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    Slinging steel: Exercise Uhlan Fury hits its stride in Lithuania

    Slinging steel: Exercise Uhlan Fury hits its stride in Lithuania

    Photo By Staff Sgt. James Avery | A U.S. Army Soldier assigned to Dog Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment,...... read more read more

    PABRADE, LITHUANIA

    08.13.2015

    Story by Sgt. James Avery 

    7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

    PABRADE, Lithuania – A bilateral training exercise called Uhlan Fury ended here today, culminating with a jump from UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters above the General Silvestras Zlikaliskas Training Area.

    U.S. Army’s Dog Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 4th Infantry Division, and Lithuanian Land Forces Soldiers assigned to 2nd Coy, Grand Duchess Birutė Uhlan Battalion (BUB), have been training for two weeks today. Along with pilots and flight crews from B Company, 43rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, have spent the previous two days combining what they have learned together.

    Stationed in Vicenza, Italy, Dog Company deployed to Lithuania in June of this year with one mission in mind: train with LLF paratroopers in a partnership that would increase both unit’s knowledge of teach other’s tactics, and strengthen the bonds of NATO allies in Europe.

    A key point of Uhlan Fury was a sling load operation conducted by the U.S. and LLF Soldiers: a first for Lithuania. Never before has LLF equipment been sling loaded and transported by U.S. military aircraft. A harness is attached to four points of the equipment to be carried, and then is hooked by high tensile cable to the underside of the aircraft.

    Capt. Arnoldas Zilys, commander of 2nd Coy, Uhlan Battalion, stationed in Alytus, Lithuania, has been working hand in hand with Dog Co. to ensure that not only do his Soldiers get the best training he can give them, but they diversify that training with partner units within the NATO framework.

    “I’m very excited,” Zilys said. “I’m proud to be the commander of a unit that trains with Dog Co. I know we’re going in the right direction, and I’m looking forward to more hard training together.”

    In charge of the sling load operations during Uhlan Fury, Sgt. Zachary Shirer, a Section Sergeant for 3rd Platoon, has worked with his LLF counterparts for the last three days, coaching, training and observing his piece of the Uhlan pie.

    “I think the training went very well,” said the Lafayette, Ind. native. “We spent a lot of time doing rehearsals and making sure the trucks were properly rigged and inspected. Because this was the first time the LLF have done this type of transport, we wanted to make sure they understood what right looks like.”

    As Uhlan Fury comes to a close, the Soldiers of Dog Company, 173rd IBCT (A), and the BUB pack away parachutes and load themselves into transport vehicles that will take the back to the barracks on the training grounds. They have gained experience and new friends while working together, thus proving that when NATO allies train together, it will improve the ability to operate as a combined force, which increases NATO’s ability to deter aggressors and promote peace and security.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 08.13.2015
    Date Posted: 08.13.2015 11:21
    Story ID: 173043
    Location: PABRADE, LT

    Web Views: 216
    Downloads: 1

    PUBLIC DOMAIN