Photo By Staff Sgt. Seth LaCount | Paratroopers with 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade,...... read more read more
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LIELVARDE AIR BASE, Latvia - Paratroopers from the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade conducted an airfield seizure exercise May 20 at Lielvarde Air Base, Latvia.
Approximately 600 paratroopers from the brigade are in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, as part of an unscheduled land-forces exercise to demonstrate commitment to NATO obligations and sustain interoperability with allied forces.
This marked the second time the “Sky Soldiers” from the 173rd have jumped here, the first on May 18 was historic, as they were the first U.S. unit to conduct a static-line jump on Latvian soil. This second jump expanded on that initial capability, with troops donning weapons and combat equipment as part of a scenario to seize the airfield from an opposing force.
The exercise began at Riga National Airport, where paratroopers from “Attack” Company, 1st Bn., 503rd Inf. Regt., prepared for the jump. The paratroopers, laden with parachutes, weapons and communication equipment, boarded a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules en route to Lielvarde Airfield.
Over Lielvarde, the paratroopers exited the aircraft in three passes over the drop zone. U.S. Secretary of the Army John McHugh was, in the Baltic nations to assess the impacts of the deployments and meet with NATO allies, was on hand to observe the jump. It was the first time during his multi-country trip the secretary saw the unit perform an airborne operation.
Upon landing, the company assaulted enemy positions guarding the airfield, and then ensured the runway and taxiways were cleared of debris and obstacles. Clearing those avenues is a critical step to bringing in follow-on friendly forces.
“Today was an excellent opportunity to improve our unit’s proficiency in airborne operations and develop our capabilities in planning, supporting and executing an airfield seizure,” said Attack’s commander, Capt. James Marione.
“Our paratroopers rose to the challenge and completed a very tough training exercise. I couldn’t be happier with the collective effort our infantrymen and combat support personnel put forth is making this training a success.”
The 173rd Airborne Brigade, based in Vicenza, Italy, is the Army Contingency Response Force in Europe, and is capable of projecting forces to conduct the full of range of military operations across the United States European, Central and Africa Commands areas of responsibility.
| Date Taken: | 05.20.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 05.22.2014 10:24 |
| Story ID: | 130770 |
| Location: | LIELVARDE AIR BASE, AI, LV |
| Web Views: | 802 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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