NATO allies unite during Operation Slovak Shield

Courtesy Photo | Slovak and U.S. Soldiers exchange some handshakes following a combined live fire range Sept. 16, at a small arms range near Pelisky, Slovak Rep. The range took place during Operation Atlantic Resolve an ongoing series of training exercises and community engagements designed to build relationships, trust and interoperability between the U.S. and its NATO allies. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Juana M. Nesbitt, 13th Public Affairs Detachment)  

PELISKY, SLOVAKIA

09.16.2015

Story by Sgt. Juana Nesbitt 

7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

PELISKY, Slovakia – Under clear skies and with high spirits, Soldiers with Weapons Troop, 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment joined their Slovak counterparts during Operation Slovak Shield, Sept. 16, at a small arms range near Pelisky, Slovak Republic.

“[The Slovak Soldiers] have invited us to participate in a portion of their Operation Slovak Shield as we were conducting Exercise Dragoon Crossing,” said Cpt. Eric Blackham, of Centerville, Utah, commander of Weapons Troop, 4th Sq., 2nd Cavalry Reg. So, “today we are conducting a familiarization range with them.”

Dragoon Crossing is a weeklong journey from Vilseck, Germany to Gyor, Hungary with various community engagement and training events along the way and is the predecessor for Operation Brave Warrior, said Staff Sgt. Robert Schantz, of Duluth, Georgia, a platoon sergeant with Weapons Troop.

Throughout the day, American and Slovak Soldiers took turns teaching one another about the small arms and weapons systems they use on a daily basis, but for “Opportunities like this are wonderful for my Soldiers,” he said. “It allows us to get on the ground, see their weapons systems and get to know the Soldiers on a personal level.”

Dragoon Crossing is a part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, an on going series of training exercises and community engagements designed to build relationships, trust and interoperability between the U.S., its NATO allies and other European countries.

As Weapons Troop Soldiers learned from and mingled with one another, both Blackham and Schantz gained new respect for their Slovak allies.

“Every one of these Soldiers is an expert in their weapons system and his training, to me that is huge,” said Blackham. When facing an armed conflict, “you always want to know that the mind beside you is just as trained as you are.”

For Schantz, his experience participating in Operation Slovak Shield also helped to lessen the language barrier for future training events.

As “you spend some time with them outside the battlefield, you start picking up their slang and how they operate,” he said. “Then, when it comes down to an actual mission you kind of [already] understand what’s going on.”

• Date Taken: 09.16.2015
• Date Posted: 09.17.2015 03:28
• Story ID: 176312
• Location: PELISKY, SK