KADAGA, Latvia - BOOM! That was the sound Latvian and U.S. Army soldiers made at Adazi Training Area, Latvia while conducting urban breach training on Feb. 5, 2016.
The soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, conducted the denoted charges and room clearing with their Latvian NATO allies.
With the bitter cold and wind hitting the soldier’s faces and hands they would huddle together when they were not part of the team blowing up doors and entering the buildings. Even while huddled together, the troops were on their toes from the constant loud bangs from the charges blowing up.
Sgt. Anthony Walker of Engineer Platoon, HHT, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, described the training as, “We [U.S. Army] are out here with our NATO Allies [Latvians] and we are teaching them as well as our soldiers how to tactically enter a building using explosives.”
“With them [Latvians] teaching us [U.S.] and us teaching them, it builds a nice little bond,” said Sgt. Guadalupe Beas of Engineer Platoon, HHT, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment.
The soldiers not only bonded over the bangs and booms they made, but also got the opportunity to learn from each other and improve on their tactics, techniques and procedures.