Polish, US Soldiers conduct mortar training

By Spc. Audrey Ann Hayes, 214th Mobile Public Affairs DetachmentNovember 21, 2014

Polish, US Soldiers conduct mortar training
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pfc. Dennis Drazkowski, a native of Norristown, Pa., and a mortar man with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, prepares to fire mort... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Polish, US Soldiers conduct mortar training
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, fire mortars from an M1064A3 Mortar Carrier Vehicle at a range near Drawsko Pomors... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ZLOCIENIEC, Poland - Soldiers from the Polish army and U.S. troops from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, fired mortars during a training exercise Nov. 17, 2014, at a range near Drawsko Pomorskie, Poland.

The two NATO allies were engaging the same targets with 120 millimeter, high explosive rounds as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a U.S. Army Europe-led, multinational combined arms exercise involving the 1st Cavalry Division and host nations, takes place across Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to enhance multinational interoperability, to strengthen relationships among allied militaries, to contribute to regional stability and to demonstrate U.S. commitment to NATO.

First Lt. Gregory Ayers, the mortar platoon leader for HHC, was the officer in charge of the range.

"Working with our polish counterparts gives us an opportunity to conduct NATO exercises, as well as reassure our allies that we are here to train and work with them," he said.

Conducting training exercises wasn't always an easy task, said Sgt. Kenneth Lee, a native of Corpus Christi, Texas, and a mortar squad leader with the unit.

"At first, training was hard to get established between the two NATO countries, like the planning and the preparation; but now, it is actually going really well. Everything definitely came together on this training mission," said Lee.

With things running smoothly, the two NATO allies have done more than just train together.

Lee said the U.S. troops were playing American football, which later turned into a Polish rugby match.

"We hear a lot about NATO and its purpose, and we're actually out here conducting missions and learning their tactics and they are learning ours, so training together is important because it builds a strong team," said Ayers.

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