U.S. Army Europe commander joins senior military leaders for visit to exercise Rapid Trident 2013

By Sgt. Daniel Cole, U.S. Army Europe Public AffairsJuly 22, 2013

U.S. Army Europe commander joins senior military leaders for visit to exercise Rapid Trident 2013
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Europe commanding general Lt. Gen. Donald Campbell Jr. speaks with Ukrainian land forces commander Col. Gen. Genadiy Vorobiov through a Ukrainian translator, July 17, 2013, during Exercise Rapid Tridentin Yavoriv, Ukraine. Rapid Trident 201... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army Europe commander joins senior military leaders for visit to exercise Rapid Trident 2013
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Europe commanding general Lt. Gen. Donald Campbell Jr. speaks with a British soldier, July 17, 2013, during a visit to Exercise Rapid Trident. Rapid Trident 2013 is a U.S. Army Europe-led, multinational field training and command post exerc... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

YAVORIV, Ukraine (July 22, 2013) -- U.S. Army Europe Commanding General Lt. Gen. Donald Campbell Jr. joined 23 other senior military and civilian officials July 17, to observe training here as part of exercise Rapid Trident 2013.

The visitors included U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Tefft, Ukrainian Land Forces Commander Col. Gen. Genadiy Vorobiov, Ukrainian Chief Deputy of the First General Staff Adm. Igor Kabanenko and several ranking partner nation officers.

Rapid Trident 2013 is a U.S. Army Europe-led, multinational field training and command post exercise taking place at the International Peacekeeping and Security Center in Yavoriv that involves approximately 1,300 troops from 17 nations. The exercise is designed to enhance interoperability between forces and promote regional stability and security. The exercise began July 8, and ended July 19.

Campbell and other distinguished visitors watched demonstrations and discussed ways to improve the exercise and how Rapid Trident affects multinational cooperation and battlefield readiness.

"It is an important exercise every year that allows the United States to participate with multiple nations and our good friends in Ukraine," said Campbell.

The first demonstration involved a British platoon from the Royal Irish Regiment defending a position and bringing in air support followed by a Ukrainian helicopter-borne quick-reaction force to support the platoon's counterattack.

Paratroopers from the 3rd Platoon of USAREUR's Attack Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), demonstrated how to react to an ambush while travelling in vehicles. During that demonstration the paratroopers radioed Ukrainian medical helicopters to land and evacuate a simulated casualty.

Others scenario involved Ukrainian paratroopers calling in helicopter gunships to suppress a suspected terrorist camp before parachuting in to secure the camp; Romanian mechanized forces demonstrating a raid to capture a high-value target hiding in a building within a specified time limit; and a Ukrainian pararescue team jumping in to support ground troops by evacuating a simulated casualty into a hovering helicopter with a hoist.

"The opportunity to see the training center first-hand and to receive excellent briefing throughout the whole exercise has really been a highlight," said Campbell. "I believe we have certainly met the training objectives for Rapid Trident 2013."

Related Links:

Exercise Rapid Trident 2013 opens in Ukraine

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NATO Allied Land Command head visits Rapid Trident

U.S. Army Europe 'Sky Soldiers' train with multinational partners at Rapid Trident

Army.mil: Europe News

STAND-TO!: Rapid Trident 2012

U.S. Army Europe

Rapid Trident Microsite

U.S. Army Europe on Facebook

U.S. Army Europe on Flickr

U.S. Army Europe on Twitter

U.S. Army Europe on YouTube