Soldiers from the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command with members of the Lithuania armed forces in Siauliai, Lithuania July 10. The unit deployed in support of Tobruq legacy and worked alongside troops from the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Latvi...
Soldiers from the 5th Battalion, 7th Regiment Air Defense Artillery with members of the Lithuania armed forces in Siauliai, Lithuania July 10.The unit deployed in support of Tobruq legacy working alongside troops from the United Kingdom, Lithuania, L...
SIAULIAI, LITHUANIA -- Soldiers from 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command worked alongside soldiers from the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland during Tobruq Legacy 2017 integrating air defense systems in Siauliai, Lithuania from July 7-27.
The Surface Based Air and Missile Defense Operations Center North, which was comprised of leaders from all five countries, served as the command and control node for the exercise while soldiers manned the giraffe and patriot missile systems at nearby tactical sites. For soldiers in 5-7 ADA, the mission was to validate interoperability during the fight and to integrate multiple radar pictures, across the participating units, into one complete air picture.
Leaders and soldiers from all participating countries attended the Lithuania-hosted opening ceremony July 11. During the ceremony, the Lithuanian battalion commander expressed his gratitude for hosting the exercise on his own country's soil for the first time. Following the formal portion of the ceremony, guests had the opportunity to visit each participating country's air defense system static displays. Each display had soldiers on hand to field any questions and demonstrate the system capabilities.
During the first several days of the exercise, members of the SBADOC-N attended training to standardize reporting formats and Standard Operating Procedures for the tactical portion of the exercise. Members of the Lithuanian air defense battalion staff briefed the Operations Order, making preparation for the Live Exercise a top priority.
Members of the Fire Direction Center set up the Deployable Information Coordination Central during this time and trouble shot the newly fielded system alongside several Raytheon system engineers. Utilizing the DPICC enabled the 5-7 ADA to conduct dismounted ICC operations in the field. The exercise was the second time the unit deployed with the DPICC.
After the first few days of equipment set up, SBADOC-N training and DPICC fielding, soldiers participated in a communications exercise, during which all countries validated the function and reliability of their communications systems. Also during this phase of training soldiers conducted rehearsals in preparation for the start of 24-hour operations the following week. The S-2 briefed the updated intelligence situation, both real world and scenario based, to all participating soldiers.
Once the live fire exercise began, soldiers from each unit manned their air defense systems and prepared for air battles. In addition to monitoring the air picture, engaging hostile targets in the air, and exercising the engagement chain of command, soldiers responded to scenario-based civilians and media on the battlefield, attacks and soldier casualties. These multi-faceted scenarios tested and validated the battery and battalion's battle drill execution.
In addition to the tactical air defense exercise, soldiers participated in a Combat Life Saver Course, led by 5-7 ADA's on-site medical team. Participants included ten U.S. soldiers, two Polish soldiers and two Lithuanian soldiers. Conducting the CLS training in a field environment maximized the medics' time to train alongside our allies and improved all participating units' overall combat readiness. Finally on July 20, soldiers received CLS certificates during a small awards ceremony.
The final highlight of the Tobruq Legacy 2017 operation in Lithuania was the Distinguished Visitor's Day. Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskait� along with forty DVs from all participating countries, observed three events.
The first was a static display of all air defense systems where visitors had the opportunity to learn about each one's capabilities. Next, the visitors watched the SBADOC-N cell conduct a simulation of a full Theatre Ballistic Missile engagement. Finally, the visitors watched a live engagement simulation where each system operator had communications with the SBADOC-N and fired a flare while several "hostile" F16s and L39 aircraft flew over Siauliai Air Base. This demonstration simulated the various systems engaging a target overhead.
The DV Day demonstrated the interoperability of the air defense systems. Additionally, it served as the culminating event, where participants executed established standard operating procedures while simultaneously educating guests about air defense units and how they fight to maintain air superiority.
Upon completion of the exercise, all five countries successfully integrated their air defense systems creating one solidified air picture in the SBADOC-N. Equally important, participating nations demonstrated their commitment to the North American Treaty Alliance and their desire and ability to fight alongside one another against any act of foreign aggression.
Social Sharing