US, Bulgarian Soldiers conduct combined live fire exercise

By Staff Sgt. Brooks Fletcher, 16th Mobile Public Affairs DetachmentSeptember 8, 2015

US, Bulgarian Soldiers conduct combined live fire exercise
1 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A U.S. Army paratrooper assigned to 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade out of Vicenza, Italy, fires an AT4 anti-tank weapon during a live-fire exercise at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, Sept. 1, 2015. The 'Sky Soldiers... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US, Bulgarian Soldiers conduct combined live fire exercise
2 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Deen, a platoon sergeant assigned to 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade out of Vicenza, Italy, conducts squad maneuvers during a live-fire exercise at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, Sept. 1, 2015.... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US, Bulgarian Soldiers conduct combined live fire exercise
3 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade out of Vicenza, Italy, maneuver to the helicopter landing zone following a live-fire exercise at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, Sept. 1, 2015. The '... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US, Bulgarian Soldiers conduct combined live fire exercise
4 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Artillerymen assigned to 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade out of Grafenwöhr, Germany, sling load an M119 Howitzer to a UH-60 Blackhawk from the 4th Battalion, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantr... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US, Bulgarian Soldiers conduct combined live fire exercise
5 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A U.S. Army UH-60 Blackhawk from the 4th Battalion, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division out of Hunter Army Airfield; Ga., lifts crates of ammunition during a live-fire exercise at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, Sept. 1, 2015. Sold... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US, Bulgarian Soldiers conduct combined live fire exercise
6 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Paratroopers from the U.S. Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade and Bulgarian Land Forces troops conducts squad maneuvers during a live-fire exercise at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, Sept. 1, 2015. The 'Sky Soldiers' from the 173rd Airborne are current... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US, Bulgarian Soldiers conduct combined live fire exercise
7 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pfc. Isaac Bautista, a mortar man assigned to 1st Battalion, 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment, 173rd Brigade out of Vicenza, Italy, looks through his night vision googles during a live-fire exercise at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, Sept. 1, 2015... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US, Bulgarian Soldiers conduct combined live fire exercise
8 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army artillerymen assigned to the 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade out of Grafenwöhr, Germany, set up an M119 Howitzer during a night live-fire exercise at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, Sep... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US, Bulgarian Soldiers conduct combined live fire exercise
9 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Artillerymen assigned to 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade out of Grafenwöhr, Germany, wait to load 105mm high explosive ammunition into a M119 Howitzer during a live-fire exercise at Novo S... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US, Bulgarian Soldiers conduct combined live fire exercise
10 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A U.S. Army paratrooper assigned to 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade out of Vicenza, Italy, engages an enemy target during a live-fire exercise at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, Sept. 1, 2015. The 'Sky Soldiers' from... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US, Bulgarian Soldiers conduct combined live fire exercise
11 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A U.S. Army UH-60 Blackhawk from the 4th Battalion, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division out of Hunter Army Airfield; Ga., picks up U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 173rd Airbor... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

NOVO SELO TRAINING AREA, Bulgaria -- The 'Sky Soldiers' of the 173rd Airborne Brigade out of Vicenza, Italy, conducted a combined arms live-fire exercise here Bulgaria, Sept. 5.

The CALFX provided a platform for the U.S. Army and Bulgarian Land Forces to train complex tasks together at the small-unit level.

"Our goal in Bulgaria is to work with the host nation and show NATO that we stand as one," said 2nd Lt. Paul Hanneman, a Salem, Ore., native and platoon leader assigned to Attack Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade. "We believe that fighting, shooting and maneuvering alongside Bulgarian Land Forces really helps build our interoperability."

Such interoperability began with the Joint Forcible Entry parachute assault into Tenevo, Bulgaria during Exercise Swift Response. From there, squad and platoon specific training exercises would provide further opportunities for the paratroopers to integrate enablers and more lethal effects into the exercise.

In addition to their rifles and machine-guns, the paratroopers used wire-guided missiles, mortars, and artillery from the brigade's 4th Bn., 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regt., as well as rotary-wing aviation assets from 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade out of Hunter Army Airfield, Ga., and 12th Combat Aviation Brigade out of Katterbach, Germany.

"Our partners and allies have different techniques and procedures, so it is good for us to be familiar with them and understanding how to integrate one another's capabilities," said Hanneman. "Bringing a variety of assets together really helps develop a cohesive team and fighting unit."

For the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the first U.S. unit to deploy into the Baltic and Black Sea region to demonstrate solidarity with NATO allies following Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, the exercise served as another opportunity for the Sky Soldiers to solidify and validate their role as not only the Army's only forward-stationed airborne brigade unit in Europe, but as the Army contingency response force in Europe.

"It is a lot easier for the 173rd to go anywhere in Europe, training and reinforcing the 'Strong Europe' concept," said Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Deen, a Waxhaw, N.C., native and platoon sergeant assigned to 1st Bn. "It sends a message that the United States, specifically the 173rd, is prepared to respond to any threat in this part of the world. That is our mission and we are prepared to answer that call."

Deen articulated the 173rd Airborne Brigade's role here in Europe, particularly if NATO's Article V, the clause which provides mutual defense, were invoked.

"The fact that the 173rd Airborne Brigade is here on Bulgarian soil training together is a show of force in itself, helping deterring aggression from any nation in the world," Deen concluded. "Through the relationships we have built over the years, its nice to know that if something does go happen we are well integrated and have created trust across the force."

Several U.S. Army units are currently deployed throughout Europe in support 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.