PARNU, Estonia - Hundreds of cheers and smiles welcomed the 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, stationed out of Vilseck, Germany, as they entered the center of town in Parnu, Estonia, June 14, 2016. 4/2CR participated in a community engagement event in Estonia's "summer town" before completing their 2,200-kilometer tactical road march, called Dragoon Ride II, in order to take part in Saber Strike 16.
Romek Kosenkranius, city mayor of Parnu and a captain in the Estonian National Guard, expressed his feelings about the U.S. troops' presence in Estonia.
"I feel it is very important for the citizens of Estonia to see the U.S. Army here in our country," said Kosenkranius. "If some conflicts were to happen, our NATO alliance is here to help us, and [the citizens] need to see that we have help, and this is proof that we don't need to be afraid," he continued.
Throughout the day, Parnu citizens took pictures and had an opportunity to talk to many of the U.S. Soldiers.
"It is good to know that NATO helps protect us because we are a small country," said Janne Soosaau, an environmental control clerk. "My brother is an Estonian Soldier, and I am glad that the U.S. Soldiers are here, too."
Not only were the citizens of Parnu happy to see the presence of the NATO force in their town, but U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jonathan L. Due, the squadron commander of 4/2CR, was also excited to be in Estonia.
"It's an honor to be here in Parnu amongst our Allies," said Due. "Exercising the opportunity to perform tactical tasks while simultaneously demonstrating the huge operational capability that this freedom of movement shows and the speed that we can assemble in different places and to do that as a part of the NATO alliance is really what we are about in terms of assuring our allies. That's a big part of what we're doing here today," continued Due.
When the event is complete, the Soldiers of 4/2CR will continue the tactical road march to their final destination in Tapa, Estonia, where they will prepare to participate in Saber Strike 16, which features allied and partner-nation ground forces conducting live-fire, command post, and cyber/electronic warfare training, plus the integration of U.S. close-air support with multinational ground forces.
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