Multinational Exercise Tobruq Legacy a success with plans to double in size next year

By Sgt. 1st Class Randall Jackson, 10th AAMDC Public AffairsJuly 4, 2015

Command Sergeants Major from U.S. and Czech Republic talk to Soldiers
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Maj. Petr Seifert, Sergeant Major of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic, left, meets 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command Soldiers accompanied by the 10th AAMDC Command Sgt. Maj. Stephen Burnley, during Exercise Tobruq Legacy 2015 in th... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Tobruq Legacy 2015 Live Fire
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Slovakia fires two Igla missiles during Exercise Tobruq Legacy 2015 in the Czech Republic July 2. Tobruq Legacy featured nearly 500 personnel from five NATO allies including Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, the U.S. and Hungary.Slovakia fires... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
USAREUR Commanding General visits Ohio National Guard Soldiers
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, the U.S. Army Europe Commanding General, takes time to talk with
Soldiers from a Sentinel radar detachment with the 2nd Bn. 174th Air Defense Artillery Regiment from the Ohio National Guard, supporting Exercise Tobruq Legacy 2015... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
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International Media at Tobruq Legacy 2015
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe, Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges (left), accompanied by Col. Janelle Eickhoff, Commander of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, takes questions from international media during exercise Tobruq Legacy 2015 in t... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Boletice, Czech Republic -- Five countries, five languages, with one common theme; "Fighting as one." That motto drove the five NATO allies including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, Hungary and the U.S. to success during Exercise Tobruq Legacy 2015 in the Czech Republic from June 23 to July 3.

Tobruq Legacy 2015 was a Ground Based Air Defense, sensor to shooter live fire exercise where the Soldiers of U.S. Army Europe based 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command or 10th AAMDC, and their Air Defense Airspace Management shelter, used their network communications equipment and technical abilities to provide a common air picture the other four countries could use to target and engage airborne threats effectively. They even found new ways to connect equipment that was never meant to communicate with each other.

"Tobruq Legacy is a true example of the united effort of the willing nations, and everyone contributed with great enthusiasm, and I'm convinced that at the end of this day we'll be able to report a successful accomplishment," said Brig. Gen. Jaromir Sebesta, Deputy Commander, Czech Air Force.

The participating countries took time to thank each other for their shared success during a joint briefing where they also discussed plans for future Tobruq Legacy exercises.

"Exercises like this are very important because it allows us to bring our partners together, to understand each other, and to fight as one. And we are glad to host the next Tobruq Legacy Exercise in the Slovak Republic next year," said Maj. Peter Fajcik, Commander of Slovak contingency during Tobruq Legacy.

All of the countries accomplished something they had never done before, for example Hungary and Lithuania fired their weapons systems during a night fire for the first time in their history.

"One of the most important things for us was the first time for a night live fire. We also appreciate the experience and knowledge the other countries shared with us," said Lithuanian Air Defense Battalion Commander, Maj. Vitalijus Sadrejevas.

Along with the multinational contributions, the Ohio National Guard also sent a detachment from the 2nd Bn., 174th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, with their Sentinel radar system to contribute to a clear air picture, and able to detect air breathing threats including aircraft and UAV's.

This is the first Tobruq Legacy exercise but plans for next year are already underway with a possibility to double the number of participating nations.

"Together we can accomplish anything, and not one of us can bring everything we need to the fight, but to do this as allies, every single nation brings an important piece," said Col. Janelle Eickhoff, 10th AAMDC Commander. "Together we're a really powerful team, and we all know were not going to fight by ourselves, we are going to fight as one team."

Related Links:

Lithuanian Armed Forces

Tobruq Legacy opening ceremony

10th AAMDC soldiers at Tobruq Legacy 2015

Ohio National Guard trains with NATO allies

Live Fire and Interoperability video from 5 countries

10th AAMDC medics train with Czechs and Hungarians

U.S. Army Europe

Hungarian Ministry of Defense

Czech Armed Forces

10th AAMDC Facebook

Slovak Armed Forces

VIDEO of what participants learned at Tobruq Legacy

VIDEO of what it's like at multinational exercise

VIDEO of what interoperability means to TL participants

VIDEO of why exercises like Tobruq Legacy are important