Photo By Staff Sgt. Rose Di Trolio | U.S. Army Sgt. Kyle Troyer, a forward observer (left), and Sgt. Kevin Shipley, a team...... read more read more
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VÕRU, Estonia – The Maryland National Guard and the Armed Forces of Estonia conducted joint training during Exercise Hedgehog as part of the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program, May 12–16, 2025.
Every three years, Estonia conducts its largest military exercise, focusing on planning and executing operations to enhance interoperability and warfighting skills among NATO allies. During this multinational exercise, allied nations conduct various military operations as if they were real-life scenarios. Exercise Hedgehog includes forces from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Latvia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Poland, and Portugal. Over 16,000 Estonian and allied troops took part in Exercise Hedgehog with the main focus on planning operations, executing missions, and enhancing interoperability among participating nations.
"This is my third year in a row coming to this exercise, I've had life-long lessons just building these relationships with different nationalities and just working together as a team," said Staff Sgt. Joshua Lynch, the fire support Non-commissioned Officer in Charge with the 1st Battalion, 107th Field Artillery, Detachment 1, Maryland Army National Guard, attached to 1st of the 175th Infantry Battalion.” "The working relationship between the Maryland Army National Guard and Estonia has really developed with my experience over the past three years. We've definitely developed more of a unit cohesion, developed both great friendships and relationships as well by working as a team."
The Maryland National Guard is heavily involved with the exercise as well as their U.S. counterparts, including soldiers with Able Battery, 3rd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment, Task Force Voit, and Apache Troop, 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. The Maryland National Guard’s State Partnership Program (SPP) includes its partnerships with Estonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. With the establishment of their official partnership in 1993, the close relationship between the Maryland National Guard and Estonia has served as a cornerstone of the SPP and helped drive the program’s continued growth. The program takes pride in how it highlights civil-military cooperation and emphasizes civilian oversight of a professional military.
“My detachment has been working with the state partnership in Estonia for roughly four years now, taking part in Spring Storm and Hedgehog exercises," said Maryland Army National Guard 1st Lt. Russell Meadows, the fire support officer with the 1st Battalion, 107th Field Artillery Det 1, Maryland Army National Guard, attached to 1st of the 175th Infantry battalion. “I think it is important to be working with our allied partners because if you really want to be an effective warfighter, then you need to start developing relationships with your partners."
The fire support teams consist of forward observers, radio telephone operators, and team chiefs The 1st Battalion, 107th Field Artillery Det 1, Maryland Army National Guard, played a significant role in the training with joint forward observer programs along with the Joint Terminal Air Controller (JTAC). A fire support team (FIST) is a component of U.S. military operations responsible for coordinating and directing indirect fire support, like artillery or air strikes, on the battlefield. They serve as the primary liaison for ground infantry units and artillery or air support units.
"Here at Hedgehog, the Maryland Army National Guard has been acting as joint fire observers in supporting the large-scale combined arms with NATO," said Staff Sgt. Joshua Lynch, the fire support Non-commissioned Officer in Charge with the 1st Battalion, 107th Field Artillery Det 1, Maryland Army National Guard, attached to 1st of the 175th Infantry battalion.”
Supportive elements from the tactical operations center (TOC), which served as the concealed command post, included several 107th Field Artillery Detachment leaders who gave tactical guidance to the fire support teams.
“We’re working with our state partners- Estonia, to provide joint fire support capabilities to maneuver forces," said Maryland Army National Guard 1st Lt. Russell Meadows, the fire support officer with the 1st Battalion, 107th Field Artillery Det 1, Maryland Army National Guard, attached to 1st of the 175th Infantry battalion.”
The missions carried out during Exercise Hedgehog serve as a prime example of the importance of training alongside allied nations. These joint events and the strengthened partnerships that emerged demonstrate that the United States and NATO are committed to facing any challenge together. The relationship between the Maryland National Guard and Estonia illustrates how the State Partnership Program builds trust, enhances readiness, and fosters enduring, multinational cooperation.
“Several Maryland Army National Guard soldiers supported multinational division operations by providing subject matter experts in the fires warfighting function,” said Lt. Col. Christian Maisel, the fire section chief with 291st Digital Liaison Detachment, Maryland Army National Guard. “We have supported the Estonian forces through Hedgehog 22, Spring Storm 23, Spring Storm 24, Hedgehog 25, and other related exercises. Estonian forces have grown and continued to adapt as we have aided the development of their fire control system, divisional framework, and their Joint Air Integration Cell. We look forward to supporting future operations with our state partners at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels.”
| Date Taken: | 05.15.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.17.2025 14:24 |
| Story ID: | 498216 |
| Location: | EE |
| Web Views: | 57 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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