BEMOWO PISKIE, Poland- NATO Soldiers assigned to Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Poland conducted their final pre-combat checks and pre-combat inspections before convoying to their designated area of operations for a multinational Field Training Exercise as part of Saber Strike 17 in Bemowo Piskie, Poland June 13, 2017.
The Polish-based training scenario is an exercise designed to teach the battle group’s leaders and soldiers specific skills that they will use across a full spectrum of conventional, unconventional and hybrid warfare environments. Each phase of the FTX will enable decisive action focused, battalion-level training conditions that mimic real-life situations.
The Saber Strike training exercise promotes regional stability and security while strengthening partner capabilities and fostering trust. The combined training opportunities that it provides enhance interoperability among participating Allies and regional partners and demonstrates the U.S. Army’s commitment to NATO and deterring potential adversaries.
“As part of Saber Strike we’re positioned down to the south, in area of operations cougar,” said British Capt. Max Barber, 4th Troop Leader, Mustang Troop, A Squadron, Light Dragoons “We’re identifying vulnerable points for both the battle group and the enemy, looking at key terrain features, bridging and fording sites the enemy might look to use. Then offering options on how to deny the movement.”
While Soldiers worked on camouflaging the U.S. Strykers and British Jackals in the densely vegetated portions of the training area, Capt. Craig Hymel, Commander, Ghost Troop, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, discussed his unit’s role during the first day of the combined FTX.
“We’re conducting wide area security within our portion of Bemowo Piskie Training Area,” said Hymel. “We’re establishing traffic control points and blocking obstacles with the purpose of denying freedom of maneuver to enemy forces throughout the area of operation.”
One of the benefits of the Striker, a wheeled vehicle, is it allows Ghost Troop to take advantage of Europe’s road network and maneuver from one location to another. Having the capability to rapidly respond and relocate to different areas of operations and dismount infantry squads with anti-tank and crew-served weapon systems and secure intersections, highlights the flexibility of the ground forces in the battle group.
This multinational exercise, which includes, Poland, Romania, the United State and the United Kingdom creates a foundation for strong and strategic relationships and improves the professional relationships within the alliance.
“Participating in Saber Strike is a really good opportunity to operate in a multinational battle group,” said Barber. “It’s rare we get this opportunity, so to train with American and Romanian Soldiers it’s great because it just builds on your skill set. Seeing how other nations operate and also working under a different command chain it just takes you out of your comfort zone and pushes you further. It’s also interesting to learn about the assets the other forces have and how we can best employ those as we work together.”
Given the new operating environment that the battle group has to work in, transitioning from focusing on counterinsurgency toward a multifaceted battlefield offers the opportunity to continue to build on combined capabilities and capability gaps to strengthen that ready and postured force in preparation for future conflicts.
“Every repetition we get with either the Polish or the Romanians is outstanding,” said Hymel. “For instance, I have a British platoon attached to my unit conducting reconnaissance right now, we’re also communicating with the Romanian Air Defense Battery and of course we’re working in conjunction with the (Polish) 15th Mechanized Brigade as a whole.”
“We’re learning from each other, looking at each other’s tactics techniques and procedures and ensuring our soldiers get those repetitions in, because like anything else practice makes perfect,” he added.
Day two of Battle Group Poland's FTX will consist of conducting security operations to test the systems and resolve of the ready and postured force.