US Soldiers arrive in Poland for DEFENDER-Europe 20 Phase II

Courtesy Photo | Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, arrived in Poznan, Poland, July 16, 2020. The Fort Hood based unit is deployed to participate in DEFENDER-Europe 20 Phase II at Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area, Poland. DEFENDER-Europe 20 was designed as a deployment exercise to build strategic readiness in support of the U.S. National Defense Strategy and NATO deterrence objectives. In response to COVID-19, DEFENDER-Europe 20 was modified in size and scope. Phase I of the modified DEFENDER-Europe 20 was linked exercise Allied Spirit, which took place at Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area, Poland, June 5-19, with approximately 6,000 U.S. and Polish Soldiers. In Phase II of the modified DEFENDER-Europe 20, a U.S.-based combined arms battalion will conduct an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise to Europe July 14 – Aug. 22. For more information about DEFENDER-Europe, visit www.eur.army.mil/DefenderEurope. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army)  

POZNAN, POLAND

07.16.2020

Story by Staff Sgt. Scott Longstreet 

U.S. Army Europe and Africa     

POZNAN, Poland—Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, arrived in Poznan, Poland on July 16, 2020.
The Fort Hood based unit is on ground to participate in Defender Europe 20 Phase II at Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area, Poland.
“We are here executing a deployment readiness exercise,” said Lt. Col. Ron Sprang, battalion commander of the 2nd Bn., 12th Cav. Regt. “We will execute a gunnery skills table while at DTPA to improve our lethality as an organization.”
The “Iron Horse” brigade is scheduled to conduct gunneries and live fire exercises at various lower echelons, up to the company level, to enhance its capabilities. The training will culminate with a combined arms live fire exercise.
“We are excited to interact with both the Polish military and other American units here supporting Defender 20,” said Maj. Brandon Kennedy, battalion operations officer for 2nd Bn., 12th Cav. Regt.
The training will allow the U.S. forces to integrate with their Polish-NATO Allies.
“Interoperability is key,” Sprang said. “We all come from different nations with different equipment and backgrounds. It is critical that we develop skills in order to fight together and build that teamwork and cohesion so we can integrate our systems, our personnel, and be able to communicate effectively so we can fight as a bigger-more powerful team against anyone who will stand against us.”
Service members implemented a thorough COVID 19 screening protocol, which included daily screening up to three times, through temperature and symptoms checks, along with restriction of movement measures. All Soldiers will be tested upon arriving at DTPA with periodic checks throughout training.
“We exercised mitigation measures long before we arrived here in Europe,” Kennedy said. “We had these measures in place not only for these events upcoming, but to also continue to protect our families and our forces back at Fort Hood.”
DEFENDER-Europe 20 was designed as a deployment exercise to build strategic readiness in support of the U.S. National Defense Strategy and NATO deterrence objectives. In response to COVID-19, DEFENDER-Europe 20 was modified in size and scope. Phase I of the modified DEFENDER-Europe 20 was linked exercise Allied Spirit, which took place at Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area, Poland, June 5-19, with approximately 6,000 U.S. and Polish Soldiers. In Phase II of the modified DEFENDER-Europe 20, a U.S.-based combined arms battalion will conduct an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise to Europe July 14 – Aug. 22. For more information about DEFENDER-Europe, visit www.eur.army.mil/DefenderEurope.

• Date Taken: 07.16.2020
• Date Posted: 07.17.2020 12:44
• Story ID: 374113
• Location: POZNAN, PL
• Hometown: DRAWSKO POMORSKIE, ZP, PL
• Hometown: FORT CAVAZOS, TX, US