Dynamic Front 18 amplified by SOF integration

Photo By Markus Rauchenberger | U.S. Soldiers with Archer Battery, Fires Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment observe a fire mission carried out by their German Army partner battalion, the 131st Artillery Battalion, as part of exercise Dynamic Front 18 at the 7th Army Training Command's Grafenwoehr training area, Germany, March 07, 2018. Exercise Dynamic Front 18 includes approximately 3,700 participants from 26 nations at the U.S. Army’s Grafenwoehr Training Area (Germany), Feb. 23-March 10, 2018. Dynamic Front is an annual U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR) exercise focused on the interoperability of U.S. Army, joint service and allied nation artillery and fire support in a multinational environment, from theater-level headquarters identifying targets to gun crews pulling lanyards in the field. (U.S. Army photo by Markus Rauchenberger)  

GRAFENWOEHR, BY, GERMANY

03.26.2018

Story by Sgt. Karen Sampson 

U.S. Special Operations Command Europe   

U.S. and NATO Special Operations Forces integrated into multinational field artillery exercise Dynamic Front at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Feb. 23 through March 10, 2018.

Dynamic Front 18, a field artillery exercise included approximately 3,700 participants from 26 nations which focused on the interoperability of U.S. Army, joint service and allied nation artillery and fire support in a multinational environment.

The U.S. Special Operations Command Europe Special Operation Forces Cell at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center integrated both the Joint Fires Element from SOCEUR and the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) into the U.S. Army Europe-led exercise.

“[Army] SOF itself has no fire capabilities,” said a warrant officer assigned to 10th SFG(A) Fire Support Element. “We cooperate with other units’ resources to leverage NATO Joint Fire Support.”
The was the first SOF participation in a Dynamic Front series exercise.

“This is our first integration with multinational and conventional forces collaborating to find effective firing solutions communicating digitally,” said the warrant officer.

Fire support officers from 10th SFG(A) honed their unit’s interoperability with conventional forces building standard operating procedures calling fire support.

“SOF offer an enhanced forward presence for the joint force command on an exercise of this scale,” said a fires officer assigned to 10th SFG(A).

The two-week exercise demonstrates how SOF forces are engaged, postured and ready with conventional forces to assure, deter and defend in an increasingly secure and complex security environment.
“We provide the joint force command and subordinate units with a unique intelligence pertaining to reconnaissance and strike options,” said the warrant officer.

Dynamic Front is an exercise series designed to develop the capabilities of U.S. and allied ground force artillery fires to operate side-by-side in a joint environment, identifying targets at a multinational, theater-level command.

• Date Taken: 03.26.2018
• Date Posted: 03.28.2018 05:41
• Story ID: 270560
• Location: GRAFENWOEHR, BY, DE
• Hometown: GRAFENWOEHR, BY, DE
• Hometown: DALLAS, TX, US
• Hometown: FAIRFAX STATION, VA, US