U.S., Estonia moving forward together

Photo By Staff Sgt. Jill People | Soldiers from the Estonian army assemble a Milan Anti-Tank missile launcher, on Holiwood Hill range in Estonia, on March 14, 2017. Estonian range control observes and supervises the team as they participate in the combined operation live-fire exercise with the U.S. Army. The exercise was conducted for soldiers of both armies to become more familiar with operating systems and working together, as separate units, to eliminate a common enemy. The training fell under Operation Atlantic Resolve, a U.S. led NATO endeavor to deter aggressive actions in the region. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Shiloh Capers, 7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)  

ESTONIA

03.14.2017

Story by Spc. Shiloh Capers 

7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

TAPA, Estonia -- The partnership between Estonia and the U.S. began in 1922 when Estonia became an independent nation. The U.S. Embassy in Tallinn closed in 1940 with the USSR occupation of Estonia. Though the state was forcibly occupied, the U.S. refused to accept or recognize Estonia's incorporation into the USSR. Estonian representatives appointed by its last free government were allowed to remain in the U.S. with diplomatic status. In 1991, within days of Estonia restoring its independence, the U.S. sought to renew old ties. A month later, the American Embassy in Tallinn reopened.

In 2017, the U.S. and Estonia are conducting missions and combined operations together. Newly deployed forces to Tapa are gaining ground in working with their Estonian Allies.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Luigi Magnanti, Company C, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado, is one of those men.

Just last week, for approximately five days, Staff Sgt. Magnanti participated in an exercise which brought about noticeable details regarding his Estonian Allies.

"Their fieldcraft, as in their camouflaging and the ways that they stay warm in the field, are a lot different than ours," Magnanti said. "It's a lot more adapted to their surroundings. There's definitely some tips that we've learned and that we look to integrate into our training more."

Perhaps it is not so surprising then, that on the exercise, Magnanti and his squad nearly lost their Estonian counterparts.

The Estonian vehicles were camouflaged very heavily with the surrounding vegetation, tree branches and grass.

They blended in so well with the surroundings that many times, Magnanti and his squad did not see them with the naked eye; they used thermal sights to find the Estonians, Magnanti said.

More recently, Magnanti, a tank operator and crewman, joined in the combined exercise with the Estonians firing anti-tank weapons on March 14.

The exercise was held under Operation Atlantic Resolve, a U.S. led NATO endeavor to preserve peace and stability by deterring aggressive actions in the region.

The exercise would allow both armies to work together as a unit, separately attacking an enemy until fully eliminated. The exercise featured Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) missiles, Javelin missiles, Milan Anti-Tank Guided missiles and mortar rounds.

Staying proficient on weapon systems by using live ammunition is a necessary part of training to better understand a weapons capability and ensure successfully operations, said 1st Lt. Paul Castellini, the fires support officer for Company C, 1-68 AR.

"It shows our capabilities and we can learn their capabilities," 1st Lt. Castellini said. "It also helps us get familiarization with each other, not just the systems."

U.S. and Estonian forces work together better because then the forces know what kind of techniques each other uses, said 1st. Lt. Toomas Rein, executive officer for Anti-tank Company, 1st Infantry Brigade, Estonian Defense Forces.

“It makes our cooperation better," said 1st Lt. Rein. "We know we can depend on each other if it is needed.”

The U.S. Army and the Estonian Army are scheduled to conduct Force on Force training, which features reality-based scenarios, in the future.

----------------

U.S. Army Europe is uniquely positioned in its 51st country area of responsibility to advance American strategic interests in Europe and Eurasia. The relationships we build during more than 1,000 theater security cooperation events in more than 40 countries each year lead directly to support for multinational contingency operations around the world, strengthen regional partnership and enhance global security.

• Date Taken: 03.14.2017
• Date Posted: 03.15.2017 12:39
• Story ID: 226876
• Location: EE