ADAZI MILITARY BASE, Latvia - Soldiers, vehicles, and equipment from 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division out of Fort Stewart, Georgia, and 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade out of Grafenwohr, Germany, conducted a series of convoys from Adazi, Latvia to Tapa, Estonia, June 2-4.
The movement was part of Able Falcon, a strategic operation that includes relocating U.S. assets throughout the Baltic States; reinforcing participants in the upcoming annual exercise Saber Strike, and ultimately Operation Atlantic Resolve.
This illustration of freedom of movement is an important aspect of OAR, the ongoing, multinational partnership focused on joint training and security cooperation between the U.S. and other NATO allies here in Europe.
It validates that participants are not only capable of employing their entire range of capabilities alongside NATO partners, but are also capable of deploying in and around the European theater of operation at a moments notice.
For 173rd Airborne Brigade Platoon Leader 1st Lt. Walter Snook, whose unit serves as the light and fast reconnaissance element for the armored outfit of 2-7th Infantry, “deployability” is extremely important.
“As an Airborne Contingency Response Force, we are required to be ready to roll out in less than 48 hours, flex our capability from wherever we are in Europe to wherever we need to be,” said Snook, a Philadelphia native. “This gives NATO a quick and flexible response force to push wherever they need to.”
However, such flexibility comes with assistance from the 627th Movement Control Team headquartered out of Kaiserslautern, Germany, whose higher command, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, provides the U.S. transportation assets for all OAR exercises.
“As a Europe-based transportation element, we serve as a continuous training and support rotation here,” said 2nd Lt. Julia McCabe, a St. Louis native and movement control officer for 627th MCT.
From assessing and allocating movement assets, to furnishing customs paper work and police escorts, the MCT plays a key role in ensuring that all U.S. assets are where they need to be, and when they need to be there.
“[Freedom of movement] allows us to build upon the trust, continuity, and interoperability that we have established with the partner nations here,” said Snook, who has taken part in OAR for over a year now. “Because of that, we always enjoy our time training with our Baltic partners.”
It is through the events and exercises of OAR that U.S. and NATO partners are able to reassure one another.
“Dealing with movement operations here has helped me and my unit get a better understanding of the importance of Atlantic Resolve,” concluded McCabe. “In the event that we have to perform these operations in a real world event, we have procedures and confidence in place to do so.”
Visit the Operation Atlantic Resolve website for up-to-date photos and information.