Hammer Through the Fall: US and Finnish forces conduct combined exercise

NIINISALO, Finland — U.S. Soldiers assigned to 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, operationally assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, participated in exercise Hammer 22, near Niinisalo, Finland, which occurred between Oct. 31 and Nov. 13. Hammer 22 is a two-week training operational exercise conducted alongside soldiers of Finland’s Army Headquarters, Armored Brigade, Pori Brigade, Karelia Brigade, Uti Jaeger Regiment and Logistics Department of the Defence Forces.

This exercise was held as part of an ongoing effort by United States and Finnish military counterparts to train alongside one another and improve operational tactics, techniques and procedures, or TTPs, between the two forces. Over the course of two weeks, combined forces performed numerous training scenarios that focused on international support procedures geared towards developing more cohesive joint fire operations.

“This has been a huge learning opportunity for Finns,” said Col. Rainer Kuosmanen, commander of the Finnish Armored Brigade. "I suppose it has been for the [United States Army] as well.”

More than 4,000 Finnish soldiers, including 2,500 reserve soldiers and about 200 U.S. Soldiers from the 3-1 ABCT, trained shoulder to shoulder operating numerous M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Abrams tanks throughout the duration of exercise Hammer 22.

During a ceremony held at the end of the first week, Kuosmanen, alongside other officers of Finland’s Armored Brigade, presented traditional Finnish knives to select U.S. Soldiers who excelled throughout the first week of the exercise.

“I am truly happy that the U.S. Army is a part of this exercise,” Kuosmanen said. “This is the main exercise to make sure our mechanized troops and our operational reserves are ready. Hopefully, during this week and next week you will see that Finland is ready to defend itself.”

Lt. Col. Levi Thompson, commander of the 6-9 Cavalry Regiment, gifted the cavalry unit’s signature Stetson to members of Finland’s Armored Brigade who performed alongside U.S. Soldiers in similar fashion.

“I am truly honored,” said Finnish Capt. Mikael Hanninen, leader of the Host Nation Support team, after he was awarded a Stetson. “We can and we will.”

U.S. and Finnish forces worked together through numerous field problems and conducted battle drills using the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System to create realistic situations that allow for each unit to learn from one another in real-time simulated combat scenarios.

Capt. Joseph M. Browne, a fire support officer with the 3-1 ABCT, stated that U.S. Soldiers were attached to a Finnish battle group to learn TTPs and fight more fluidly as an armored cavalry troop.

In addition to multiple laps run through a simulated combat arena, forward observers with the 3-1 ABCT set up an observation point. While they gathered grid coordinates, Finnish tanker and mortar crews fired live ordnance at targets down range. Soldiers used this opportunity to train their Finnish counterparts to communicate more efficiently and effectively using common nomenclature used by the United States.

“The Finnish Army is very professional,” Browne said. “There are a few things that they do differently, but we all understand the same language when it comes to fire support.”

Throughout the exercise, inclement weather enveloped Soldiers in new environments. Between bouts of rain and snow, the flat dense wooded terrain introduced many Soldiers of the 3-1 ABCT to different methods of combat. While cavalry scouts engaged simulated enemy units in a constantly changing environment, Abrams and Bradley crew members worked to navigate the muddy trails that snaked through the pine trees and surrounding fens that were heavily mined with large mossy granite rocks.

“U.S. Soldiers are getting an awesome opportunity to train in an environment they’ve never trained in before,” said Browne. “Specifically for our troop, I think this is the first time these Soldiers have operated in a wood and muddy environment, we’re used to a sandy type of environment, so this is a brand-new concept for them. Overall, it presents a challenge for them to test their skills.”

U.S. and Finnish soldiers left the exercise feeling more confident in their ability to operate more effectively alongside one another.

“I know we have a team here we can fight alongside with,” said Thompson.

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