Photo By Staff Sgt. John Onuoha | Italian Army soldiers fasten their seat belts on a UH-60 Blackhawk during exercise...... read more read more
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LIELVARDE AIR BASE, Latvia – U.S. Military, along with ally and partner nations, demonstrated commitment to NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence, Battle Groups during exercise Ready To Fight, March 13 – 19.
Ready To Fight (RTF) is a multinational exercise which demonstrates the collective defense achieved as the U.S. skillfully works together with ally and partner nations. It develops professional relationships and improves overall coordination with allies and partners during crisis.
“We are committed to making sure that we can train together, and we can fight together if necessary,” said Maj. Drew Curriston, the executive officer for 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division.
RTF in Latvia is unique because 1st CAB is the only CAB unit that were able to work with NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence, Battle Groups which is an allied, forward deployed defense and deterrence military posture in Eastern Europe to protect and reassure NATO's Eastern member states of their security, said Curriston.
RTF is a great way to build interoperability and maintain readiness, said Latvian Air Force 1st Lt Edgars Zieds, a platoon commander with the Air Defense Battalion, Air Defense Battery, 1st Air Defense.
“Being able to work with them [allies and partners] shows that we are interoperable,” said Curriston. “We can support each other, we can do missions together, and we can do it right now at the start of our rotation.”
About seven nations participated in RTF including U.S., Italy, Canada, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Montenegro.
RTF consisted of a reconnaissance platoon insertion; air assault; downed aircraft recovery team training (DART); medical validation; and a mass casualty exercise (MASCAL).
The exercise was also a chance for Soldiers to test their equipment, and ensure they have everything needed to accomplish their mission, said Curriston.
Every nation has their own standard operating procedure (SOP), said Zieds. Working together has taught each nation various ways they can upgrade their SOP’s and stay combat-ready.
“I have learned to work differently,” said Zieds. “Not only in our national level but together with our brothers in arms [allies and partners].”
The fundamental principle to the overall success achieved by NATO’s eFP Battle Groups to date is positivity.
“The bonds you build with your brothers in arms is something that will last forever,” said Zeids. “Always keep up a positive attitude towards anything. Even on [tough days], keep up a positive attitude, and it will get you through anything.”
The eFP Battle Groups continue to strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defense posture in the Baltic region, as well as maintain cohesion of the alliance’s multinational Troops.
| Date Taken: | 03.18.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 03.19.2019 11:57 |
| Story ID: | 314811 |
| Location: | LIELVARDE, RIX, LV |
| Web Views: | 385 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, Ready To Fight: 1CAB and allies maintain NATO eFP readiness, by SSG John Onuoha, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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