WIESBADEN, Germany -- Exercise Saber Guardian 17, a U.S. Army Europe-led, multinational exercise, will take place in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania July 11 - 20, 2017.
SG17 is larger in both scale and scope over previous iterations. Approximately 25,000 service members from 22 allied and partner nations will take part, and the exercise highlights participant deterrence capabilities, specifically the ability to mass forces at any given time anywhere in Europe.
The 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division will mass from across the European theater to exercise locations in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania. The 2nd Cavalry Regiment from Vilseck, Germany will move to numerous exercise locations throughout the joint operations area. SG17 will also feature an air defense artillery live fire exercise, several field training and live fire exercises, multiple river crossings, and a mass casualty exercise.
Enabling events will take place in the days prior to and following scheduled execution of SG17, and many smaller U.S. and European-national exercises in the Black Sea region this summer will enable SG17 objectives. The combination of all these exercises allows execution of the full range of military missions supporting security and stability in the Black Sea region. It is deterrence in action.
Conducted annually since 2013, SG17 rotates through Bulgaria, Romania, and Ukraine and serves as part of U.S. European Command's Joint Exercise Program (JEP). SG17 is the largest iteration of the Saber Guardian series to date and will enhance joint and combined interoperability across a variety of mission sets with allied and partner nations.
SG17 is the largest of the 18 Black Sea region exercises this year. Enabling and integrated exercises include:
Resolute Castle 2017 -- U.S.-led troop construction exercise April 14 -- Sept. 30, 2017 at various Polish and Romanian locations. Enables SG17 by conducting engineering missions at numerous military training facilities and ranges at Cincu, Mihail Kogalniceanu, Babadag, and Smardan in Romania.
Szentes Axe 2017 -- Hungarian national exercise June 26 -- July 7, 2017 in Gyor, Hungary. Enables SG17 by conducting tactical bridging and water crossing operations for 2nd Cavalry Regiment freedom of movement from home station into Hungary and many joint operations area locations.
Brave Warrior 2017 -- Hungarian national exercise June 26 -- July 23, 2017 in numerous Hungarian locations. Focuses on joint maneuvers and the capability of Visegrad Group European Union Battlegroup to conduct equipment staging. Enables SG17 participant freedom of movement.
Black Swan 2017 -- Hungarian special operations forces exercise June 26 -- July 22, 2017 in numerous Bulgarian, Hungarian, and Romanian locations. Enables SG17 participants to rehearse and demonstrate integration between special operations and conventional forces to prepare for real-world contingencies.
Swift Response 2017 -- U.S.-led, airborne exercise involving the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) July 13-23, 2017 at several Bulgarian, Hungarian, and Romanian locations. Includes two air assaults and two joint forcible entries, which enables SG17 by facilitating delivery of a 2nd Cavalry Regiment Strykers platoon at two joint operations area locations.
Tobruq Legacy 2017 -- U.S.-led air defense artillery exercise July 12-22, 2017 at several Czech Republic, Lithuanian, and Romanian locations. Enables SG17 by supporting the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) joint forcible entry during exercise Swift Response and during 2nd Cavalry Regiment's river crossing in Bordusani, Romania.
Immediate Response 2017 -- Slovenian command post exercise July 12-16, 2017 in Slovenia. Integrated into the SG17 command post exercise.
Eagle Sentinel 2017 -- Multinational exercise July 17-20, 2017, at Novo Selo Training Area (NSTA), Bulgaria. Integrated as a live fire exercise in SG17.
Peace Sentinel 2017 -- Bulgarian Land Forces exercise July 10-20, 2017, at Koren Training Area, Bulgaria. Integrated as a live fire exercise of SG17.
Shabla 2017 -- Bulgarian Air Force air defense artillery live fire exercise July 6-23, 2017, in Shabla, Bulgaria. Enables SG17 by securing SG17 participants freedom of movement throughout the joint operations area.
Sea Breeze 2017 -- U.S. Naval Forces Europe-led multinational exercise supporting Partnership for Peace July 11-21, 2017 in the Black Sea. Contributes to SG17 by providing escort as 2nd Cavalry Regiment leaves the joint operations area following SG17, transits the Black Sea, and arrives in Georgia for U.S.-led exercise Noble Partner 2017.
In total, 18 USAREUR, allied and partner exercises involving approximately 40,000 personnel from 30 nations comprise the Black Sea Region Exercises for 2017, with SG17 being the largest. While each is separate and distinct, as a whole, these exercises demonstrate the United States, our allies, partners and NATO's superior joint and combined capabilities and highlight our collective will to defend against regional aggression.
Other Black Sea Region exercises of note include: Getica Saber 2017 -- a U.S.-led fire coordination exercise and combined arms life fire exercise at Cincu, Romania from July 10-15; and Noble Partner 2017 -- a bilateral exercise in Georgia from July 30 -- Aug. 12.
Media interested in covering Saber Guardian can email SaberGuardianPAO@mail.mil, or contact U.S. Army Europe Public Affairs Specialists Ms. Angela Kershner at +49 (0) 611 143 537 0021 or angela.e.kershner.civ@mail.mil, or Mr. Don Wrenn at +49 (0) 611 143 537 0009 or donald.t.wrenn.civ@mail.mil.
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