ADAZI, Latvia – The U.S. Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade participated in an exchange of airborne wings between Latvian, Canadian and U.S. paratroopers here following a series of airborne operations and training June 12, 2014.
Through recent exercises, to include the ongoing “Saber Strike” exercise, U.S. military members have shared techniques, tactics and best practices while parachuting from military aircraft, firing on weapons ranges and gaining a deeper appreciation for one another’s culture and military knowledge.
Saber Strike is a multinational military-to-military exercise promoting regional stability and prepares participating nations for multinational contingency operations worldwide.
Cpl. Oskars Jurevics, of the Latvian Headquarters Signal Company, is a participant in the current Saber Strike exercise who has gotten the opportunity to work with many multinationals through the exercise.
“This is a great way for us to take the experiences of others and apply them to our own experiences, so that Latvians and Americans may learn from each other,” said Jurevics. “This is a great way to incorporate knowledge and grow together.”
According to Sgt. Alonzo-Vincent Werner, a jumpmaster with the 173rd Airborne, for paratroopers to be awarded foreign wings, they must meet two of the four requirements: exit a foreign aircraft during a jump; use foreign equipment such as parachutes; be inspected and coached by foreign jumpmasters, who are personnel responsible for checking equipment and safety; or exit the aircraft on foreign airspace.
“There is a lot of planning and coordination that has to be done for normal operations, multiply that by the number of other units to meet together,” said Werner.
He explains that “it’s rare when an airborne unit has the opportunity to conduct operations with foreign airborne units and rarer yet to meet these requirements.”
The 173rd Airborne, based out of Vicenza, Italy, serves as the Army Contingency Response Force for Europe. The 173rd has been training in the region with their NATO allies to sustain interoperability between military forces and demonstrate commitment to collective defense in the alliance.
Cpl. Bruno St. Jean, of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, Third Battalion, also participated in the jump, “It is always great to bond with other countries and see how they do things. This is the best way to learn and make new friends.”
The U.S. Air Force provided the C-130 necessary for the jump organized by 173rd Airborne. After regrouping on the ground, the airborne soldiers from the participating countries gathered into a formation for the wing exchange.
Werner explained, “Upon completing airborne school, you earn your airborne or jump wings. Simply put, we exchange our jump wings with another country. Once on the ground after the jump, paratroopers from all units involved award a set of their wings to the other airborne units in a ceremony called the wing exchange. The foreign wings are authorized to be worn on our dress uniforms. In my three years in the 173rd, this is my first exchange.”
“It’s a first in a number of ways and something we were absolutely excited to execute,” said Capt. Jim Marione, commander of the 173rd’s Company A, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment. “It’s a way for soldiers in different armies to show their respect for each other and their common profession.”
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.
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 range of military operations across the United States, Europe, Central and Africa Commands' areas of responsibility.
Canadian Lt. Max Pectsma, of the PPLCLI’s Third Battalion, was part of the wing exchange. This is also Canada’s first year participating in Saber Strike.
“Professionally, it is amazing to learn about so many different tactics, and personally, it is amazing all the interoperability involved in working through language barriers and forming bonds,” said Pectsma.
For more information: www.eur.army.mil
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| Date Taken: | 06.12.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.13.2014 13:19 |
| Story ID: | 133036 |
| Location: | ADAZI TRAINING AREA, AIZKRAUKLES APRINKIS, LV |
| Web Views: | 837 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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