Photo By Sgt. Steve Johnson | Spc. Steffi Torborg from the 536th Quartermasters, 547th Combat Support Battalion,...... read more read more
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VILNIUS, Lithuania—Exercise Saber Strike 17, the annual training event led by U.S. Army Europe, kicked off in early June with sustainment operations that laid the groundwork for training exercises that further strengthen the resolve and operational capabilities of the 20 participating nations.
Before the exercise was underway, the 1st Infantry Division’s Sustainment Brigade began preparing for the 3500 U.S. troops who would be integrated with 8,000 soldiers from partner nations and spread across four countries. Providing for soldiers in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland was no small task, but something the 1st ID was prepared to execute according to Capt. Christina Shelton, Brigade Planner for the 1st ID Sustainment Brigade.
“Before the soldiers hit the ground, we had to set up a sustainment network, an architecture that can support all of these soldiers,” Shelton said. “We coordinated the transportation of all of the equipment from the port to the training sites, via U.S. and Belgian heavy equipment transporters, rail and line haul.”
Preparations were also made for the exercise’s aviation assets. Capt. Chris Meiser, a commander within Task Force Phoenix, convoyed with his soldiers to Kazlu Ruda, Lithuania. After a few hours of set up, he and his troops were ready to support aviation operations during the exercise. The addition of key support elements to his task force allowed him to establish an airfield anywhere there was space.
“Normally, an aviation battalion falls in on pre-established infrastructure like an airfield,” Meiser said. “The exercise is different. Now, we are getting into an expeditionary mindset, so we can go anywhere, it doesn’t have to be an airfield, and we can operate for long durations.”
With the help of a Lithuanian water purification team, and a 1st ID shower and laundry team, the soldiers at the remote airfield now have life supporting assets and capabilities to keep them operating at full strength for extended periods of time.
With the ability to purify 1500 gallons of water an hour, the Lithuanian team says that working with the Americans has given them a chance to build bonds and build working relationships that improve operational capabilities.
“We want to operate at the highest levels,” said Msgt Ramunas Grimalauskas of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Vytenis Main Support Logistics Battalion. “Because of these field trainings, we can work together and fight when and where we need to.”
Often, the ability to provide things like showers and laundry are overshadowed by the firepower of tanks and aircraft, but Col. Allen Cassell, Commander of the 1st ID Sustainment Brigade, says that providing these assets to the soldiers not only increases the morale of the soldiers but also increases readiness in the units by preventing battle injuries.
“Adding to the sustainment assets in this iteration of Saber Strike really demonstrates U.S. Army Europe’s ability to support itself, even in protracted engagements,” said Cassell “Now, we are prepared to sustain units in the theater of operation until the mission is complete.”
As the exercise drives on and the allied nations see the results of their work in the bonds made, the efforts made by soldiers in sustainment operations are the ones making it all possible.
This story is part of a Saber Strike series.
| Date Taken: | 06.13.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 06.13.2017 04:18 |
| Story ID: | 237631 |
| Location: | PABRADE, LT |
| Web Views: | 318 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 1st Infantry Division Paves the Way For Saber Strike 17, by Mark Otte and SGT Mark Otte, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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