WARSAW, Poland -- Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, U.S. Army Europe's commanding general, in press interviews in Lithuania, Estonia, and Poland this week, has mentioned the positioning of an armored brigade-size equipment set (tanks, trucks, etc.) in Europe -- the European Activity Set -- for rotational personnel to use when they are in Europe.
The EAS is currently designed to equip a heavy battalion of troops that deploys to the region for training exercises, known as the Regionally Aligned Force. Hodges is recommending increasing that capability to allow equipping a brigade of the Regionally Aligned Force.
Having the vehicles and other equipment available as these Soldiers arrive saves the Regionally Aligned Force time and money by not having to transport their own equipment for these months-long rotations.
1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division from Fort Hood, Texas, is the unit currently working with our Allies in the Baltic nations and Poland. In the coming weeks, they will be replaced by 2nd Cavalry Regiment from Grafenwoehr, Germany. There is a plan in place to rotate units every few months for the foreseeable future. The number of troops is planned to remain what it is now unless our hosts ask for more personnel for exercises.
Operation Atlantic Resolve remains a clear sign of the U.S. Commitment to the NATO Alliance. That operation is scheduled to continue through 2015. USAREUR along with the countries of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland is looking at the best way to support this operation in the future. Any plans to preposition heavy armor vehicles and equipment in the Baltics or Poland would involve close coordination and consultation between the U.S. and the host countries.
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