U.S. Soldiers from 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Armored Division and a Croatian Soldier from Tigers Battalion take part in a combat situational training exercise during Combined Resolve IV in Hohenfels, Germany. Croatian and U.S. forces will observe...

A Croatian Soldier from Eagle Company, Tigers Battalion fires at opposing forces during situational training exercise during Combined Resolve IV. The approximately 150 Croatian Soldiers taking part in the exercise are improving their combat readines...

HOHENFELS, Germany -- Approximately 150 Soldiers from the Croatian Army are taking part in the multinational exercise Combined Resolve IV at the U.S. Army's Joint Multinational Readiness Center at the Hohenfels Training Area, Germany.

The goals of the Croatian Army while in Hohenfels include improving combat skills and gaining experience in multi-national combat operations, increasing interoperability with other nations, and aligning with the NATO standard operating procedures.

While U.S. Soldiers observed the U.S. Memorial Day in the middle of Combined Resolve IV, the Croatian Soldiers will also be remembering their fallen brothers and sisters during the exercise. On May 28, Croatians will observe Croatian Armed Forces Day, which memorializes fallen Soldiers from the Croatian military. Like their American counter-parts on Monday, the Croatian Soldiers in Hohenfels will quietly observe this holiday while deep in a combat training environment.

1st Lt. Tihomir Kastmiler, the commander of Eagle Company, Tigers Battalion, believes that participating in Combined Resolve will not only be a beneficial opportunity for his soldiers, but it will also be an important step in the strategic path for Croatia's military. Croatia became a NATO member in 2009 and aims at becoming a more integral part of the global community.

"We think global. Now we are part of an alliance. Now our purpose is to defend all of our Allies," said Kastmiler.

As the members of the Croatian Armed Forces spend a day of remembrance, there is an overwhelming feeling of positivity. 1st Lt. Kastmiler believes that the army is more focused, better trained, and ready to achieve the vision of being a global force.

"We have a smaller army but we have better training, better vehicles, and weapons. Everything is better than 20 years ago."

Combined Resolve IV consists of more than 4,700 participants from 13 nations. The exercise focuses on maneuver training and force-on-force exercises at Hohenfels; culminating with a combined arms live fire exercise at the U.S. Army training area in Grafenwoehr, Germany. The purpose of Combined Resolve is to improve multinational unified land operations.

Combined Resolve IV takes place between May 17-June 6 at the Army's Hohenfels and Grafenwoehr Training Areas. The Combined Resolve series of exercises are designed to provide the Army's rotational forces to Europe -- currently the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division and the 4th Infantry Division Mission Command Element -- the opportunity to become more agile and better able to operate alongside NATO Allies and European partner nations.