HOHENFELS, Germany - In the most recent edition of Exercise Allied Spirit, Italy is the compass guiding seven nations from Europe and North America.
The Bersaglieri "Garibaldi" Brigade, normally based in southern Italy, is at the helm of this U.S. Army Europe exercise, marking a unique opportunity to lead multinational training at a U.S. training area. Under Italy's command, Allied Spirit engages troops in critical scenarios, such as combat and chemical attacks. The purpose is to train tactical level commands - brigades and battalions - to seamlessly interoperate within the NATO structure should the need occur.
"For us, it's a great opportunity to train together with other Allies and friends. We consider this a very important thing," said Italian Brig. Gen. Claudio Minghetti, Garibaldi Brigade commander. "This is the reality: working together, training together, in order to be ready for all the challenges of the future."
Roughly 120 of Garibaldi Brigade's command staff are assisting Minghetti with achieving the exercise's training tasks. Aside from conducting mission command, the Italians are planning and directing offensive and defensive tasks to line units in the field. A multitude of forces - the majority U.S. led - simulate attacks and area defenses.
The Garibaldi Brigade also faces scenarios involving movement of dislocated civilians and coordinated air-ground operations, such as calling for close air support. Executing these missions on the ground are units from Canada, Germany, Latvia, Slovenia, the United Kingdom and the U.S. who are in the training area, called "The Box."
"This kind of exercise is really important for all of our armies. We have to keep in mind, in the future of the battle, we will fight together," said Minghetti. "So, we have to train together and work together. (We need to) know each other and test our procedures so that, technically, we can solve all the problems when we put them in operations that we have to conduct together."
Allied Spirit IV includes more than 2,400 participants from seven NATO nations who will exercise tactical interoperability and test secure communications within Alliance members and partner nations. It is being held at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) in Hohenfels, Germany.
A Michigan Army National Guard element joined the exercise, serving as the division command element. Seven Latvian officers join the Michigan group, and in conjunction with the JMRC exercise control cell, are directing the battle, and can adjust the fight to achieve the Rotational Training Units' training goals.
"Both organizations share the same goals," said Col. Clark C. Barrett, the Michigan element leader and commander of NATO Rapid Deployment Corps - Hohenfels. "We want to push them from their comfort zone and facilitate their learning."
Working with the Italians is an honor, Barrett noted.
"Obviously, we have language and cultural differences that we have to overcome. I admire the Garibaldi team's ability to adjust to English. I know we could not do as well if the roles were reversed," he said.
The Garibaldi Brigade has had successful combat engagements in Bosnia, Kosovo, Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan since the late 1990s, Minghetti explained. This depth of experience has provided ample preparation for leading Allied Spirit.
"Italy and the United States, they participate in international organizations and participate in most of the (military) activities that have been done in the past. So, for this reason, this is important for us to participate in Allied Spirit," Minghetti said. "We are convinced that the training we are now doing is helpful, to be able to face all the challenges that are all around."
"This is very good training," said Italian Warrant Officer Pasquale Pagano. "We're learning a lot of fundamentals. I have to improve my skills by doing this training. If you don't use, you lose. If you train hard, you fight easy."
Minghetti has commanded the Garibaldi Brigade since March 2015. In Italy, his brigade includes cavalry, artillery, engineer and tank regiments.
"We're a brigade that's well known in the Italian Army," he added.
"With the Garibaldi Brigade serving as the headquarters element, Allied Spirit provides a unique opportunity for us as NATO allies to become stronger and more agile," said Brig. Gen. Christopher Cavoli, commander, 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command. "When Allies train together in realistic, challenging tactical conditions, we are able to develop levels of interoperability that provide our leaders with options during times of crisis."
Allied Spirit originated January 2015. Troops from Hungary, Serbia, Czech Republic, Georgia and United Kingdom have participated in previous exercises.
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