NOWA DEBA, Poland – Soldiers from five of the 24 participating nations held opening ceremonies for Exercise Anakonda 16 in Eastern Poland on June 6, 2016. This ceremony was just one of the inaugural events taking place across Poland for the 25,000 strong multinational force that demonstrates allied forces standing “shoulder” to “shoulder” to test the ability and readiness of the Polish Armed forces with allies and partners.
“The Polish-led exercise was designed to demonstrate the ability of the NATO Alliance to mass forces on Polish territory as well as demonstrate freedom of maneuver throughout the country,” said Capt. Tony Formica, an operations planner from the 173rd Airborne Brigade.
During the opening ceremony, each commander from the allied and partner forces gave authority over to Brigadier General Adam Joks, Polish Commander of the Multinational Brigade, known as the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade.
Anakonda 16 is comprised of live fire, command post, field training, cyber and electronic warfare exercises.
For 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, here in Nowa Deba, this training will include mortar and artillery live fires, as well as .50 caliber and MK-19 machine gun ranges. They will also work with Polish long range reconnaissance, all while prepping for an air assault later this week.
“This exercise provides the ability to get us all on the same sheet of music, so we can operate together, and make quick decisions,” said Sgt. Jason Mitchell, a Paratrooper from A Troop, 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade. “It gives us a chance train with other nations as well as see what we can improve on.”
Not only is the exercise a chance to coordinate, collaborate and learn from each other, but also a sign of solidarity for our allied nations.
“As NATO alliance partners, we reinforce each other; it is why we are here,” said Lt. Col. Mark W. Stouffer, Squadron Commander for 1st Squadron (Airborne), 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade. “We need to have the capability to and practice of working seamlessly together. It is all about building trust and team within the alliance and moving forward together.”
Approximately 12,000 U.S. forces, of which approximately 9,000 are from U.S.-based units, participated in this exercise to include the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Each unit bringing a variety of armour, aviation, engineer, infantry capabilities to the exercise.
The 173rd Airborne Brigade based in Vicenza, Italy, is the Army Contingency Response Force in Europe, and is capable of projecting forces to conduct the full of range of military operations across the United State European, Central and Africa Commands areas of responsibility.
Search the #Anakonda16 for more media as it happens.
-30-