ADAZI, Latvia -- Lt. Gen. Raimonds Graube, the Latvian Armed Forces commander; U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Mark McQueen and Latvian Brig. Gen. Anars Ozolins, co-directors of exercise Saber Strike 2014, toured the training site at Camp Adazi Latvian Military Training Center here, June 13.
Saber Strike 14 is a joint, multinational military exercise scheduled spanning multiple locations in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia and involving approximately 4,500 personnel from 10 nations.
"Through an exercise like Saber Strike, we have an opportunity to train together, hone our skills and be able to create the interoperability we need," said McQueen.
The U.S. Army Europe-led exercise is designed to promote regional stability, strengthen international military partnerships, enhance multinational interoperability and prepare participants for worldwide contingency operations.
The exercise co-directors were given a tour of the training lanes where multinational armed forces were participating in exercises designed to enhance their ability to work together in a combat environment. The exercises consisted of operations in simulated combat maneuvers.
Graube and McQueen spent time with soldiers and inquired about their experiences on their maneuver tactics and fighting techniques. "Saber Strike provides the opportunity for NATO allies to train shoulder to shoulder. These exercises allow for soldiers to hone in on their skills and gain confidence," said McQueen.
Graube said he was very impressed with the exercise and recognized individual soldiers' exemplary actions with military coins commemorating Saber Strike.
"Saber Strike is not just about training, it is about soldier-to-soldier camaraderie and building lasting relationships as allies," said Graube.
The goal of interoperability is that participating nations get to use their own national digital command and control systems to work in conjunction with one another to produce a single common operating environment.
"This exercise is about helping each other, people-to-people, soldier-to-soldier, friendship and camaraderie," said Graube.
During their visit, Saber Strike participants were engaged in combined planning and battle drills exercises on a tactical level in preparation for next week's combined arms maneuver at battalion and company level.
"These soldiers came ready. They are well prepared and have high morale. They worked through difficult circumstances and prevailed," said McQueen.
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