NATO Land Forces:Combined Resolve 19 Tests Warfighting Acumen

U.S. Army Europe and Africa is leading the recurring exercise Combined Resolve 19 at the Joint Multi-National Readiness Center near Hohenfels,Bavaria,Germany.The purpose of the drills is to prepare a US Brigade Combat Team in support of NATO Deterrence and Defence initiatives,while also developing NATO Allies and key Partners' interoperability and readiness across specified warfighting functions.In the course of the exercise,the Army's 1st Brigade Combat Team,101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) out of Fort Campbell,Kentucky will execute muti-domain operations during combat training drills as the primary audience for the instruction.Said Col.Trevor Voelkel,1st Brigade Combat Team commander:No matter where the U.S. Army finds itself,whether here in Europe or beyond-we,along with our Allies and Partners-need to be ready to respond when our nations call.And this exercise,which will hone our warfighting abilities,will ensure we are ready.*The drills will facilitate implementation of Operation Atlantic Resolve,not only in the context of Russia's first invasion of Ukraine in 2014,but of its further brutal aggression in 2022 as well.Besides 1st BCT,other Army units participating include:10th Mountain Division;10th Air and Missile Defense Command;41st Fires Brigade;3rd Combat Aviation Brigade;and Army Reserve Units permanently stationed in Germany conducting their annual training,the Army noted.*More than 4200 military personnel from 14 nations will take part in the exercise,including:Bosnia and Herzegovina,Finland,Georgia,Greece,Italy,Lithuania,Moldova,North Macedonia,Romania,Slovenia,Spain,Sweden,the UK and the US.The drills run from 10 October 2023 to 11 November.7th Army Training Command is providing training areas and logisitical support for the exercise that ensures operational readiness.*CR19 will evaluate and assess 1st BCT's ability to conduct combat operations in a complex,multi-domain battlespace.It will bolster readiness and test responsiveness and reinforcement capability.*The Joint Multi-National Readiness Center provides world-class operational Forces (1st Battalion,4th Infantry Regiment) to showcase opposing Forces in the drills.This is critical so the troops will be ready to fight what's coming next.There will be a live,thinking enemy to challenge the Brigade,enabling them to master large-scale ground combat operations.The 1-4 will not so much simulate as replicate enemy Forces.By working through CR19,1st BCT will be enabled to respond more effectively to regional crises,while meeting their own security needs.They will be tested and certified to be combat-credible warriors,ready to accomplish objectives for a strong Europe beside the Allies and Partners they will fight alongside if necessary.Having been totally immersed in an operational environment with no pauses,they will make significant progress toward Deterrence and Defence.