Norwegian STX lane tests three nations during Exercise Saber Strike

Photo By Sgt. Shiloh Capers | ADAZI, Latvia — Latvian Soldiers use smoke cover to hide movement of troops and equipment to move to a more secure location during Saber Strike, Adazi, June 4. The Latvian Infantrymen pose as hasty defense while the Polish and Slovakian armed forces assume the hasty attack roles. Saber Strike is a U.S. Army Europe-led multinational combined forces training exercise in the Baltic region. The exercise tests the capability of multiple nations to act against a threat. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Shiloh Capers)  

LATVIA

06.04.2017

Story by Sgt. Shiloh Capers 

7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

ADAZI, Latvia — During a situational training exercise lane for Saber Strike, countries are collectively demonstrating their capabilities at the Adazi Military Base, June 4, 2017.

The training scenarios reference key military skills and allows units to establish a solid, confident presence on the battlefield. The exercise is part of Saber Strike, a U.S. Army Europe-led multinational combined forces training exercise in the Baltic region. The exercise tests the capability of multiple nations to respond against a threat.

In the situational training exercise lane organized by Norway, Latvian Soldiers performed a hasty defense against advancing Polish and Slovakian tank companies. The Polish and Slovakian forces performed a hasty attack from multiple directions as they progressed to seize objectives on the lane.

For Norwegian Capt. Eivind Sorsell, company commander of Combat Support Coy, 2nd Battalion, Brigade Nord, Skjold, the lane will help strengthen the abilities of the armed forces involved. The lane assessed communication and coordination between the two attacking forces. The lane also tested defense strategies the Latvian Infantry chose to employ.

Capt. Sorsell's strategy while planning the lane was very specific. He considered what task to give to the attacking forces and how to relay that message in the mission.

"We gave them a task to seize an objective, objective 201 for the Polish and 301 for the Slovakians," Sorsell said, referencing terrain locations for the two countries to move to. "To be more focused on terrain and not the enemy, so they were able to switch around their maneuver and be able to seize key terrain."

Decisive action on the battlefield may not always lead to victory but there is no reward without risk. The outcome of the lane is inconsequential, the lessons learned during the training exercise is not. After the scenario concluded, the company commanders of the Latvians, Polish and Slovakian forces met with Sorsell and Norwegian army members to discuss the exercise.

Topics in the meeting were intentions behind actions, coordination and the advance or defense of positions. The review also noted limitations, deficiencies, and terrain difficulties that the armed forces experienced during the iteration.

"It was very exciting to see how they cooperated together and how comradeship is between the two commanders so early in the exercise," Sorsell said, in reference to the Polish and Slovakian teamwork conducted during the lane.

Day one of Saber Strike began with a decent start as participating nations test their knowledge and coordination skills during the friendly exercise.

• Date Taken: 06.04.2017
• Date Posted: 06.08.2017 17:50
• Story ID: 236912
• Location: LV