2CR and 173rd ABN Strengthen Bonds

Photo By Maj. Judith Marlowe | The 2d Cavalry Regiment out of Rose Barracks, Germany and the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team out of Vicenza, Italy had an informal meeting at the NATO school in Oberammergau, Germany, to discuss opportunities to combine training in order to make “Strong Europe” even stronger, Dec. 12, 2017.  

GERMANY

12.12.2017

Story by Capt. Judith Marlowe 

2d Cavalry Regiment

OBERAMMERGAU, GERMANY --The only two brigade combat teams in the European theater gathered primary staff members and commanders to discuss opportunities to combine training in order to make “Strong Europe” even stronger, Dec. 12, 2017.

The 2d Cavalry Regiment out of Rose Barracks, Germany and the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team out of Vicenza, Italy had a meeting over dinner at the NATO school in Oberammergau, Germany.

The night began with a social hour where staff counterparts met face-to-face to discuss areas of emphasis for their fiscal year 18 and 19 training calendars.

Col. Patrick Ellis, 2CR Commander, and Col. James Bartholomees, 173rd ABN Commander, gave opening comments expressing gratitude for everyone being there and their vision of the two units conducting more joint training.

“Colonel Ellis and I go back a few years,” said Bartholomees. “There are a lot of relationships that are already formed before we came together, and I want to thank you [Ellis] for your [2CR] team for hosting us and being a forcing function to bring folks together.”

Bartholmees proposed a toast to Strong Europe, and to the Regiment.
“We will be the team who is the lead in the fight,” said Bartholmees as he raised his glass to toast with Ellis.

“We have great team mates here and we cannot do this alone,” Ellis said. “The interoperability we share with each other is valuable to all of us, and I would like to propose a toast to 173rd.”

The two brigades have trained together in past exercises to include Saber Guardian and Noble Partner in July and August 2017, and will continue to work together for future exercises such as Saber Strike in June 2018.

The night resulted in stronger relationships within the U.S. Army Europe formation.

• Date Taken: 12.12.2017
• Date Posted: 12.14.2017 11:58
• Story ID: 258899
• Location: DE