'Sky Soldiers' conduct training at former Russian facility in Latvia

By Capt. Albert JerneganJuly 27, 2015

'Sky Soldiers' conduct training at former Russian facility in Latvia
1 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Armando Zuniga, a Santa Ana, Calif., native, affixes an explosive breaching charge to a door as an engineer from 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade look on, and to demonstrate the capabilities of explosive breaching techniqu... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Sky Soldiers' conduct training at former Russian facility in Latvia
2 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Santa Ana, Calif., native, Sgt. Armando Zuniga, right, explains how to wire an explosive breaching charge to a door to Pfc. John Quiett of El Paso, Texas, as the engineers from 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade, demonstrate the ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Sky Soldiers' conduct training at former Russian facility in Latvia
3 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – An explosive breaching charge destroys a door to a building as engineers from 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade, demonstrate the capabilities of explosive breaching techniques in conjunction with building clearing training being... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Sky Soldiers' conduct training at former Russian facility in Latvia
4 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion, and Attack Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, illustrate the end result of an explosive breaching exercise which was held in conjunction with building clearing train... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Sky Soldiers' conduct training at former Russian facility in Latvia
5 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pfc. Michael Mijares, left, a native of Plainfield, Ill., stands in formation with additional Soldiers from Attack Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade as they conduct pre-combat checks and inspections prior to begi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Sky Soldiers' conduct training at former Russian facility in Latvia
6 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pfc. Michael Mijares, right, a native of Plainfield, Ill., leads another Soldier from Attack Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade as they conduct an entry into an objective building during building clearing training... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

SKRUNDA, Latvia - Soldiers from Attack Company, along with 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade conducted mutually beneficial training at an abandoned Russian radar facility here July 22. The training, which included ex-plosive breaching and building clearing techniques, further demonstrated the commitment and continued partnership between the U.S. Army and NATO allies in Eastern Europe.

The 'Sky Soldiers' employed a variety of explosives to provide a realistic training experience as

well as to enhance proficiency with all of the resources available to the maneuver unit.

Another of those resources is the training area provided by the abandoned buildings located in Skrunda that once housed Russian troops as they monitored radar equipment at the site. As the area has rapidly deteriorated over the last 15 years as it has been uninhabited, it is just the type of location that allows the kind of dynamic training that is vital for the continued partnership between the U.S. and its allies.

Despite the remote location, the Soldiers expressed satisfaction that they are able to train with hands-on, realistic conditions that afford them a real opportunity to fully integrate all of their collective training.

Soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade and 54th BEB are currently deployed throughout Europe as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, an ongoing, multinational partnership focused on joint training and security cooperation between the U.S. and other NATO allies.

Visit the Operation Atlantic Resolve website for up-to-date photos and information.