ADAZI TRAINING AREA, Latvia (Sept. 19, 2014) -- Soldiers from Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, based in Vicenza, Italy, conducted a combined arms live-fire training event as part of a multi-national exercise Operation Atlantic Resolve here, Monday.
"Today's operation is the first of three," said the unit's commander, Capt. Dwayne Steppe, who hails from Columbia, South Carolina. "What we're doing right now is rehearsal for our blank iteration with the live OPFOR [opposing force] taking place this afternoon."
The majority of the training at Adazi Training Area encompasses movement from Forward Operating Base Rock, to a training site used for urban operations training. The military operations in urban terrain, or MOUT, training village was created for this exercise by the 500th Engineer Company, 15th Engineer Battalion, based at the U.S. Army's Joint Maneuver Training Command in Grafenwoehr, Germany. The village contains buildings with multiple rooms and windows, providing optimal MOUT training opportunities.
The 500th Engineers constructed the buildings in the village with conex containers and plywood, arranging them so that each needs to be successfully cleared in order to clear the objective.
"[The 15th Engineers] came out here and have been sleeping out at FOB Rock under the stars and coming out here and pulling eight-to-12-hour days, building this entire objective," lauded Steppe.
A unique aspect of these maneuvers is that Chosen Company will be transported to the objectives with the support of Strykers from Apache Troop, 1st Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, stationed at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany. The Strykers arrived earlier in the month from Germany inside U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster Aircraft, as part of the joint forcible entry for NATO Exercise Steadfast Javelin II, held at nearby Lielvarde Airbase.
"We're always going on training rotations to different countries. This one is really cool and kind of unique. It's my first time being in Strykers," said Pfc. Daylan Stuteville, with Chosen Company.
The training incorporates many units, vehicles and aircraft, as well as different scenarios.
"They are doing well," said Steppe. "This is a complex objective. Any time you fight in the streets or you have a MOUT-type scenario, it's forcing leadership at every level to be adaptive and flexible. So it's complicated and it's going to force guys to think on their feet."
Training with Strykers in the mix not only enhances the experience for Chosen Company, but it allows members of Apache Troop to hone their skills while working with units they don't typically train with.
"Like any training, you start with the basics," said Spc. Julian Martinez, Vehicle Commander, Apache Troop. We were able to get out here and then immediately go with the 173rd and then train with the international forces. There's really no concern, because as long as you have the basics, everything fell into place."
Martinez also enjoyed ample opportunities to spot train his Soldiers.
"I'm a senior specialist in the platoon so I've actually been able to teach the newer guys," he continued. "And it's a great learning experience, whether it's been vehicles getting stuck and learning how to pull them out."
Training was not only realistic, it was successful, according to participants.
"I've never done a company live fire, so the opportunity is amazing." Steppe said. "This is the most robust live fire I've ever seen. What's great about it is how we've roped in so many outside elements. We've got [the 2nd Cavalry Regiment] in support with their Strykers, we have [the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade] in support with aviation platforms."
Steppe went on to say this training exercise illustrates the interoperability among U.S. forces and their counterparts from partner nations.
Related Links:
Combined Resolve II to exercise Army's European Rotational Force
173rd conducts unscheduled training with Latvian Army
STAND-TO!: Regionally Aligned Forces
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