Georgia Army National Guard Units at DEFENDER 24

Photo By Spc. Katlynn Pickle | U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the Ellenwood-based Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 214th Field Artillery Regiment, 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade prepare their M109A6 Paladin howitzers for a field training exercise during DEFENDER 24 in Skillingaryd, Sweden on May 5, 2024. DEFENDER 24 is the Dynamic Employment of Forces to Europe for NATO Deterrence and Enhanced Readiness, and is a U.S. European Command scheduled, U.S. Army Europe and Africa conducted exercises that consist of Saber Strike, Immediate Response, Swift Response. DEFENDER 24 is linked to NATO's Steadfast Defender exercise, and DoD's Large Scale Global Exercise, taking place from 28 March to 31 May. DEFENDER 24 is the largest U.S. Army exercise in Europe and includes more than 17,000 U.S. and 23,000 multinational service members from more than 20 Allied and partner nations, including Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.  

SKILLINGARYD, SWEDEN

05.05.2024

Story by Sgt. Allison Gilstrap 

124th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Georgia National Guardsmen departed Clay National Guard Center in Marietta, Georgia, and traveled to Skillingaryd, Sweden for a multinational exercise known as Dynamic Employment of Forces to Europe for NATO Deterrence and Enhanced Readiness (DEFENDER 24) which began March 28, 2024.

During this exercise, the 1st Battalion, 214th Artillery Regiment is deploying as a battalion to shape operations for the Swedish forces, improving their battle capabilities. The unit consists of Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie Battery, along with Forward Support Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 420th Signal Company, and the Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO), United States Marine Corps. The 214th Field Artillery Regiment is the largest unit present in Skillingaryd, with over 270 Soldiers.

The 214th's origin dates back to Sept. 1861 when they were a part of the Georgia Cavalry. The unit underwent many changes, including being renamed as the 1st Cavalry Squadron in June 1875. They were also sent to the Mexican border in 1916 as the 2nd Cavalry Squadron, when Pancho Villa attacked Columbus, New Mexico, killing around 17 Americans. In 1917, as part of the 31st Division, it was reorganized to form parts of the 106th Field Signal Battalion, 106th Train Headquarters, Military Police, and Headquarters Troop. The 31st Infantry Division was sent to France in October 1918 and disbanded in 1919. The 214th entered federal service on November 25, 1940, and its units were deactivated after World War II. It was reorganized June 20, 1947, and ordered to active duty in 1950.

Over the years, the 214th has been called into action multiple times. They were activated during civil unrest in Augusta, Georgia, in 1970, due to underlying racial tensions and distrust of city officials. They also supported Operation Noble Eagle in 2003 and deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom in 2013. After returning, Soldiers from the 214th have visited various countries, like Morocco in 2021 for Exercise African Lion and the country of Georgia as part of the State Partnership Program. As part of DEFENDER 24, they've traveled to Sweden to support NATO allies and deter hostile actions.

"Look at our interoperability and capabilities to work as a joint force," said Master Sgt. Tyler Jollissaint, the Battalion Operations Noncommissioned Officer for the 214th. "We are here on ground. That alone shows our capabilities and our movement logistically, tactically, and strategically as a state, country and partner of NATO."

Maj. Samuel Wolfson, Battalion S3 officer for the 214th, emphasized the crucial role played by them in combat missions worldwide. He highlighted the importance of smoothly integrating combat units with NATO allies to enhance strategic defense and accomplish mission goals.

"The 1st of the 214th Field Artillery is part of our combat operations and effective mobilization across the globe," Wolfson said. "Being able to use our combat arms units and integrate them seamlessly with our NATO counterparts contributes to overall strategic defense and achieving those objectives."

The DEFENDER 24 exercise training includes live fire coordination exercises, live fire exercises, combined arms fire exercises, artillery portions, and other mission-essential tasks.

• Date Taken: 05.05.2024
• Date Posted: 05.06.2024 04:09
• Story ID: 470345
• Location: SKILLINGARYD, SE