Latvian and U.S. Soldiers build relationships through training

Photo By Pfc. James Dutkavich | Latvian Soldiers fire the Browning M2 50 caliber machine gun at the range for a joint live fire exercise in Adazi, Latvia August 22, 2016. The Soldiers from the 3rd Bn., 69th Arm. Rgmt. are training with their Baltic allies in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a U.S. led effort being conducted in Eastern Europe to demonstrate U.S. commitment to the collective security of NATO and dedication to enduring peace and stability in the region.  

RIGA, LATVIA

08.22.2016

Story by Pfc. James Dutkavich 

24th Theater Public Affairs Support Element

(ADAZI, LATVIA) –Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Combined Arms Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division based out of Fort Stewart, Ga. conducted a joint live fire exercise with their NATO allies August 22, 2016 in Adazi, Latvia.

“We did pretty good today, as far as our part of the whole mission,” said Pfc. Deon Glinton, native of Lauderdale, Fla., a Soldier assigned to 3rd Bn., 69th Arm. Rgmt., “We went out there and killed enemy targets that popped up which allowed our foreign allies to get out there and do their part of the mission.”

U.S. Army and Latvian Soldiers conducted a live fire exercise to train on maneuver tactics. They used a variety of weapons, including the Browning M2 50 caliber machine gun, and Rheinmetall M256 120mm smoothbore tank gun. Training included vehicle concealment where Soldiers used tree branches and bushes to cover their HMMWVs and M1A2 Abrams tanks to better blend into the environment.

“It’s good to train, build relationships with them,” said Glinton.

The Soldiers from 3rd Bn., 69th Arm. Rgmt., are training with their Baltic allies in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a U.S. lead effort being conducted in Eastern Europe to demonstrate U.S. commitment to the collective security of NATO and dedication to enduring peace and stability in the region.

“It’s our brotherhood,” said Gilton, “we can come to our brother for anything, anytime, anywhere, and we have this bond with these guys even though we are half way across the world. They know if anything were to ever happen, we are just a phone call away.”

• Date Taken: 08.22.2016
• Date Posted: 08.26.2016 10:22
• Story ID: 207964
• Location: RIGA, LV