GRAFENWOEFR, Germany (June 29, 2015) -- After nearly a month of training, 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, out of Fort Stewart, Georgia, the regionally-aligned brigade to Europe, used all of its knowledge gained from previous training and exercises to execute a combined arms live-fire exercise, or CALFEX, here, June 25.
The CALFEX is the culminating training event of Exercise Combined Resolve IV, or CbR IV, a U.S. Army Europe-directed multinational exercise at the Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels Training Areas, which included more than 4,700 participants from 10 NATO and partner nations.
CbR IV provides a complex scenario, which focuses on multinational unified land operations and reinforces the U.S. commitment to NATO and Europe. The CALFEX featured a unique-blended training environment, consisting of a combination of live-fire, virtual and simulated training resources from the 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command, or JMTC.
The infantry division and NATO allies executed a combined arms lane breach, dismount maneuvers, synchronized close-air support, artillery, mortars, and reconnaissance assets during the exercise.
It also participated in scenarios, which included knocking out bunkers, entering and clearing rooms, and support by indirect fire.
"This exercise is important because it allowed the Soldiers to better understand how to integrate with field artillery, mortars, and attack aviation support," said Capt. Andrew Webber, a planner for JMTC G3 plans and exercises. "It combined all of these assets together so we could work on the live-fire aspect of combined arms."
Webber said 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment of 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, and its NATO partners have conducted multiple ranges in the past three weeks to prepare for this final exercise.
This exercise was another opportunity to strengthen interoperability with partnered nations in the NATO alliance and build on its presence in Europe.
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