(RIGA, LATVIA) -- Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Combined Arms Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division based out of Fort Stewart, Ga. participated in the Latvian National Guard's 25th Anniversary with their NATO allies August 20, 2016 in Riga, Latvia.
According to the Latvian Armed Forces webpage, the National Guard was established as a component of the National Armed Forces, which aims to involve Latvian citizens in the protection of their nation. The Latvian National Armed Forces work to protect Latvian national sovereignty, territorial integrity and its citizens from aggression. The main tasks of the Armed Forces are to secure the nation's land, sea and airspace, to participate in international operations, to provide training for its troops and intervene during nation level events to protect the public from danger.
Many NATO nations participated and showed their support for the Latvian National Guard, such as the U.S., Lithuania, and Estonia. The event consisted of a ceremony, a parade, and static displays of military equipment. There were various types of military equipment on display, to include Latvian weapons, a U.S. M1A2 Abrams Tank, and the U.S. M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle.
"It's actually pretty fun and it challenges my knowledge. I like seeing people's interest in it (the BFV)," said Pfc. Draven Pancake, native of Petersburg, Ind., infantryman assigned to 3rd Bn., 69th Arm. Rgmt. "I think it's good that people not even from our country have an interest in our equipment."
Pancake said he thinks we should do it more often.
"We are here partnered with them, and [this displays] our assurance," said Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas Flowers, native of Deland, Fla., 1st Sgt. for Company C, 3rd Bn., 69th Arm. Rgmt., "I think the most beneficial thing is that as we sit here on these tanks and we help soldiers, children, local people, and people not even from Latvia, we created a lasting memory for them. So that is forever enduring. No matter what, tomorrow when this space is empty of a tank, it's still fresh in their mind that they got to interact with an American Soldier on an American piece of equipment in their country."
The Soldiers from 3rd Bn., 69th Arm. Rgmt., involved in the event, are training with their Baltic allies in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a U.S. lead effort being conducted in Eastern Europe to demonstrate U.S. commitment to the collective security of NATO and dedication to enduring peace and stability in the region.
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U.S. Army Europe is uniquely positioned in its 51 country area of responsibility to advance American strategic interests in Europe and Eurasia. The relationships we build during more than 1,000 theater security cooperation events in more than 40 countries each year lead directly to support for multinational contingency operations around the world, strengthen regional partnerships and enhance global security.
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