4TH LAR MARINES INTERACT WITH LATVIAN LOCALS DURING SABER STRIKE 18

BAUSKA, LATVIA

06.02.2018

Story by Sgt. Adwin Esters 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa     

The 4th LAR Marines are conducting a road march from the port of Klaipeda, Lithuania to the training area in Adazai, Latvia and conducting static display events in a few local communities along the way. The focus of the ceremony was the integration of multinational forces and the enhancement of the relationships between the U.S. Marines and their Latvian military counterparts.
“We have a very healthy relationship with the Latvians. This [event] allows us to come out and reinforce that relationship with the Latvian military,” said U.S. Marine Corps Col. Peter Lee, head of operations for Marine Forces Europe and Africa. “Having the Latvian military here with us helps to portray that relationship to your everyday Latvian citizen that the Latvians are a valued partner and the Americans have a healthy, beneficial relationship with the Latvian military.”
Ambassador Nancy Bikoff Pettit briefly addressed the troops and the people of Bauska before the ceremony, recognizing the valuable partnership between the U.S. and Latvia and thanking the local community for their hospitality. The ceremony gave the citizens of Bauska the opportunity to observe the different militaries involved in the annual Saber Strike exercise through a static display of military vehicles and interaction with the U.S. Marines and Latvian guardsmen.
“So far this has been awesome,” said Cpl. Jordan Riley, light armored vehicle crewman with 4th LAR and native of Fredericksburg, Va. “It’s been a good experience for me. Being able to interact with the local people and answer their questions is great. We figure out what we have in common and it’s a good learning experience on both ends.”
The 4th LAR convoy will end its journey at the training area in Adazai, Latvia to begin the first stages of Saber Strike, June 3, 2018.
Saber Strike 18 is a U.S. joint and multinational exercise conducted at various locations throughout the Baltic States and Poland. The annual exercise prepares Allies to respond to regional crises and enhance the NATO alliance throughout the region.

• Date Taken: 06.02.2018
• Date Posted: 06.05.2018 02:40
• Story ID: 279544
• Location: BAUSKA, LV