on to the village.

"The training is relevant to the current focus," said U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Michael McCoy, tactical intelligence officer, 2nd SCR. "It matches actual incidents in Afghanistan and Iraq."

Joint Task Force-East is an element of the U.S. European Command's Theater Security Cooperation Program that provides the U.S. and its partners with a training venue to demonstrate their capabilities and how each contributes to the collective defense of the region.

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