Exercise Rifle Forge strengthens multinational interoperability

BPTA, Poland — Battle Group Poland held its culminating combined arms live-fire exercise, Rifle Forge, from Oct. 30 through Nov. 10 at Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Poland, integrating NATO fire capabilities.

Battle Group Poland’s two new contingents, the Romanian Land Forces Iron Cheetahs and British Army's Black Horse Troop, combined forces with the rest of the Battle Group for the exercise.

“This has been a great opportunity to learn more about working in a joint environment,” Romanian Land Forces 1st Lt. Andrei Savaniu, Iron Cheetahs platoon leader said. “As air defense, we are here to make sure that our allies are able to conduct their operations on the ground in complete safety.”

The Iron Cheetahs provide Battle Group Poland’s air defense capability. In this exercise the Iron Cheetahs used Gepards to track and destroy simulated unmanned aerial vehicles.

This live-fire exercise also integrated the British Army’s Black Horse Troop and their reconnaissance capabilities.

“It's really important for the Black Horse Troop to be able to integrate with our NATO allies as it is the way that we prove our credibility and enable us to demonstrate the capabilities we have,” British Army Major William Roome, Black Horse Troop commander said. “We're trying to demonstrate cohesion, the way we stick together and work together. And, [we are demonstrating] the capabilities we bring to bear during this multinational exercise.”

The Battle Group Commander, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Craig Broyles, echoed the sentiment.

“The idea is to practice combining all our arms in order to strengthen interoperability. What we’re doing is synchronizing all of our fires in time, space, purpose and resources.”

“This demonstrates we're stronger together because just one of us really is not as capable and as lethal as all of us. Each one of us brings a capability that one of us doesn't have, but together we truly are the strongest team.”