ADAZI TRAINING AREA, Latvia -- "Task Force Stilwell" Soldiers quite literally fueled Marine success during the run-up to Saber Strike '16.
The Soldiers, part of the 515th Transportation Company, 39th Trans. Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, ensured Baltics-bound Marine vehicles that landed in Norway were "topped off" in anticipation of the training exercise, conducted May 27-June 22 in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
The Marines, permanently based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, said they appreciated the logistical support and expertise of Army brethren.
"The Army was vital, providing us with F-34/JP-8 fuel," said Marine Sgt. Sean Stillman, a fueler assigned to the Combat Logistics Regiment 2, based at Camp Lejeune. "If it hadn't been for them, we would have had to blend additives to the fuel ourselves."
Saber Strike is a U.S. Army Europe-led exercise designed to strengthen NATO interoperability. This year, 13 countries participated in the annual exercise.
TF Stilwell teams delivered over 20,000 gallons of JP-8 fuel during the mission.
For their part, Soldiers said they learned a thing or two from their interaction with the "Devil Dogs."
"Observing how they fueled up in comparison to the way we do was a great learning experience," said Spc. Thurman Thompson, a heavy wheeled vehicle operator assigned to the 515th Trans. Co. "It was nice to learn from each other and work as a team. Without our joint efforts, it would've been difficult to supply their equipment with the fuel they needed."
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