RUKLA, Lithuania -- Lithuanian Land Forces battle group commander Lt. Col. Gintaras Vidzickas put it simply, "No friendship, no good combat."
For U.S. Army Soldiers, the multinational exercise Iron Sword 2014 in Lithuania represents a unique opportunity to train with their NATO allies. For members of the Lithuanian armed forces, it's an important milestone in their partnership with the U.S. and NATO, especially in light of the changed security environment in Europe.
Military personnel from eight NATO member countries, including Soldiers of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, and 2nd Cavalry Regiment, concluded Exercise Iron Sword 2014 at the Pabrade training facility in Lithuania Nov. 13, bringing to a close the largest such NATO exercise conducted on Lithuanian soil. Originally planned on a smaller scale, it was expanded to include soldiers from the U.S., Canada, U.K., Germany, Hungary, Estonia, Luxembourg and Czech Republic.
It also takes place within the U.S. Army Europe-led exercise Atlantic Resolve, a multinational combined-arms exercise taking place across the Baltics and Poland, aimed at enhancing interoperability and strengthening regional security.
"I'm extremely happy that we have so many nations joining this exercise, because with this, we see an illustration of the spirit of the NATO alliance," said Maj. Gen. Almantas Leika, commander of Lithuanian Land Forces.
"We're extremely happy that we see so many nations understanding the complexity of the security situation in this part of Europe," he said.
The Lithuanian army is a force just over 8,000 strong, but they have proven their commitment to their NATO partners in the past, serving in the NATO Response Force and sending troops to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. Iron Sword 2014 also serves to certify Lithuanian troops to take part in the NATO Response Force in 2015 and 2016.
"They are an effective fighting force," said Capt. Michael Sims, of Orangeburg, South Carolina, who led the combined company of U.S. Soldiers from his C Troop, 1st Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, and B Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, in the exercise. Though it was his first time training in Lithuania, he had the chance to work with Lithuanian troops in Afghanistan and appreciates the chance to train with them on their home soil.
"One of the big differences is just the terrain. The terrain in the Baltics is vastly different than what we've operated in [in Afghanistan]," said Sims. "It was new for us, but it ended up being great. It really forced interoperability in communication and stressed our ability to build a combined operating picture and deliver mission success to our command."
Despite speaking different native languages and working with a variety of weapons systems and vehicles, Sims said that NATO countries share common tactics and procedures, as well as a common purpose and spirit.
"They are professional, dedicated, and they're constantly working to get better," said Sims.
As a relatively small force, playing host to a major NATO exercise, Lithuanian troops made sure that cultural understanding and social exchanges were part of the exercise. U.S. troops were treated to a screening of a new documentary about Lithuanian partisans who resisted the Soviet occupation, and later they all watched the new film "Fury," about American tankers during World War II.
Vidzickas said social opportunities like that were one of the most important aspects of Iron Sword 2014.
"From the soldier's point of view, it's sharing experience. They get experience; [our NATO] partners get experience, we exchange experience. It makes for a common spirit," he said.
Social Sharing