Sky Soldiers take part in urban assault training

Photo By Corinna Baltos | Paratroopers from Able Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, conduct an assault on an urban warfare training site Nov. 29, 2016 during Exercise Iron Sword 2016 in Pabrade, Lithuania. Iron Sword is an international training exercise featuring 11 NATO countries and about 4,000 troops in support of Atlantic Resolve. The U.S. and partner nations conducted land, sea and air exercises and maintained a rotational presence in order to reinforce NATO security commitments in Europe. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Corinna Baltos)  

PABRADE, LITHUANIA

12.01.2016

Story by Staff Sgt. Corinna Baltos 

24th Theater Public Affairs Support Element

PABRADE, Lithuania – For the Soldiers attempting to take a city, a street-to-street battle is a nightmare. Casualty rates are often high. Traditional means of fire support can be hard to employ because it is difficult to call in air strikes on small bands of urban defenders in heavily populated areas, and helicopters are more vulnerable to rocket propelled grenades. So, it is typically up to the infantry to take the town one building at a time.

The tactics used in urban combat were put to the test Nov.29 during an urban warfare exercise, which was part of Exercise Iron Sword 2016 in Pabrade, Lithuania.

Iron Sword is a Lithuanian led exercise designed to promote regional stability and security, while strengthening partnership capacity, and fostering trust while strengthening partnership capabilities between Lithuania, the U.S., and NATO member nations.

The culminating point of the exercise was when Soldiers conduced an assault on an urban warfare training site. The NATO countries involved, working as part of a multi-national battalion, took turns attacking and defending the site over a period of several days.

“We are partnering with our NATO allies to conduct an attack on an urban training site to practice our partnered capabilities and force projection between our allies,” said 1st Lt. Logan Gallagher, a spokesman for the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat (Airborne).

Joining Able Company, 503rd Inf. Regt. in the attack were Soldiers from the Great Britain, Germany, Poland and Lithuania.

After several hours of “fighting,” the attack was called, and the Soldiers began to prepare for tomorrow, when they would become the defenders.

• Date Taken: 12.01.2016
• Date Posted: 12.01.2016 17:15
• Story ID: 216098
• Location: PABRADE, LT