NATO commander visits allied troops in Latvia

Photo By Staff Sgt. Michael Crawford | German Gen. Hans-Lothar Domroese (right), commander of NATO Joint Force Command Brunssum, shakes hands with a paratrooper from 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade during NATO exercise Steadfast Javelin II at Lielvarde Airbase, Latvia, Sept. 6, 2014. Steadfast Javelin II is a NATO exercise involving over 2,000 troops from 10 nations, and takes place across Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. The exercise focuses on increasing interoperability and synchronizing complex operations between allied air and ground forces through airborne and air assault missions. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael T. Crawford/Released)  

LIELVARDE, LATVIA

09.06.2014

Story by Sgt. Michael Crawford 

U.S. Army Europe and Africa     

LIELVARDE, Latvia – The commander of NATO Joint Force Command Brunssum took time to express his gratitude to allied troops during NATO exercise Steadfast Javelin II Sept. 6.

German Gen. Hans-Lothar Domroese met with American paratroopers from the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade following an airborne operation the night prior. Approximately 500 allied paratroopers from the 173rd, along with the Royal Canadian Regiment and the Italian Folgore brigade jumped into Lielvarde to seize the airfield under cover of darkness to land Stryker armored vehicles and build up combat power.

Domroese spent time learned about paratroopers’ duties and equipment, shared stories and jokes and received a tour of a Stryker, brought by troopers from the U.S. Army’s 1st Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment.

“I want to thank participating troops,” said Domroese. “This is one of those very capable forces."

Steadfast Javelin II is a NATO exercise involving over 2,000 troops from 10 nations, and takes place across Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. The exercise focuses on increasing interoperability and synchronizing complex operations between allied air and ground forces through airborne and air assault missions.

After visiting U.S. paratroopers, Domroese spoke with German air defense artillery soldiers, who, along with Latvian troops and a handful of U.S. troops from the Joint Multinational Training Command, served as the opposing force for the exercise.

"Interoperability means … we can work together, that we understand each other, that we have the same procedures and tactics and we practice it together," said Domroese. "This exercise is so important to maintain the high standard of interoperability.”

Over the course of several days, paratroopers will use the airfield at Lielvarde to launch air-assault raids and offload equipment, demonstrating the capability of NATO troops to gain strategic access and rapidly build and project combat power.

In addition to participating in Steadfast Javelin II, approximately 600 paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade, based in Vicenza, Italy, are spread throughout Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland for Operation Atlantic Resolve to demonstrate commitment to NATO obligations and sustain interoperability with allied forces.

“I want to thank U.S. Europe forces for taking the initiative in this exercise to lead the other nine nations in a combined exercise that is outstanding,” said Demroese. “The U.S., as a world power, can do great things.”

• Date Taken: 09.06.2014
• Date Posted: 09.07.2014 14:39
• Story ID: 141347
• Location: LIELVARDE, LV