EUGENE KAVATERNIC , Croatia -- Over 1,900 military service members and security forces representing 10 countries gathered to successfully close out Exercise Immediate Response 16 Sept. 22.
Immediate Response is a multinational, brigade-level command post exercise utilizing computer-assisted simulations and field training exercises spanning two countries, Croatia and Slovenia. Participating countries included Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
"We all have different procedures, language culture, but thanks to your contribution, you have made this accomplishment. These ten countries are not equal today in ability and equipment, but working together as coalition we will always achieve much more than working alone," said Brig. Gen. Frank Koracin, Slovenian Army co-director of IR 16.
The annual exercise, ran from Sept 9- 23, and featured three co-directors of the exercise, from Slovenia, Croatia and the U.S.
"This exercise was a success, as all of us today know much more than we knew two weeks ago at the start of this exercise," Slovenian Armed Forces Brig. Gen. Frank Koracin, co-director of IR 16.
Croatian co-director Col. Tomislav Pavicic and U.S. co-director Col. Jeff Cantor, U.S. Army co-director of IR 16, concurred and offered similar sentiments.
"It truly is amazing seeing how well everyone works together and it rejuvenates my sense of how well this coalition is and how tight this coalition is," Cantor said. I hope you continue your friendships, to continue to work together."
During the two week exercise, Soldiers from the exercise trained with simulations built upon a decisive action-based scenario designed to enhance regional stability, strengthen partner capacity and improve interoperability between Allied and partner nations. The command post exercise portion of IR16 focused on training the battalion and brigade staffs on the Military Decision Making Process and developing standard operating procedures for battlefield decision making. The situational training exercises and field training portions focused on offensive and defensive operations, including consequence management, movement to contact, ambush, and deliberate attack.
Brig. Gen. Sinis Jurkovic, deputy commander of the Croatian Army officially closed the exercise. "You achieved your goals, you synchronized all your capabilities, you are trained, prepared and ready."
For more information about all the training or to view videos and photos of IR 16, visit http://www.eur.army.mil/immediateresponse/
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Related Links:
Exercise Immediate Response 16 official site
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