2nd Cavalry Regiment partners up with German soldiers during Operation Angry Lion

By Sgt. William A. Tanner, 2d Cavalry Regiment public affairs print journalistFebruary 9, 2015

Bull Troop partners up with German Soldiers during Operation Angry Lion
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Dragoon trooper watches as German soldiers conduct vehicle convoy operations and maneuvers during Operation Angry Lion at Bergen NATO Training Area, Germany, Feb. 3, 2015. The trooper is assigned to Bull Troop, 1st Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, a... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bull Troop partners up with German Soldiers during Operation Angry Lion
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Dragoon troopers conduct vehicle convoy operations and maneuvers during Operation Angry Lion at Bergen NATO Training Area, Germany, Feb. 3, 2015. The troopers are assigned to Bull Troop, 1st Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, and the German soldiers are... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bull Troop partners up with German Soldiers during Operation Angry Lion
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Capt. Nicholas Nelson, Bull Troop commander, stands with his German counterpart from the 12th Armored Brigade while surveying their troops during a tactical operation while participating in Operation Angry Lion at Bergen NATO Training Area, Germany, ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bull Troop partners up with German Soldiers during Operation Angry Lion
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Dragoon troopers conduct vehicle convoy operations and maneuvers during Operation Angry Lion at Bergen NATO Training Area, Germany, Feb. 3, 2015. The troopers are assigned to Bull Troop, 1st Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, and the German soldiers are... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

BERGEN NATO TRAINING AREA, Germany (Feb. 6, 2015) -- Interoperability is the utmost standard of our NATO allies and 2nd Cavalry Regiment, or CR, works hard to make sure that its Dragoons uphold that standard.

Troopers assigned to Bull Troop, 1st Squadron, 2 CR, participated in multinational training with German soldiers assigned to the 12th Armored Brigade and the 10th Panzer Division during Operation Angry Lion at Bergen NATO Training Area in Bergen, Germany, Jan. 26 - Feb. 6.

The exercise provided many training opportunities at the task force and battalion levels, as well as enhancing the capabilities to plan and conduct operations for more than 1,400 combined participants from both countries.

"From my personal experience, this event is the highlight of my Army career," said Capt. Nicholas Nelson, commander of Bull Troop. "This is a training event the likes of which I have never seen before."

Throughout the event, Dragoon troopers along with their German counterparts conducted troop and company-level field situational training exercises culminating in a final squadron and battalion live-fire training exercise.

"Interoperability is about more than our people and equipment working with our NATO allies," said Maj. Bryan Frizzelle, Bull Troop operations officer, or S3. "It's about the relationships."

This exercise is an annual one for German soldiers but is the first year that 2 CR has been integrated into and will be part of the training being conducted.

"One of the things we have taken away from this is how impressed we are with the capabilities of the German Army," Frizzelle said. "They are an extremely professional organization and a true peer."

Nelson echoed Frizzelle's sentiment about the opportunity to train with their German counterparts.

"I don't feel like I am working with a foreign Army," Nelson said. "I feel like I am working with a part of my higher headquarters."

With the exercise coming to a close, the overall ability to work together and communicate helps to improve the bond between the Army and its NATO allies.

"This is what the ability to work together looks like," Frizzelle said. "This is how we strengthen the alliance."

Related Links:

Army.mil: Europe News

For more photos of Operation Angry Lion, check out the 2 CR Flickr page