HOHENFELS, Germany (Nov. 11, 2015) --
On October 13, 13 Observer-Coach-Trainers (OCTs) from the Joint Multinational Readiness Center deployed to Spain in order to support NATO Allied Land Command's first ever multinational brigade training exercise.
The exercise, Trident Juncture, was held at the San Gregorio Training Area in Zaragoza, Spain. It provided the opportunity for NATO's Rapid Deployable Corps-Spain to evaluate the training and readiness of the Spanish Army's 7th Infantry Brigade which will assume duties within the NATO Very High Readiness Joint Task Force in 2016.
Training alongside the Spanish 7th Infantry Brigade was the United States Army's 2d Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment from Fort Stewart, Georgia. 2nd Bn, 7th Inf. is part of 1st Brigade, 3d Infantry Division which is the current Regionally Allocated Force brigade supporting European Command. While 2-7 IN was training in Spain, the rest of the brigade was participating in Combined Resolve V, here.
Led by Lt. Col. John Horning and Cmd. Sgt. Maj. Chuck Gregory, JMRC's OCTs not only assisted 2-7 IN with their training objectives, but also had the opportunity to work with OCTs from other NATO countries, or as they call them, "umpires."
"It's always great to work with our allies because we learn so much about each other," said Lt. Col. Horning. "It's not always about tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs). Sometimes it's getting a better understanding of their training and leadership philosophy. It's also about making the personal connections that make the alliance stronger."
The exercise also provided the OCTs an opportunity to work directly with Soldiers from NATO Allied Land Command, from Izmir, Turkey. LANDCOM provided the staff framework to control the exercise similar to the way things are done at JMRC. Since this was the first time that LANDCOM has run an exercise of this scale, the OCTs from JMRC were able to share TTPs from their own experience with multinational training exercises.
During Trident Juncture 15, 2-7 IN had the opportunity to practice collective tasks at the platoon, company, and battalion level. A highlight of the event was the battalion's participation in the Combined Joint Heavy Land Maneuver Demonstration where units from all participating nations had the opportunity to display some of their skill for key stakeholders within the NATO, to include the Spanish Minister of Defense and the NATO Secretary General.
The demonstration consisted of a complex scenario involving joint and combined arms and combined forces from all participating nations. Between an armored breach, air assault operations, and close air support, the range of skills and specialties of every nation present were clearly on display.
While this was just a demonstration of the alliance's joint force capabilities, the exercise brought many nations together for training in a way unachievable at their home station. Along the way, JMRC's OCTs continued to provide professional feedback to the training units, fostering and a dynamic presence for the U.S. Army in Europe.
Trident Juncture involved 36,000 personnel from more than 30 allied and partner nations, and is taking place throughout Italy, Portugal, Spain, the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and also Canada, Norway, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Trident Juncture 2015 demonstrates NATO's new increased level of ambition in joint modern warfare and show-cased a capable, forward-leading Alliance equipped with the appropriate capability and capacity to meet present and future security challenges.
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