HOHENFELS, Germany (May 07, 2018) -- Combat engineers from Lithuania and the U.S. train together, before they face off against the Joint Multinational Readiness Center's opposing force, 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment.
They are part of a multinational force rotating through the Hohenfels Training Area for Combined Resolve X, April 9 -- May 12.
Combined Resolve is a U.S. Army Europe-directed multinational exercise series designed to give the Army's regionally allocated combat brigades a combat training center rotation with a joint, multinational environment.
"This is an exciting opportunity unlike anything we've ever had," said 1st Lt. Jason Beauregard, a platoon leader assigned to 82nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. "It will be extremely fast-paced out there. One minute you are doing your mission and the next minute the enemy pops up."
Military leaders from both nations recognize the importance of learning from each other and finding ways to adapt in a joint-multinational environment. Beauregard said he was extremely pleased with the professionalism and communication skills of his Lithuanian counterparts.
"We are really grateful for this opportunity and excited to work closely with other engineers," said 1st Lt. Aurimas Bzeskis, a platoon leader assigned to the1st Engineer Co. Juozas Vitkus Engineer Battalion, Lithuanian Military. "We typically work alongside infantry units, so we are excited to see how our allies do the same procedures as us."
Beauregard noted the importance of training exercises like Combined Resolve X and the positive climate it creates with U.S. Soldiers as well as our multinational partners.
"I think working with a NATO ally is a great opportunity," said Beauregard. "The familiarity with these guys is going to be key as our nations work together in the future."
Soldiers from both nations expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to train with one another.
Sgt. 1st Class Brian Jones, a platoon sergeant assigned to 82nd BEB, said this kind of training allows the soldiers to learn valuable lessons from each other. Jones and Beauregard pointed out that despite some challenges, they are confident that all parties will work well together.
"Their military decision-making process is very similar to ours," said Beauregard. "There are some slight differences which may present some challenges, but theirs is easy for us to understand and follow the steps."
During the exercise, the Lithuanian and U.S. combat engineers are working with an explosive ordnance disposal company from Kosovo, bringing all these assets together in one large unit.
"Our role in the exercise will be to open up corridors for the entire brigade to move through, and if need be, build obstacles for a defensive stance," Jones added. "Being one big battalion with different kinds of assets will provide us with a peer to peer training experience like none previous."
Nearly 3,700 service members from 13 nations will participate in exercise Combined Resolve X at the 7th Army Training Command's Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels Training Areas in southeastern Germany, April 9-May 12, 2018.
Social Sharing