VORU, Estonia – Paratroopers from Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne) based at Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, Italy, participated in NATO exercise Steadfast Javelin here from May 13-22, 2014.
The exercise included soldiers from the U.K., Lithuania scout platoon, Latvia and U.S. scouts from the Maryland Army National Guard. The allied forces found themselves in an unfamiliar role, playing the opposing force as part of Estonia Defense Forces Escort Scout Battalion/1st Brigade. The “good guys” for the exercise was a brigade-sized element of the Estonian army finishing their year of compulsory service.
One hundred fifty paratroopers from 2nd Bn., 503rd Inf. Regt. deployed to Estonia on April 29 as part of 600 total troops from the 173rd Airborne that deployed to Poland and each of the Baltic nations to demonstrate NATO resolve and improve interoperability between ground forces.
Exercise Steadfast Javelin is the latest progression of the annual Estonian Defense Forces’ exercise Kevadtorm (translated as “Spring Storm"), which has been held since 2003 and typically involved around 1,500 participants. Falling under NATO this year, the exercise was dubbed Steadfast Javelin, fitting into the naming convention of the Alliance’s other large ground exercises.
This year’s exercise drew approximately 6,000 troops and is currently the largest field training exercise held in any Baltic nation. The exercise serves a culminating training event for the newest crop of Estonian Defense Forces.
Approximately 1,500 Estonian troops went against the allied forces under the Estonian Scout Platoon, and the Estonian forces were aided by the Unmanned Aerial Surveillance Platoon from the 173rd’s Brigade Special Troops Battalion.
The exercise took place in a 60 by 12 kilometer area in Southern Estonia. The exercise ranges across privately owned land, with the daily action limited to certain hours to limit any potential damage to property. Maj. Andres Noole, 1st Brigade, Estonian Defense Forces said one of the biggest difficulties in the exercise is preventing damages to the private property. If there is damage after an engagement, civil military cooperation teams go in to assess the damages and compensate the owners.
"It was a unique exercise because it wasn't on an Army training facility, it's in Estonia around people's houses and we're not really use to that," said Spc. Dwayne Brown of 2nd Bn., 503rd Inf. Regt.
Noole acted as an observer controller with three other soldiers from the Estonian Defense Force to 2nd Bn., 503rd Inf. Regt. Noole said the forests in Estonia are so thick it is hard to use the multiple integrated laser engagement laser system, so he and his team determined the casualties after each engagement between the two forces.
"One of the greatest advantages of having multiple NATO countries involved in the exercise is the different uniforms, because our [troops] do not know what they look like," said Noole.
The exercise did not go off without some issues. Second Bn., 503rd Inf. Regt. realized several weeks before the exercise their radio systems were not going to be compatible with the Estonians and upon arrival were given two Estonian radio systems so they could communicate with the Estonian Scout Battalion, their higher headquarters.
"[Communications security] was the biggest issue due to interoperability with the NATO allies, because they don't have the same encryption standards as the U.S.," stated Sgt. Logan Matticola, 2nd Bn., 503rd Inf. Regt’s communications noncommissioned officer.
"It was a different fight,” said Capt. Dwayne Steppe, 2nd Bn., 503rd Inf. Regt’s commander. “I think leading up to this our training was solely focused on mount urban type scenarios, short and fast engagements and this was a long man's game."
Steppe said the Soldiers were required to pull security for long hours and were exposed to the elements as well. "It was not just a test of not only their intestinal fortitude, it was also a test of the leadership challenges in keeping their heads in the game. It was a great event and the first true test,” said Steppe.
Steppe feels his company learned a lot of hard lessons and in the end everything came together. "Everyone throws around the word interoperability, but actually seeing it done and executing it is a different story," he said.
Steppe said overall the Soldiers liked the training. "The fact we got to train with the Estonians, ride in the back of armored personnel carriers, call for fire, react to contact and things of that nature are all things we haven't done in a while. I believe in the end they had a great time."