BEMOWO PISKIE, Poland -- Antoni Macierewicz, Minister of National Defence for Poland; Paul Jones, U.S. Ambassador to Poland; Italian Army Gen. Salvatore Farina, commander of Joint Forces Command Brunssum; U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, commanding general of U.S. Army Europe; and other military delegates visited the Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Poland demonstration during Exercise Saber Strike 17 at Bemowo Piskie Training Area, June 16, 2017.
Saber Strike 17 is the seventh iteration of a long-standing U.S Army Europe-led training exercise designed to promote regional stability and security, enhance interoperability while strengthening partner capabilities and fostering trust amongst NATO Allies and regional partners.
During the visit, the distinguished visitors had a front row seat while the multinational battle group demonstrated their lethality during the Combined Arms Live-Fire Exercise, which showcased the capabilities that each nation brought to the "battlefield."
Multinational Soldiers displayed the eFP's combat power through a variety of combined capabilities throughout the live-fire exercise that highlighted the flexibility of ground and air forces to rapidly respond to adversarial threats. The demonstration included a field artillery battery; an air strike by a F-16 Fighting Falcon, SU-22 and a B-52 Stratofortress; an air assault in support of the CALFEX and several other assets that filled the sky with ammunition.
"We just saw the efficiencies of the Battle Group Poland Soldiers of 18 NATO armies, they cooperated like brothers in arms and we can clearly say that today here in Poland that a real NATO power is being forged," said Antoni Macierewicz, Minister of National Defence for Poland. "Saber Strike demonstrates the capability of these four Battle Groups to defend NATO territories together."
These ready and postured forces are executing the decision that was made during the NATO Summit held in Warsaw, Poland in July 2016 to establish NATO's Enhanced forward Presence in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland and to develop a tailored forward presence in the Black Sea region.
"Just eleven months after the NATO Summit in Warsaw, all of the eFP Battle Groups with Soldiers from Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States joined by other Allies are executing a major exercise," said Hodges. "That speed of executing a strategic policy is historic and very effective."
During the press conference Paul Jones, U.S. Ambassador to Poland, also expressed his thoughts on the decision that was made during the NATO Summit and how he has personally seen the effects of that decision.
"Two Months ago together with (Poland) President Duda and the Minister of National Defence (Poland) Macierewicz, we welcomed 900 American Soldiers as the framework nation of the Battle Group here," Jones said.
The wide spread Saber Strike exercise which is located throughout the Baltic region and Poland, including: Rukla and Pabrade training areas in Lithuania; Adazi training area and Lielvarde Air Base in Latvia; and Amari Air Base, and Tapa and Voru training areas in Estonia.
"All the activities that I've observed are a concrete demonstration of how NATO is able to rapidly adapt and this is possible because the Saber Strike exercise gave us the venue to train our Soldiers," said Italian Army Gen. Salvatore Farina. "It is an exercise that was very well prepared and very well executed."
"We will continue to demonstrate that NATO is first capable, second determined, third responsive and ready to face threats and at the same time being stronger than ever." he added.
NATO positioned the eFP in Poland to guarantee security for Poland and also the entire Eastern Europe NATO Flank.
Shortly after the press conference, some of the distinguished visitors walked through the static display and took some time to personally thank the battle group for all of their hard work and decication.
"Security and defense is not solemnly based on equipment, aircrafts or ships, it's the young men and women who possess so many abilities that are willing to step forward to serve," said Hodges.
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