US, Dutch soldiers train on defensive operations

Courtesy Photo | U.S. Army paratroopers, assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade Special Troops Battalion and a Dutch soldier with the 411th Engineer Company, 41st Armored Engineer Battalion, 13th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, Royal Netherlands Army, engage targets during a combined defensive live-fire exercise at the 7th Army JMTC's Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, March 7, 2015. (U.S. Army photo Pfc. Nathanael Mercado)  

GRAFENWOEHR, GERMANY

03.11.2015

Courtesy Story

173rd Airborne Brigade

By 2nd Lt. Cassandra B. McDonald
173rd Airborne Brigade

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany -- U.S. Army paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade and engineers from the Royal Netherlands Army conducted a battalion-sized, combined defensive combined arms live fire exercise as part of Exercise Iron Bastion here March 2 to 12.

The exercise was designed to increase interoperability of both U.S. and Dutch forces by fusing artillery, infantry, engineer and military intelligence branches against a combined-arms opposing force.

"The hand-in-hand experience and the international relationship that was created with the Dutch engineers were absolutely incredible and it taught my Soldiers the importance of having a partnership," said Staff Sgt. Ryan Frye, an engineer with the 173rd.

Infantry companies from the brigade's 1st and 2nd Battalions, 503rd Infantry Regiment were able to validate their Soldiers on establishing defensive positions and defending terrain, as well as incorporate weapon systems such as Javelin and AT-4 anti-tank missles. Artillerymen from 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment provided artillery support for engagement areas with 105 mm cannons.

"The opportunity to work with the Dutch engineers was amazing," said Spc. Juan Gonzales, an engineer with the 173rd. "Not only did I get to shoot the Javelin; I was able to teach the Dutch how to operate the system."

The exercise is scheduled to reoccur annually because of its success. The engineers of the 41st Armoured Engineer Battalion will continue to conduct partnered training with Brigade Special Troops Battalion engineers.

• Date Taken: 03.11.2015
• Date Posted: 03.18.2015 10:57
• Story ID: 157352
• Location: GRAFENWOEHR, DE