HOHENFELS, Germany--Deep behind enemy lines, as a battle continues between NATO forces and a foreign aggressor, a downed pilot evades capture by opposing forces. Within 24 hours, she is rescued by a group of U.S. special operation forces, who are quickly responding to the recovery mission issued by their higher command.
While the scenario is realistic, it's all part of a fictional conflict created for a three-week long training exercise at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, here. The exercise, Saber Junction 17, brings together units from across the U.S. and NATO allies and partners to work on allied interoperability form the company through division levels.
Prior to the rescue mission, at the exercise Higher Control element, the Division Tactical Action Center of the 38th Infantry Division of the Indiana Army National Guard was executing their downed pilot drill and communicating orders to troops on the ground.
"From the division perspective, this is validation of our own tactical standard operating procedures," said Sgt. Maj. James Forbes, 38th ID's operations sergeant major. "We're able to utilize the assets here we would have if we were to deploy to the European theater in a real-world situation."
Soldiers and airmen at the DTAC were busy tracking assets and analyzing intelligence reports, though not without some communication challenges between the different elements, which comprise soldiers from Romania, Poland, Slovakia and the United States.
"Getting into this exercise, and needing to overcome the language barrier, there's definitely a learning curve," said Sgt. 1st Class Larry Zickmund, Battle NCO for the DTAC. "This is something we need to practice, so we can be better in the future. It's been enjoyable, though."
For the Indiana Army National Guard, this exercise was the first opportunity they had to work in a tactical environment alongside soldiers from Slovakia, their state partner through the National Guard's State Partnership Program.
"In my country, we have a lot of the same processes and coordination. There are not a lot of differences between us with solving problems," said Slovakian Army Cpt. Peter Mrazik, an engineering officer. "Our planning and controlling of the operation is a lot like the U.S."
Mrazik said that some Slovakian soldiers attend a military decision making process course in the U.S., which prepares them for successful coordination with U.S. forces during exercises like SJ17.
"I see a lot of skills here, and hope that I can use them in the future," he added.
In addition to the 38th ID gaining experience in a multinational environment, soldiers in the DTAC worked with airmen who brought an Air Force perspective to an Army heavy organization.
"As a staff, we've really come together and to pick up everything quickly, which strengthens our partnership between the Army, and with multinational forces," said U.S. Air Force Maj. Peter Dowling. "You see differences in techniques, so it's very beneficial to see what works what best. Our partners learn from us, and we learn from them."
Overall, the exercise is preparing units to engage with NATO partners, and their Air Force counterparts, to enhance their ability to respond to a near-peer adversary.
Dowling added, "If we were to engage in a real fight, it wouldn't be the first time we're working with the Polish in a fires element, or with the Romanian liaison officer. We'll know that we've done something similar before, and we can take away the lessons learned from this."
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