CENTRAL TRAINING AREA, Estonia - The grey skies and light rain were unrelenting, as Brig. Gen. Meelis Kiili, chief of the Estonian Defense League, spoke to the men and women in the open field in front of him April 26, during the End of Exercise Ceremony at the Central Training Area, Estonia.
"I've already said that I'm extremely proud to have a force like this: volunteers, conscripts, and you our allies. It's so good to have you here," said Kiili.
The day prior, Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, of Fort Stewart, Ga., and Anvil Troop, 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, of Vicenza, Italy, along with the EDF teamed up to conduct Field Training Exercise Hunt.
"The purpose of this exercise was to have a common training with my mechanized battalion attached to the U.S. Team Estonia in order to train common operational procedures," said Lt. Col. Aron Kalmus, commander of 1st Infantry Brigade of the Estonian Defense Force.
During the training event, Anvil Troop provided ground support for the Raiders' four M1 Abram tanks, as they maneuvered through muddy narrow roads in the dense woods, as a battalion of EDF Soldiers played as the opposing forces.
"It was intense," said Staff Sgt. Herman Johnson, III, tank commander with C Company, 2nd BN, 7th IN, 1st ABCT. "They put a lot of obstacles, made us use our mind and also work together as a team."
Meanwhile, unknown to both forces, another battalion of EDF was also in play, as allies, and eventually met up with their U.S. counterparts.
"It was meant to bring together two unknown units and fight for a common cause, which was to stop the adversary from advancing into friendly territory," said Pvt. Julius Henderson, of Tampa, Fla., tank loader with C Company, 2nd BN, 7th IN, 1st ABCT.
Field Training Exercise Hunt was a part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, which is an ongoing training event in which the United States and it's NATO allies come together to train, build relationships, trust, and interoperability.
Johnson stated he understands how beneficial it is for the U.S. and its allies to come together.
"No matter where we go, it's good to know our brothers on our left and right," said the Miami native. "This brings us together, it builds the unity and morale between both countries."
Despite the rainy conditions, Kalmus stated this kind of training was essential to the success of OAR and necessary to "ensure that we can fulfill our obligations in the frame of NATO and different partnerships."
"This is the typical infantry weather and type of exercise," he added. "It's very hard for the Soldiers and commanders, but that's why we are here to make our allies better, to make our friendship and partnership better and stronger."
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