PABRADE, Lithuania - Soldiers assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, in conjunction with the Lithuanian armed forces, conducted a combined arms live-fire exercise in Pabrade, Lithuania, Oct. 30, 2014.
In an effort to establish enhanced joint maneuvering capability and tactical combat proficiency across allied operational channels, Soldiers from both countries engaged range targets simultaneously, utilizing Stryker Fighting Vehicles and Lithuanian M113 Personnel carriers as well as M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles to assault the objective.
"Today we did a combined live fire with our partnered Lithuanian coy," said Capt. Michael Sims, commander of Charlie Troop, 1st Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, and the range coordinating officer in charge of the exercise. "It was a great opportunity to show our interoperability and to show our presence here, reassuring our NATO partners of our dedication to Article V."
The Strykers mounted with .50-caliber machine guns, alongside the personnel carriers mounted with Browning .50-caliber machine guns, made initial contact, while soldiers from both forces dismounted the vehicles and began to engage behind wooden barriers. The Bradleys brought up the rear and conducted berm drills while firing Bushmaster 25 mm cannons and the 240C machine guns.
Distinguished guests in attendance included Maj. Gen. Michael Bills, 1st Cavalry Division commander, and Maj. Gen. Almantas Leika, Lithuanian Land Forces commander, were given an introductory demonstration prior to the exercise, by both countries, highlighting weapon and vehicle capability.
"This is the first rotation when we have had troops here from the 1st Cavalry Division and this provides us with a much better opportunity to train with our allies to achieve better tactical competence," said Leika. "And, of course, it is very good for our allies and strategy partners to deploy their troops in response to the very complicated security situation in this part of Europe."
These activities are part of the U.S. Army Europe-led Operation Atlantic Resolve land force assurance training taking place across Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to enhance multinational interoperability, strengthen relationships among allied militaries, contribute to regional stability and demonstrate U.S. commitment to NATO.
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