German and U.S. Forces hold live fire exercise opening ceremony

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jason Epperson | Col. Arnt Kuebart, commander of the Surface Air and Missile Defense Wing 1, German Air Force, addresses soldiers during the Artemis Strike opening ceremony. Soldiers from the 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, 3rd Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 32nd AAMDC, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, 7th Army Training Command, 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 2nd Cavalry Regiment, 16th Sustainment Brigade and the 30th Medical Brigade also participated alongside their German counterparts. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Maj. Bernd Berns)  

CHANIA, GREECE

10.30.2017

Story by Capt. Robert Durr 

10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command

CHANIA, Greece -- More than 200 U.S. soldiers and approximately 650 German airmen participated in an Artemis Strike opening ceremony at the NATO Missile Firing Installation (NAMFI) in Chania, Greece Oct. 30.

Artemis Strike is a German-led tactical live fire exercise with live Patriot and Stinger missiles, which will provide realistic training within a combined construct, exercise the rigors associated with force projection and educate operators on their air missile defense systems.
As the ceremony began Col. Arnt Kuebart, commander of the Surface Air and Missile Defense Wing 1, German Air Force, addressed the formation including soldiers from the 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 32nd AAMDC, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, 7th Army Training Command, 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 2nd Cavalry Regiment, 16th Sustainment Brigade and the 30th Medical Brigade also participated in the ceremony alongside their German counterparts.

During his remarks, Kuebart said it was exciting to see participants of different branches as well as different nations lined up in a military formation at this very special occasion.

"For the coming days I will be your air missile defense commander, which is a privilege and honor," Kuebart said. "Air missile defense is a mission that cannot be executed alone. It's rather the opposite. Air and missile defense can only be successful when all elements involved are seamlessly intertwined and cued to the same melody."

The importance of air missile defense resonated as the German and U.S. troops celebrated this year's live fire exercise.

"It is a mission where the success depends on the professionalism and the capabilities of each unit, of each soldier in fact," Kuebart said. "Air defense is truly a combined multi-national business. That is the reason why I'm so excited and honored."

Maj. Christopher Miller, the 5-7 ADA operations officer followed the German commander and recognized ceremony's significance of bringing together strong allies.

"I'd like to thank you for this opportunity where we can execute our allied role in the perseverance and continuing endurance of NATO air and missile defense capability," Miller said.

With the growing complexity of the Army's operational environment, Miller stressed the importance of interoperability.

"Our ability to execute a robust, integrated and layered air and missile defense construct is paramount in our ability in being able to attain a credible level of deterrence," Miller said. "This live fire exercise presents such that opportunity as we embark upon a year of integration."

Before the U.S. and German troops set out to begin making preparations for the exercise, Miller made his final remarks.

"We value the continued collaboration and teamwork and look forward to a successful tactical live fire exercise where we will achieve nothing less than superior remarks from our NATO tactical evaluators," Miller said. "I look forward to working with all of you out there on the firing range."

• Date Taken: 10.30.2017
• Date Posted: 11.02.2017 02:42
• Story ID: 253809
• Location: CHANIA, GR