Estonian Soldiers face OPFOR during Saber Junction 14

Photo By Staff Sgt. Christina Dion | Estonian army Sgt. Janek Huttunen, assigned to the Estonia Scout Battalion, fires at the opposition force soldiers from 1st Battalion, 4 Infantry Regiment during an STX (simulated training exercise) lane at Hohenfels Training Area Aug. 27. Saber Junction 14 is a large-scale, joint, multinational, annual military exercise, involving hundreds of aircraft and vehicles and thousands of personnel from 16 different nations. The exercise will prepare brigade-level units for worldwide contingency operations. The exercise further focuses U.S., NATO, and partner forces on concepts such as decisive and sustainable land operations through the simultaneous combination of offensive, defensive and stability operations and on interoperability with partnered nations. More information about Saber Junction 2014 can be found at http://www.eur.army.mil/SaberJunction/ (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christina M. Dion/Released)  

HOHENFELS, BY, GERMANY

08.27.2014

Story by Sgt. Christina Dion 

U.S. Army Europe and Africa     

HOHENFELS, Germany - The convoy moved toward the objective, interrupted by indirect fire. Parking the vehicles in a staggered formation along the dirt road, soldiers dismounted and provided security in all directions. After moving forward on foot, the platoon ran into civilians on the battlefield who gave them intelligence on enemy forces in the area. That information along with the direction of their objective took the Estonian army Scout Battalion straight into the crosshairs of the opposition forces (OPFOR) of 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry at Hohenfels Training Area Aug. 27.

Once through the wood line, the Estonian soldiers reacted to the direct fire by flanking and taking an offensive position, surrounding the enemy. Loud beeps from MILES gear, laser-enabled training aids, let the observer controllers know that all four of the U.S. soldiers playing the enemy had been hit. This part of the scenario was over.

After being defeated, OPFOR Soldier Spc. Zach Aguilar of Huntington Beach, California, said, “They did pretty well in their flanking. They got our blind sides.”

Although the beginning of Saber Junction 14, a multinational training exercise involving NATO allies and European partners, this wasn’t the first time some of the Estonian soldiers had worked with U.S. forces.

“We have been working with the U.S. Army and it’s good,” said Estonian army Pvt. Alevsanoer Malinouski of Pareu, Estonia. “It’s good to see what others do and learn from them.”

The Estonians continued with the mission and moved forward through other obstacles to reach the indirect-fire point of origin, commonly known as the POO site. This is typically where artillery or rockets are fired from the opposition.

Saber Junction 14 is a joint multinational training exercise that enables NATO allies and partners to plan a large-scale operation that takes place in multiple European countries to prepare for real-world contingencies. Exercises such as Saber Junction provide vital opportunities for multiple U.S. service members to train as they fight, which includes integrating with NATO and partner nation forces. This large-scale partnership, down to the squad-level joint training, ensures national armed forces are interoperable and prepared to maintain regional security and stability.

• Date Taken: 08.27.2014
• Date Posted: 08.27.2014 13:26
• Story ID: 140522
• Location: HOHENFELS, BY, DE
• Hometown: HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA, US