NATO Forces ‘stronger together’ at the Opening Ceremony for Saber Guardian 23 [Image 5 of 10]

SMARDAN, ROMANIA

05.29.2023

Photo by Capt. Avery Smith 

7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Lt. Col. David Ahern, commander, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, stands in front of his battalion, alongside Romanian and NATO soldiers at the opening ceremony for exercise Saber Guardian 23 in Smardan, Romania, May 29, 2023. Saber Guardian 23, a component of DEFENDER 23, is an exercise co-led by Romanian Land Forces and the U.S. Army at various locations in Romania to improve the integration of multinational combat forces by engaging in different events such as vehicle road marches, medical training exercises, and river crossings. DEFENDER 23 is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa led exercise focused on the strategic deployment of continental United States-based forces, employment of Army Prepositioned Stocks, and interoperability with Allies and partners. Taking place from 22 April to 23 June, DEFENDER 23 demonstrates USAREUR-AF’s ability to aggregate U.S.-based combat power quickly in Eastern Europe, increase lethality of the NATO Alliance through long-distance fires, build unit readiness in a complex joint, multi-national environment, and leverage host nation capabilities to increase USAREUR-AF’s operational reach. DEFENDER 23 includes more than 7,000 U.S. and 17,000 multi-national service members from more than 20 nations who will participate including, but not limited to: Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Avery Smith)

• Date Taken: 05.29.2023
• Date Posted: 05.31.2023 04:27
• Photo ID: 7824926
• VIRIN: 230529-A-BC259-226
• Resolution: 7952x5304
• Size: 36.47 MB
• Location: SMARDAN, RO