US, Dutch soldiers train on defensive operations

By 2nd Lt. Cassandra B. McDonaldMarch 19, 2015

US, Dutch soldiers train on defensive operations
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army paratroopers, assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade Special Troops Battalion and a Dutch soldier with the 411th Engineer Company, 41st Armored Engineer Battalion, 13th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, Royal Netherlands Army, engage targets dur... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US, Dutch soldiers train on defensive operations
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army paratrooper Spc. Juan Gonzalez, assigned to Company A, 173rd Airborne Brigade Special Troops Battalion, fires a Javelin anti-tank missile during a combined defensive live-fire exercise March 6, 2015, at the 7th Army Joint Multinational Trai... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US, Dutch soldiers train on defensive operations
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A U.S. Army paratrooper (left), assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade Special Troops Battalion, and Dutch soldiers with 411th Armored Engineers of the Royal Dutch Army (right) move under the concealment of smoke during a combined live-fire exercise ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US, Dutch soldiers train on defensive operations
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to Dog Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade fire a Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) missile, during a combined defensive live-fire exercise March 6, 2015, at the 7t... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany-- U.S. Army paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade and engineers from the Royal Netherlands Army conducted a battalion-sized, combined defensive combined arms live fire exercise as part of Exercise Iron Bastion here March 2 to 12.

The exercise was designed to increase interoperability of both U.S. and Dutch forces by fusing artillery, infantry, engineer and military intelligence branches against a combined-arms opposing force.

"The hand-in-hand experience and the international relationship that was created with the Dutch engineers were absolutely incredible and it taught my Soldiers the importance of having a partnership," said Staff Sgt. Ryan Frye, an engineer with the 173rd.

Infantry companies from the brigade's 1st and 2nd Battalions, 503rd Infantry Regiment were able to validate their Soldiers on establishing defensive positions and defending terrain, as well as incorporate weapon systems such as Javelin and AT-4 anti-tank missles. Artillerymen from 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment provided artillery support for engagement areas with 105mm cannons.

"The opportunity to work with the Dutch engineers was amazing," said Spc. Juan Gonzales, an engineer with the 173rd. "Not only did I get to shoot the Javelin; I was able to teach the Dutch how to operate the system."

The exercise is scheduled to reoccur annually because of its success. The engineers of the 41st Armoured Engineer Battalion will continue to conduct partnered training with Brigade Special Troops Battalion engineers.