VYSKOV, Czech Rep. - As the sun rose over the small town of Vyskov, Czech Rep. Sept. 14, Stryker Soldiers with 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment began their day a little slower conducting maintenance and getting adequate rest in preparation for their next move into the Slovak Rep. where a welcome party awaited their arrival.
About 400 U.S. Soldiers in 140 different vehicles crossed into the Slovak Rep. late Monday evening during Exercise Dragoon Crossing, a weeklong tactical road march from Vilseck, Germany to Gyor, Hungary, that "demonstrates our commitment to a collective security [within the NATO countries]," said Rudolf V. Perina, the charge d' affaires for the U.S. Embassy in the Slovak Rep.
The exercise is part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, an ongoing series of training events and community engagements designed to build relationships, trust and interoperability between the U.S. and its NATO allies.
"I often say that the relationship between Slovakia and the United States is manyfold we are friends, we are partners and we are also allies and an exercise such as this demonstrates all three of those relationships," he said.
As an example of the cooperation between the two allies, planning for this kind of exercise "is not an easy one and involves a lot of work," he continued, and expressed his gratitude towards the Slovak staff in their assistance in preparing for this exercise.
The following day, Stryker Soldiers participated in a U.S. led Mass, in observance of the Slovak national holiday the Feast of the Lady of Seven Sorrows and participated a soccer tournament between the U.S. and Slovak Soldiers.
"It's nice to get out here and meet some of the other Soldiers and get to know our allies before actually going on and conducting anything too formal," said 1st Lt. Kyle Griffin, an officer with 2nd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment
For Sgt. 1st Class Richard Fields, a small arms repair supervisor with Forward Support Troop, 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, the experience of Exercise Dragoon Crossing so far not only helps strengthen the bond between the U.S. and the Slovak Rep., but for all the countries involved.
"We all want peace and that is the over all objective," said Fields. "Us working together and coming together as one, strengthens both the American and NATO partners."
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