Photo By Pfc. Luis Torres | U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 809th Multi-Role Bridge Company, 15th Engineering...... read more read more
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PODLADKIE, Poland – U.S. Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment, and 809th Multi-Role Bridge Company, 15th Engineering Battalion conducted a wet gap crossing alongside Polish and Italian Armed Forces on April 29- 30, 2026, in support of Exercise Saber Strike.
A wet gap crossing is a combined-arms operation used to move troops, vehicles and equipment across a waterway such as a river or lake. This is accomplished by the utilization of temporary bridges or rafts designed to be set up and taken down quickly and efficiently.
“It's important for rapid mobility to get our allies across, especially this mission we're doing,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Caleb Kimbrel, an equipment evaluation non commissioned officer in charge with the 809th Multi-Role Bridge Company, 15th Engineering Battalion, “The whole point of the mission is to get our friendly force to this side.”
The training exercise is part of a culminating event starting in Vilseck, Germany with soldiers conducting convoy operations. The wet gap crossing was executed along the route into Poland and simulates real world operations and challenges for the units to validate their training.
“It's a great experience, both from a military training perspective, and an operational deployment perspective,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Ryan David, commander of 1st Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment. “It is also team building. We brought three different countries together, American, Italian and Polish,” he added, referring to the Allied forces participating.” Speaking three different languages, we were able to execute a military operation.”
The wet gap crossings consisted of two bridges, one bridge was U.S. and the other bridge was Italian planned, constructed and operated. The U.S. used an improved ribbon bridge which was built by using rapid deployment bridge modules and erection boats to move the sections into place. The Italian forces used motorized deployment of a self propelled bridge module, which was anchored together to make an overpass. Both provided the same results, rapid deployment and disassembly.
David said, “I think watching two bridges go up, U.S. and Italian, followed by combat power driving across, that really sets the stage that we could do that decisive operation quickly and effectively and nothing is better than that.” He added, “bringing NATO together, to bring combat power to bear across whatever challenges we needed. It's better to fight with friends than it is to fight alone.”
| Date Taken: | 04.29.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 05.01.2026 13:09 |
| Story ID: | 564094 |
| Location: | PL |
| Web Views: | 5 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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