Boarding Aircraft [Image 5 of 7]

PORDENONE, ITALY

12.07.2021

Photo by Spc. Giovanny Lopez 

173rd Airborne Brigade

U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to 1st Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment prepare to board a V-22 Osprey from the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing for extraction during a validation exercise for the North and West African Response Force at Dandolo range in Pordenone, Italy on Dec. 7, 2021.

The North and West African Response Force is a directive of the United States Army Southern European Task Force - Africa that utilizes 173rd Airborne Brigade’s infantry units as the decisive, forward postured, quick response element for crisis related taskings in the United States Africa Command areas of responsibility. This initiative was created to mobilize troop support in these areas within 12 hours of notification.

The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army's Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapidly deployable forces to the United States European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility. Forward deployed across Italy and Germany, the brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build partnerships and strengthen the alliance.

(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Giovanny Lopez)

• Date Taken: 12.07.2021
• Date Posted: 12.08.2021 16:11
• Photo ID: 6970410
• VIRIN: 211207-A-BL167-425
• Resolution: 6285x4195
• Size: 18.63 MB
• Location: PORDENONE, IT