ADAZI, Latvia – U.S. Army Europe and its regional partners in the Baltic region kicked off a joint, multinational military exercise called “Saber Strike” Monday at the Adazi Training Area. The exercise is scheduled from June 9 - 20 and spans multiple locations in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, and involves approximately 4,700 personnel from 10 countries.
Latvia, the host nation for this year’s exercise, held the opening ceremony with the exercise co-director, Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations) Brig. Gen. Ainārs Ozoliņš presiding.
“Each year the exercise expands, by unit, by equipment and by nations. I am happy to see all the military units and personnel here because it is important to be together with one goal and I believe we are always our strongest when we work together. This is a great opportunity for our militaries to share their experience and knowledge and use best practices,” Ozoliņš said.
The Saber Strike exercise program, now in its fourth year, is part of an ongoing USAREUR cooperative training effort primarily focused on the three Baltic States: Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. The exercise is designed to promote regional stability, strengthen international military partnerships, enhance multinational interoperability and prepare participants for worldwide contingency operations.
“It is a great honor and responsibility to host Saber Strike and we strongly appreciate your contributions and willingness to boost training in the region,” said Latvian Minister of Defense Raimonds Vejonis. “Persistent Presence in the region is the best solution to bringing higher security.”
This year’s exercise includes participation from: U.S. Air Force Europe; Air National Guard from Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Washington; Army National Guard from Louisiana, Michigan, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and Utah; Canada; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; Latvia; Lithuania; Norway; Poland and United Kingdom. This is the first year Denmark and Canada have participated in the exercise.
The exercise trains participants on command and control and interoperability with regional partners. It is comprised of a brigade-level command post exercise and computer-assisted exercise occurring at various sites in Lithuania and Estonia, including locations near Tartu, Vilnius, Pabrade, Amari and Tapa, as well as company-level field and situational training exercises taking place at the Adazi Training Area, Latvia.
Saber Strike 2014 also features the integration of U.S. close air support with partner nation ground forces. All activities highlight joint, multinational training among the participating nations and are designed to improve operational capability in a variety of missions.
Units from USAREUR include the headquarters, Joint Multinational Simulation Center, 15th Engineer Platoon, 12th Cavalry, 19th Battlefield Coordination Detachment, Joint Multinational Readiness Center, 5th Signal Command, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, and 18th Engineer Brigade and 234th Engineer Detachment.
The Pennsylvania and Michigan Army National Guard are also participating in both the command-post exercise with a command and control element and the field-training exercise with a platoon of light infantry.
“The strong bonds of friendship formed throughout the exercise will form inseparable relationships in the future and I am confident we will continue to show the world we are a shining example of interoperability,” said Maj. Gen. Mark McQueen, exercise co-director. The United States does not ever want to go alone and we have a strategic partnership in the Baltics. We partners are committed to the defense of freedom and standing against tyranny.”
U.S. Air Forces in Europe are providing the 435th Contingency Response Group for aerial port capabilities, and the 435th Air-Ground Operations Wing and the 37th Airlift Squadron are forward deploying forces and equipment by C-130.
The Minnesota Air National Guard is providing F-16 close air support aircraft and the Michigan and Pennsylvania Air National Guard are supporting with KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft. The North Dakota National Guard’s 116th Public Affairs Detachment is providing media support and coverage of the event.