CINCU, Romania - As Exercise Saber Guardian kicked off at the Romanian Land Forces Combat Training Center in Cincu, Romania, on July 27, eyes from around the world turned their attention towhat the U.S. Army is doing in Europe. This exercise and its vision were the brainchild of Lt. Gen. Timothy Kadavy, director of the Army National Guard.
Kadavy recently visited the Romanian training center to see his vision come to life as military personnel from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Canada, Georgia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Ukraine and the U.S. worked and trained together.
"The National Guard's mission here, the way I see it, is three things," said Kadavy. "First and foremost, it's about our Soldiers getting some realistic training in an environment they are not used to being in. Second, it's about interoperability with our NATO allies, so multinational exercises are crucial to our success. Lastly, [Saber Guardian] is about reassuring our NATO allies about the U.S. Army commitment and deterring aggressors around the world."
Approximately 1,700 U.S. Soldiers are participating in the exercise from U.S. Army Europe, Army National Guard, and Reserve units. Many of the Soldiers said they have enjoyed the training and look forward to more opportunities to train with the NATO allies abroad.
"This exercise has been invaluable and our Soldiers have been able to learn a lot from the new terrain and our Romanian counterparts," said Capt. Woodburn, commander of Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.
Kadavy's goal for this exercise is to improve each nation's tactical proficiency by conducting a field training exercise (FTX) and a combined-arms live fire exercise (CALFEX). Interoperability will be improved at the tactical level between U.S. and partner nations in planning, coordination, and mission command and command & control through the activities performed.
Also part of Saber Guardian is a command post exercise, which will further enhance the partner nation's communications and interoperability. Finally, the exercise will train commanders and staffs in the development of combined planning, standard operating procedures and staff battle drills in a force-on-force environment at the brigade level.
"As the Army draws down, there are certain sets of capacity needs the Army will have for these exercises," said Kadavy. "[The U.S. Army] will look heavily on the National Guard to sustain and meet these needs as the National Guard becomes more involved in these types of exercises."
Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Kepner, the command Sgt. Maj. of the Army National Guard, accompanied Kadavy to visit and speak with the Soldiers attending the exercise. He explained how the National Guard and Reserves need to fill the strategic gap that the active component cannot. Kepner said he sees the National Guard and Reserves playing a larger part in overseas training opportunities as the U.S. Military moves forward.
Both Kadavy and Kepner could not fully express all their gratitude for the hard work of each Soldier in the Army National Guard and Reserves, and equally to the families of each Soldier who keep them in the fight.