DRAWSKO POMORSKIE TRAINING AREA, POLAND – U.S. Army Lt. Col. John Ebbighausen brought everyone on the flight needed for the Poland trip: several college students, electricians, a game warden, drivers, carpenters, salesmen, and a mechanic, all Citizen-Soldiers.
These 51 North Carolina National Guard Soldiers of the 5th Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Regiment (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System), deployed May 31, 2016, to Exercise Anakonda 16, a Polish-led, joint, multinational exercise taking place in Poland from June 7-17 involving more than 25,000 participants from more than a dozen nations.
"It promotes Army interoperability through interaction with foreign artillery officers, noncommissioned officers and their weapon systems," said Ebbighausen, commander of the 5-113th Field Artillery Regiment.
Soldiers flew from Raleigh-Durham Airport in North Carolina into Berlin's Tegel Airport. After clearing customs, they drove to a local German military base for briefings and accountability. Soon the Soldiers convoyed to a Polish military base in Szczecin, Poland. After a quick night sleep and an early hot breakfast, they load up for the bus to the port of Szczecin on the Baltic Sea.
Lined up at the docks are the tools of these Soldiers' trade. Several Humvees and light tactical vehicles, an enhanced container-handling unit, two resupply vehicles and four HIMARS roar to life as the Soldiers make the vehicles ready to roll out to Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area. Leaders briefed crews on the route, drivers checked directions. Ebbighausen and other senior leaders handed out Meals Ready to Eat and water to every Soldier in the unit.
The convoy drove via highways, snake-like country roads and city streets on the way to DPTA. Children waved as Soldiers smiled and waved back.
"I thought I never would get a chance to visit Poland and Germany," said Spc. Nathan Timberlake, of Youngsville, North Carolina, a fire-direction control team member with the battalion's headquarters battery.
The vehicles passed numerous other active duty, National Guard and Reserve U.S. Army and forces from several other countries already deployed to the site. Soon the convoy arrived at a small clearing in forests of their assigned area at the post.
Noncommissioned officers establish priorities of work focused on communications with higher headquarters and subordinate units. They train young Soldiers on how to rapidly set up the operations center with vehicles, tents, antennas and generators during a light rain.
Drivers and crews parked the HIMARS with camouflage nets blending into the wood line, command vehicles radios and computers are powered up and as the unit begins training operations less than 24-hours from landing in Berlin.
"It gives everyone confidence that we are ready under any circumstance," said Spc. Jacob Deese, of Bethel, North Carolina, a medic with the battalion.
U.S. Army Europe's participation in Exercise Anakonda 16 demonstrates that the United States is dedicated to regional security. The purpose of the exercise is to enhance readiness and the ability to effectively train and work alongside allies and partners, and exercise freedom of movement among participating nations throughout the European theater.