SMARDAN, ROMANIA (April 29, 2015) -- Towering flags unfurl with the breeze as the four Soldiers stand at attention beneath them. While each of the Soldiers don a differing uniform representing countries thousands of miles apart, their unity causes them to stand together as one undivided team.
Soldiers, with 2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, joined soldiers from the British, Moldovan and Romanian armed forces during closing ceremonies for Operation Wind Spring 15 at Smardan, Galati, Romania, April 27. The closing ceremony marked the end of the operation, a joint-training exercise, which allowed the participating Soldiers an opportunity to share strengths, knowledge and equipment with one another.
"The challenge for the commanders of this exercise was to figure out how we use our very different assets to bring together this combat power in a way that results in successful engagements and battles," said Capt. Marcus B. Smith, company primary observer control and trainer for Maneuver Battalions, with 2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, at the Joint-Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany.
Observing, then incorporating these differences, proved to be a challenging task while preparing Soldiers for the tactical exercise, yet Smith took into consideration what made this combination of cultures and knowledge unique.
Smith used this as an opportunity to incorporate the Romanian terrain, and what each force brought to the table individually when deciding how best to run the exercise for the four allies rehearsing real-world interoperability scenarios as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve.
"We incorporated maneuverability across the terrain, unique to Romania, when planning the lanes for the exercise," Smith said. "When you bring in multiple nations, you bring in the interoperability that allows us to work together on the ground."
During the real-world training exercise, U.S. Stryker Infantry worked side-by-side with Romanian mechanized infantry, and Romanian armor. While each force learned from its allies, communication was paramount in achieving the newfound knowledge.
"Communication is the foundation of interoperability so we tried to build on that," said Smith, a native of New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. "Through communication, each nation is able to understand each other's tactics."
Keeping the very real goal of the exercise, and of Operation Atlantic Resolve in mind during the mock scenarios, allowed the commanders planning the exercise, an opportunity to remember why they must prepare their Soldiers for aggression from the adversary.
"As NATO allies banded together for Operation Atlantic Resolve, we're showing solidarity during tactical exercises like this one," said Capt. Michael Fainelli, commander of Fox Troop, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, and a native of Westford, Virginia.
"We are showing that with shared common background, we are capable of coming into the Romanian country and immediately going right into a mission with a common military and doctrinal understanding," Fainelli said.
The rewards for the exercise's commanders are plentiful.
"When we train and increase our interoperability, we're creating a stronger Europe," Smith said. "I'm seeing it as a result of this combined effort, and I'm encouraged by it."
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