Latvia hosts Baltic forces regional training event

Photo By Staff Sgt. Seth LaCount | Joint fires observers from 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, and a Latvian Joint terminal attack controller (right), take part in a Baltic forces regional training event at Military Base Adazi, Latvia, May 27-28, 2014. The annual training event was a NATO fixed- and rotary-wing live-fire exercise focusing on close-combat attack and close-air support. The Latvian National Defense Force hosts the event every year in late spring. This year, 10 countries participated: Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Sweden, France, Denmark, Greece, the U.S. and the United Kingdom. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Seth LaCount, Michigan National Guard/Released)  

ADAZI, AI, LATVIA

05.27.2014

Story by Corissa Barton 

Michigan National Guard

ADAZI, Latvia - Paratroopers with 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, participated in a regional training event at the Military Base in Adazi, Latvia, May 27-28, involving forces from across the Baltic nations. The purpose of the event was a NATO fixed-wing, live-fire exercise focusing on close-combat attack and close-air support.

The Latvian National Defense Force hosts the military event every year in late spring. This year, troops from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Sweden, France, Denmark, Greece, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Air Force joint terminal attack controllers, or JTACS, from each nation teamed up with joint fires observers from the 173rd Airborne to call for fire support from fixed and rotary-wing aircraft. Aircraft from Sweden, France and Denmark flew the operation.

Additional U.S. Army Soldiers from the Michigan National Guard also participated in the event. Michigan is partnered with Latvia through the National Guard’s State Partnership Program.

“Because the Michigan National Guard trained us, we can now teach others,” said Capt. Normands Stafeckis, a Latvian JTAC. “Annually, everyone comes together here at Adazi.”

“The other forces are incredibly professional,” said Sgt. Seth Snyder, a paratrooper and joint fires observer with the 173rd Airborne. “It is just like working with our own [U.S. forces] but the English is broken at times. And even then, that is rarely the case.”

This was not the first time most of the Soldiers participated in this event, but many said it was one of the best.

“This is probably the best one I’ve been a part of,” said Staff Sgt. Joshua Largin, another 173rd Airborne joint fires observer. “It’s been really interesting. We all use the same procedures in this field and it was very obvious when integrating all of the different nationalities.”

Throughout the exercise, the allied forces worked through fictional scenarios while destroying actual targets on the ground.

“This is important because [JTACs and JFOs] are a small community,” said Latvian Capt. Armands Rutkis, one of the officers in charge of the training event. “We need to get together using the same tactics, techniques and procedures and speak the same language.”

• Date Taken: 05.27.2014
• Date Posted: 05.30.2014 04:56
• Story ID: 131585
• Location: ADAZI, AI, LV