NATO exercise Steadfast Jazz transitions to multinational operations

Courtesy Photo | Polish army Brig. Gen. Andrzej Tuz (right), commander, 12th Mechanized Brigade and director, land forces component for the live portion for Exercise Steadfast Jazz 2013, reviews the assembled troops during the exercise's opening ceremony here Nov. 3. Exercise Steadfast Jazz 2013 is taking place from Nov. 1-9 in a number of Alliance nations including the Baltic States and Poland. The purpose of the exercise is to train and test the NATO Response Force, a highly ready and technologically advanced multinational force made up of land, air, maritime and special forces components that the Alliance can deploy quickly wherever needed. The Steadfast series of exercises are part of NATO’s efforts to maintain connected and interoperable forces at a high-level of readiness. (NATO photo by British army Sgt. Ian Houlding)  

DRAWSKO POMORSKIE, POLAND

11.03.2013

Courtesy Story

173rd Airborne Brigade

DRAWSKO POMORSKIE TRAINING AREA, Poland- Paratroopers from the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), U.S. Army Europe, transitioned from unit-level training to multinational combined operations, at a ceremony held here Nov. 3, during the NATO Exercise Steadfast Jazz, which incorporate the 28 allied nations and the three partner nations of Ukraine, Sweden and Finland.

"As of today, the multinational battalion [NATO Response Force] will start its training to become a truly multinational force,” said Estonian army Brig. Gen. Indrek Sirel, director, NATO Joint Live Exercise Coordination Element.

The multinational focus of this training brings together each nation into the single, cohesive NATO Response Force.

During the next five days, the paratroopers from 1st Squadron (Airborne), 91st Cavalry Regiment and the 173rd Special Troops Battalion will hone the interoperability and further develop the expeditionary capabilities of the NRF in joint, multinational operations.

The vast amount of personnel and equipment deployed in support of the exercise to include naval vessels, aircraft, and a contingent of amphibious forces, which complete the full spectrum capabilities and expand the tactical operations of the NRF, said Sirel.

As Steadfast Jazz continues, the exercise will further test, train, and develop the cooperation between the 31 nations operating as a multinational quick-response force.

"I wish you to become [a] true multinational battalion ready to fulfill all the actions that are required in the defense of our nations,” Sirel said.

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For more information please visit :

http://www.eur.army.mil/SteadfastJazz/
https://www.facebook.com/USArmyEurope
http://www.flickr.com/photos/usarmyeurope_images

• Date Taken: 11.03.2013
• Date Posted: 11.03.2013 12:11
• Story ID: 116202
• Location: DRAWSKO POMORSKIE, PL