Capt. Miroslav Osif, commander of the Slovak Mechanized Infantry Company, gives the safety brief prior to a live fire range during part of their training exercise Operation Slovak Shield, Sept. 16, at a small-arms range near Pelisky, Slovak Rep. The ...

Pvt. Alexander Mendoza, of San Antonio, Texas, a driver with Outlaw Troop, 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, stands by his Stryker prior to a combined live-fire range Sept. 16, at a small-arms range near Pelisky, Slovak Rep. During the range, U.S. ...

Spc. Mixocoatl Ocampo, a gunner with Reaper Troop, 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, learns about a Slovak weapon during Operation Slovak Shield, Sept. 16, at a small-arms range near Pelisky, Slovak Rep. The range took place during Operation Atlant...

Slovak Soldiers conduct a small-arms range during Operation Slovak Shield, Sept. 16, at a small-arms range near Pelisky, Slovak Rep. During the range, U.S. and Slovak Soldiers also gained familiarity with one another's weapons. (U.S. Army Photo by Sg...

Sgt. Alex Lafont, of Philadelphia, Pa., a medical section leader with A Troop, 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, looks through a scope used by his Slovak counterparts Sept. 16, at a small-arms range near Pelisky, Slovak Rep. The range took place du...

Slovak Soldiers hit their target during a combined live fire range Sept. 16, at a small arms range near Pelisky, Slovak Rep. The range took place during Exercise Dragoon Crossing a week long journey from Vilseck, Germany to Gyor, Hungary with various...

Spc. Mixocoatl Ocampo, a gunner with Reaper Troop, 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment gathers his ammo during a combined live fire range Sept. 16, at a small arms range near Pelisky, Slovak Rep. During the range, U.S. and Slovak Soldiers practiced ta...

Slovak and U.S. Soldiers exchange some handshakes following a combined live fire range Sept. 16, at a small arms range near Pelisky, Slovak Rep. The range took place during Operation Atlantic Resolve an ongoing series of training exercises and commun...

PELISKY, Slovak Republic - Under clear skies and with high spirits, Soldiers with Weapons Troop, 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment joined their Slovak counterparts during Operation Slovak Shield, Sept. 16, at a small arms range near Pelisky, Slovak Republic.

"[The Slovak Soldiers] have invited us to participate in a portion of their Operation Slovak Shield as we were conducting Exercise Dragoon Crossing," said Cpt. Eric Blackham, of Centerville, Utah, commander of Weapons Troop, 4th Sq., 2nd Cavalry Reg. So, "today we are conducting a familiarization range with them."

Dragoon Crossing is a weeklong journey from Vilseck, Germany to Gyor, Hungary with various community engagement and training events along the way and is the predecessor for Operation Brave Warrior, said Staff Sgt. Robert Schantz, of Duluth, Georgia, a platoon sergeant with Weapons Troop.

Throughout the day, American and Slovak Soldiers took turns teaching one another about the small arms and weapons systems they use on a daily basis, but for "Opportunities like this are wonderful for my Soldiers," he said. "It allows us to get on the ground, see their weapons systems and get to know the Soldiers on a personal level."

Dragoon Crossing is a part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, an on going series of training exercises and community engagements designed to build relationships, trust and interoperability between the U.S., its NATO allies and other European countries.

As Weapons Troop Soldiers learned from and mingled with one another, both Blackham and Schantz gained new respect for their Slovak allies.

"Every one of these Soldiers is an expert in their weapons system and his training, to me that is huge," said Blackham. When facing an armed conflict, "you always want to know that the mind beside you is just as trained as you are."

For Schantz, his experience participating in Operation Slovak Shield also helped to lessen the language barrier for future training events.

As "you spend some time with them outside the battlefield, you start picking up their slang and how they operate," he said. "Then, when it comes down to an actual mission you kind of [already] understand what's going on."