Urban Training in Poland for Exercise Anakonda

Photo By Staff Sgt. Dennis Glass | A Turkish service members takes cover behind a building while conducting Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) during Exercise Anakonda in Wedrzyn, Poland. Exercise Anakonda 2016 is a premier training event for U.S. Army Europe and participating nations and demonstrates that the United States and partner nations can effectively unite together under a unified command while training on a contemporary scenario. (Photo by Sgt. Dennis Glass)  

POLAND

06.15.2016

Story by Sgt. Dennis Glass 

361st Theater Public Affairs Support Element

WEDRZYN, POLAND – U.S. soldiers trained alongside armed forces from their partner nations on the U.S. Army’s 241st birthday, June 14th, 2016. Soldiers cleared buildings in a simulated hostile city as part of the Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) training that took place during Exercise Anakonda 2016. This training is in a realistic environment that is meant to simulate the type of missions faced by soldiers during a hostile situation.
Exercise Anakonda 2016 is a Polish-led premier training event for U.S. Army Europe and participating nations and demonstrates that the United States and partner nations can effectively unite together under a unified command while training on a contemporary scenario.
“Every nation brought something to the fight just like we have,” said Sgt. Christopher Sylvester of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, based in Vicenza, Italy.
Sylvester, a native of Columbus, Ohio, said he believes the multinational troops worked very well together and there were little errors.
Several partnered nations including Polish, British, Canadian, Turkish and U.S forces breached complex obstacles in a realistic training scenario that also incorporated joint fires, maneuvering armored, mechanized, and light forces.
“It was a great learning environment for us to go into these buildings and see all of these different rooms with a bunch of obstacles and enemies within these buildings, said Pfc. Connor Knight, a Squad Automatic Weapon operator for 173rd Airborne Brigade. “We didn’t know what we had coming for us, but we executed it perfectly,” said Knight a native of Mobile, Ala.
Military leaders and civilian spectators watched the soldiers in action from press observation areas that were situated to give visitors a firsthand view of the action and keep them protected.
After the tactical maneuvers, the U.S. and many of the allied nations showcased weapons and accessories that are used by their country’s military, in a festive event that was open to the public.
“We are strong when we are united,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Timothy McGuire, Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe. “Whenever you can get soldiers together to work through complex training scenarios we will improve.”

• Date Taken: 06.15.2016
• Date Posted: 06.19.2016 09:21
• Story ID: 201520
• Location: PL