1-7 Cavalry Regiment conduct CALFEX with Slovakian forces

LEST, Slovakia- Soldiers with the 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division from Fort Hood, Texas, integrated with the Slovakian forces as part of a training mission at the Lest Military Training Area in Lest, Slovakia, conducted a three-day combined arms live fire with the Slovakian Army Sep. 17-19.

The purpose of the exercise was to give the unit a chance to work with other NATO nations, while also allowing them to train on their equipment in a tactical environment.

The training events provide a defensive posture met by allied military forces as part of USAREUR's larger mission to ensure peace and stability throughout Europe.

Their training for this event consisted of route reconnaissance, maneuvering techniques, situational training exercise lanes and real-world scenarios to test their joint combat readiness.

During this exercise, there were close to 25 types of Army vehicles in operation during the three-day event, ranging from the M1 Abrams tank, M2 Bradley Fighting vehicle, to the M998 High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle used, simultaneously, to execute the training.

In addition, there were approximately 100 Soldiers, varying from Armor Crewman, Petroleum Supply Specialists, Cavalry Scouts, Combat Medic Specialist, to logistics personnel participated in the exercise.

"Everyone had a different role during this exercise," said Sgt. Jenna Trevino, the senior medic for 1-7 Cav. "But it was the overall unit that really made an effort to build that relationship with the [Slovakians] and learn from them, just as they were learning from us."

The Slovakian Soldiers provided the CAV with indirect fire during their mission to enhance their training, provide a realistic combat scenario, and acted as civilians on the battlefield to test the unit on their skills to work quickly and as one.

"The scenarios we're executing here are fairly complex," said Command Sgt Maj. John Pulido, the command sergeant major for 1-7 Cav. "We're doing route reconnaissance and zone reconnaissance, but the scenarios are used to challenge the organization and to add stress to the learning experience in order to make them better."