Baltic countries train with US, UK and Canada

Photo By David Overson | Lithuanian Army Lt. Col. Viktoras Bagdonas, chief of staff for the Lithuanian Army "Griffin" Brigade, stands outside of the Lithuanian Tactical Operation Center during Allied Spirit VII, which took place at the U.S. Army's Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, Nov. 18, 2017. Approximately 4,050 service members from 13 nations are participating in exercise Allied Spirit VII at 7th Army Training Command’s Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, Oct. 30 to Nov. 22, 2017. Allied Spirit is a U.S. Army Europe-directed, 7ATC-conducted multinational exercise series designed to develop and enhance NATO and key partner’s interoperability and readiness. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. David Overson)  

BY, GERMANY

06.13.2012

Story by Denver Beaulieu-Hains 

7th Army Training Command

By Denver Beaulieu-Hains
Joint Multinational Training Command

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany – How do you build an exercise that trains seven nation’s and in two countries?

If you ask the planners and trainers at the Joint Multinational Training Command, or JMTC, it’s a coordinated effort. JMTC deployed professional observers, controllers and trainers to evaluate the progress and development of elements participating in the exercise, and JMTC Safety professionals to monitor safety measures and ensure standards were met, during “Saber Strike,” a multi-national training event, June 10-22, at the Ādaži Training area, near Riga Latvia and at facilities in Estonia.

Saber Strike is the largest multi-national military exercise in the region. About 2,000 personnel from Canada, Estonia, France, Latvia, Lithuanian, the United Kingdom and the United States engage the enemy, as they overcome challenges in interoperability during the two-week exercise.

Annually, the three Baltic nations, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania rotate hosting responsibility, and share resources and capabilities to meet the training requirements of organic units and elements, who may deploy in support of contingency operations in Afghanistan.

Why Saber Strike?

“The main reason these countries are operating together is to build a better operational understanding between the separate organizations and improve command and control systems and processes at the tactical level,” said Tony Bonarti, JMTC’s lead exercise planner. “In pursuing operational cohesiveness, these nations expect to achieve vast improvements in their respective defense and host- nation governments that allow them to be prepared to address both national and international crisis events.”

In addition to providing trainers and safety staff, the Europe’s Training Support Activity Europe, or TSAE, shipped 160 target lifters to set-up three live-fire gunnery lanes; 1000 sets of Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement Systems, medical training aids and devices, traffic control kits, cultural-dress uniforms, and improvised-explosive device simulators to Latvia.

“Latvia, is where the live-fire and field training exercise are taking place,” said Wil Alston, JMTC’s chief of Regional Training Support Division-Expeditionary, or RTSD-E. The RTSD-E is one of six Regional Training Support Divisions within TSAE. The scenario for the live-fire has units defending a Forward Operating Base.

“Additionally, there are two live-fire lanes established for the unit to conduct dismounted and mounted-counter attacks just like they could potentially do in Afghanistan,” Alston said.“We provide everything we need including the containers to ship equipment, said Alston. “All of this helps the units achieve their desired training objectives.”

During training, an Estonian maneuver brigade is being augmented by multinational participants from multiple nations including both NATO and non-NATO members, while the Command Post exercise, which is led by the Estonian military is supported by subject matter experts and tools to enhance the training environment.

Because of its forward-based proximity to European partners, the JMTC is the only U.S. Army Training command to regularly train U.S. and multi-national forces together. Trainers say simulations is a cost-effective way to stimulate the training environment, while allowing a commander to train, then retrain, while integrating live, virtual and constructive elements into training scenarios.

Annually, JMTC’s JMSC conducts about 39 NATO exercises, approximately 5,000 multi-national personnel each year.

Also participating in the Saber Strike are the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment and the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. The Michigan Air Guard; the 4th Marine Division and a Joint Terminal Air Controller team from the Washington Air Guard.

For more information or to learn more about Europe’s unique multi-national training mission, please visit the JMTC web site: http://www.eur.army.mil/jmtc.

• Date Taken: 06.13.2012
• Date Posted: 06.13.2012 08:38
• Story ID: 89889
• Location: BY, DE