USAREUR CG, dignitaries visit Saber Strike exercise in Latvia

Photo By Staff Sgt. Brooks Fletcher | A British army soldier from from the Royal Gurkas Rifles shuffles to reposition a Javalin during a situational training exercise as part of Saber Strike 2015 Distinguished Vistor Day, held in Adazi, Latvia, June 11. Saber Strike is a long-standing U.S. Army Europe-led cooperative training exercise. This year’s exercise objectives facilitate cooperation amongst the U.S., Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland to improve joint operational capability in a range of missions as well as preparing the participating nations and units to support multinational contingency operations. There are more than 6,000 participants from 14 different nations. (Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Brooks Fletcher, 16th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)  

LATVIA

06.11.2015

Story by Sgt. Brooks Fletcher 

16th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

ADAZI MILITARY BASE, Latvia — U.S. Army Europe Commanding General Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, the Minister of Defense and soon-to-be president of Latvia, Raimonds Vejonis, and sev-eral additional dignitaries visited Saber Strike 2015 training exercises here, June 10-11.

The visit demonstrated USAREUR’s expeditionary capabilities in a multinational training envi-ronment, which included everything from close air support missions utilizing A-10 aircraft from the Maryland Air National Guard’s 104th Fighter Squadron, 175th Wing to squad movement operations performed by Norwegian Army’s 2nd Infantry Battalion and British Army’s Royal Gurkas Rifles.

“Working together is essential,” Hodges said. “In all of the exercises we’ve done, you see the quality [in our efforts]. I have so much confidence in all of our allies here. It’s important that we keep practicing together to continue building upon that confidence.”

Saber Strike, a long-standing, multilateral, multifaceted, USAREUR-led security cooperation exercise conducted annually since 2010, aims to improve the capabilities of the participating na-tions for future contingency operations.

“To keep the high level of interoperability that we have maintained over the years, and improve upon it, is a very powerful demonstration from NATO,” said the Latvian Ambassador to NATO Maris Riekstins. “We are preparing for every potential threat and every potential scenario; even those that are unlikely to take place. We are tirelessly reiterating our position to develop partner-ship relations.”

The two-week exercise spans multiple locations, which includes Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Estonia, and involves approximately 6,000 personnel from 14 nations: U.S., Finland, France, the United Kingdom, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Portugal, Canada, and Slovenia.

“We have exercised and trained useable forces,” said Joint Force Commander Gen. Hans-Lothar Domro. “NATO is a family of like-minded nations and we are all ready to defend and demon-strate that NATO is a capable, willing, well-equipped and trained force.”

Through Saber Strike 2015, participating nations will validate a variety of joint capabilities; all in the name of sustaining and enhancing multinational partnership.

“The investment you see here today is important,” Hodges concluded. “To see the countries here making that investment makes us a better alliance. None of us are ever going to fight alone.”

Visit the Saber Strike website for up-to-date photos and information.

• Date Taken: 06.11.2015
• Date Posted: 06.11.2015 11:31
• Story ID: 166270
• Location: LV