NATO Land Forces:U.S. Army Establishes New Garrison on the Eastern Flank

MIHAEL KOGALNICEANU AIR BASE,ROMANIA - On O8 AUG 2024,the new United States Army Garrison (USAG) Black Sea marked its official uncasing of colours and change of command ceremony.The Army formally redesignated the Army Support Activity-Black Sea to USAG Black Sea effective 15 JUN 2024.The development establishes USAG Black Sea as the ninth Army garrison in Europe and the 81st globally,further strengthening the Army's presence in the Black Sea Region,according to the U.S. Army.Located at Mihail Kolgiceanu Airbase (MKAB) in Romania and Novo Selo Training Area (NSTA) in Bulgaria,USAG Black Sea is tasked with managing a total of five sites across both countries.These include:Babedag Training Area in Romania as well as Ayto and Chubra Training Areas in Bulgaria.This mover comes after USAG Black Sea realigned to report to USAG Poland as its higher headquarters.This move comes after USAG Black Sea realigned to report to USAG Poland as its higher headquarters,with V Corps serving as the Senior Responsible Officer (SRO).The realignment ensures that the Army's operations on NATO's Eastern Flank are fully integrated and coordinated.Said LTCOL Christopher Kaszniaj,USAG Black Sea commander,highlighting the strategic importance of this move:USAG Black Sea will support V Corps and all Army forces in the region,enhancing our command and control capabilities and ensuring our forces are able to meet any challenges in the European theatre.What's most important for everyone to understand is that,fundamentally,we will continue to deliver these world-class services that we have been over the years.*LTCOL Kaszniaj emphasised the significance of the transition for the garrison at both the command level and for the organisation as it moves into full garrison designation.The redesignation underscores the Army's commitment to strengthening its infrastructure and operational capabilities in Eastern Europe.The garrison's mission is to deliver and integrate flexible base support to enable the resident of permanent,rotational,Allied and expeditionary forces in Romania and Bulgaria.USAG Black Sea aims to serve,support and secure the total force community,thereby enabling power projection for the European Theatre.*Mr.Scott Delay,deputy to the garrison commander,noted the transition will be seamless for Soldiers stationed at these installations:What it means in the long run is that we will be able to improve our infrastructure and deliver more robust services to the U.S. Army warfighter as we receive more resources and grow and mature as a garrison.*USAG Black Sea's vision is to build a trusted team of Army professionals dedicated to supporting mission Partners and communities.Modern,resilient and sustainable installations are the core of this vision,enhancing strategic readiness while providing quality facilities,services and support to Soldiers,their families,Army civilians and Soldiers for life.*Garrison Sgt. Major Gutierrez discussed the balance between mission objectives and building strong partnerships with Host Nation Partners is a critical aspect of mission success.By maintaining open lines of communication between the rotational forces,garrison personnel and host nation representatives,we can ensure that everyone is on the same page regarding mission objectives and community engagement efforts.*The establishment of USAG Black Sea aligns with Installation Management Command's lines of effort (LOE),which include people,infrastructure,protection services and operationalising the Black Sea.As USAG Black Sea begins its journey,it does so with a clear mission and vision supported by a robust framework of strategic goals.*The new garrison is poised to play a critical role in the U.S. Army's operations in Eastern Europe,ensuring that the forces stationed there are well-supported and ready to meet any challenges that may arise.*The U.S. Army's coninued investment in the Black Sea Region reflects its commitment to maintaining a strong,ready and resilient presence in NATO's Eastern Flank.With the establishment of USAG Black Sea,the Army is well-positioned to support its mission Partners and enhances the readiness of forces in the region,the U.S. Army concluded.*U.S. Army V Corps is America's Forward Deployed Corps in Europe and the senior tactical headquarters in the contact layer.

NATO Land Forces:Exercise Avenger Triad 24 Begins in Europe

Per U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAEURAF),the command post exercise Avenger Triad 24 begins with forces from the U.S. Army and 10 participating NATO Allies:Estonia,France,Germany,Great Britain,Italy,Latvia,Lithuania,Netherlands,Poland and Spain.It runs from 9-10 SEPT 2024 in multiple locations across Europe.The drills will incorporate lessons learned by implementing new operational concepts.doctrines and procedures learned from previous exercises to increase readiness;enahnce interoperability between the U.S. Army and Allies;and inform regional planning.Said COL Michael A. Wasserman,USAEURAF spokesperson:Avenger Triad capitalises on lessons learned during STEADFAST DEFENDER 24,the largest NATO Exercise in Europe in decades,and DEFENDER 24,the largest U.S. Army exercise in decades,to strengthen interoperability and build confidence.*As part of the exercise,USAEURAF will command U.S. and multinational forces,including one U.S. (V Corps) and five NATO Corps headquarters,in a constructed,computer-controlled environment.Major participants include:USAEURAF;U.S. Army 21st Theater Sustainment Command;U.S. Army V Corps;U.S. Army 56th Artillery Command;U.S. Army 2nd Multi-Domain Task Force;U.S. Army 1st Cavalry Division;NATO Allied Joint Forces Command Brunssum;NATO Multi-National Corps North-East;NATO Allied Rapid Reaction Corps;1st German-Netherlands Corps;and 2nd Polish Army Corps.The drills aim to experimant and assess Army's continuous transformation,including the theatre strike effects group;theatre information advantage element;long-range fires battalion and armoured division.As threats evolve world-wide,so must the tactics and standards of our forces.Computer-assisted exercises like Avenger Triad are a perfect venue for testing new cutting-edge technology,concepts and formations in a simulated environment.*The role of U.S. Army V Corps,based at Fort Knox,Kentucky and forward-deployed to Camp Kosciusko,Poland,is to provide training;increase readiness;and retain operational control of assigned and allocated units in Europe.V Corps works with Allies and Partners to enhance collective readiness and deter potential adversaries,the Corps said.*The primary mission of the new forward-deployed headquarters in Poland will be to conduct operational planning,mission command and oversight of the rotational forces in Europe.It will also provide additional support to Allies and Partners in the region and help improve interoperability.The motto of V Corps is "It will be done."*As the senior tactical headquarters in the contact layer,i.e.,the Eastern Flank,the role of V Corps is to deter adversaries in a crisis,and,should conflict occur,fight and win multi-domain and large scale combat operations.*Victory Soldiers will maintain a high state of physical,mental,spiritual,personal and professional readiness.Through our humility,respect,teamwork and strong leadership,we will build long lasting relationships critical to the success of our mission,V Corps said.

NATO Land Forces:U.S. Army Europe and Africa Instills Warfighting Culture

According to its updated command video,U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAEURA) provides combat-credible forces to deter,and,if necessary,defeat aggression by any potential adversary both in Europe and Africa.USAEURA sets the essential conditions necessary and is prepared to serve as a combined joint force command to fight and win across the full spectrum of military operations.As USAEURA does this and campaigns on two continents,we focus on four lines of effort:first,we set the theatre.We stand united to provide sustainment,logistics and intelligence to ensure the success of joint and combined operations around the globe.Next,we present combat-credible forces for two combatant commands (U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command).We are trained,ready to deploy and fight beside our Allies to win by decisive action against a near-peer enemy anytime,anywhere.Third,we maintain interoperability with our Allies and Partners for joint training and operations;we are ready to deter and defend amongst our Allies against all adversaries.And finally,we must modernise the force.We are getting modern technologies into the hands of our Soldiers faster than ever.These lines of effort are important because they strengthen our warfighting culture,a culture that instills in each Soldier a sense of discipline and demands adherence to standards,leading to strong,cohesive teams.This culture is what takes Soldiers from different countries and backgrounds and makes them a force,prepared and empowered as warfighters ready to face evolving and growing challenges now and in the furture:Stronger Together.*For example,U.S. Army Garrison Poland on NATO's Eastern Flank welcomed a new commander on 28 June 2024.Leadership passed for the first time in its history as COL Jesse Chace took command of the first permanent Army home in the Republic of Poland during a change of command ceremony held at Camp Kosciusko.Chace took from COL Christopher Church,who played a pivitol role in transforming the small band of Soldiers and civilians into a 100-strong team capable of delivering base support services and infrastructure to 7500 Soldiers across the U.S. Army V Corps Area of Operations.Chace assumed command of 11 installations across the three military communities of Poznan,Powidz and Swiatoszow.His leadership will also include command and control of U.S. Army Garrison Black Sea,overseeing Mihail Kogalniceanu Airbase in Romania and Novo Selo Training Area in Bulgaria-further aligning the Army's home along NATO's forward edge,a USAEURA article pointed out.*Also,U.S. Army BGEN James Kent signed the V Corps distinguished visitors guest book during his visit to V Corps forward headquarters,Camp Kosciuszko,Poland to learn more about how he can help with the unique challenges of the camp and NATO relationships in the operational area.V Corps is America's forward-deployed corps in Europe,defending the Eastern Flank.LTGEN Charles Constanza is commanding general of V Corps.*A U.S. Army Corps consists of 20,000-45,000 troops.

DEFENDER 24:Shaping Combat Credible Forces for Deterrence and Defence

On 4 April 2024,ships departed the US for Europe carrying U.S. Army equipment for the Dynamic Employment of Forces to Europe for NATO Deterrence and Enhanced Readiness 2024 (DEFENDER 24),the largest U.S. Army exercise in Europe,according to U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAEA).The equipment transport marks the start of drills involving more than 17,000 US and 23,000 multinational service members from more than 20 Allied and Partner nations.Linked to NATO's Steadfast Defender 24 exercise,DEFENDER 24 is comprised of three sub-exercises:Saber Guardian,Immediate Response and Swift Response,which has already concluded.Said GEN Darryl Williams,commanding general for USAEA and NATO Allied Land Command:DEFENDER 24 complements NATO's Steadfast Defender 24,the Alliance's largest exercise since the Cold War,and demonstrates the United States' ability to rapidly deploy forces to Europe to defend every square inch of NATO territory.*DEFENDER 24 is focused on the strategic deployment of continental,U.S.-based forces;employment of U.S. Army prepositioned stocks;and interoperability with Allies and Partners at exercise locations across 13 European countries.DEFENDER 24 seeks to deter adversaries;transform operational mission command;build readiness;and strengthen the NATO Alliance,USAEA noted.DEFENDER 24 runs from 4 April to 31 May 2024.*In Exercise Swift Response,U.S. Army Europe's ability to rapidly deploy beside European multinational airborne forces with little to no warning across the globe is tested.The purpose of the drills is to present combat credible Army forces in Europe and enhance readiness.The latest iteration of the exercise was profiled by this blog last week.Its purpose is to build Military Strategic Readiness (MSR) in support of NATO defence strategy/deterrence objectives.*Exercise Saber Guardian is led by USAEA's V Corps and a Romanian multinational division.It includes Army prepositioned stocks drawdowns;river crossings;a tactical road march;response to simulated chemical,biological,radiological or nuclear threat;and medical evacuation operations throughout Europe.Said LTGEN John S. Kolasecki,commanding general U.S. Army V Corps:This is important as it provides US and NATO leadership options for employing combat credible forces across the conflict continuum.Saber Guardian is the largest Black Sea Region exercise.Those participating include:Albania,Belgium,Bulgaria,France,Greece,Germany.the Netherlands,Romania,Slovenia and the US.*In Exercise Immediate Response,the U.S. Army is tested to increase scale,capability and interoperability of rapidly deployed forces.The National Guard forces involved will join participating nations and individuals to work through the complexities of building combat power arriving from the U.S. and utilising vehicles and equipment from Army prepositioned stocks throughout Europe.Combined arms training and live-fire drills will take place across the Balkans.The operational readiness of US forces across all domains is criitical to building partnerships;responding to crises;providing deterrence;and supporting our Allies and Partners.

Task Force Marne M1A3 Abrams tank crews conduct live-fire exercise in Lithuania

Task Force Marne M1A3 Abrams tank crews conduct live-fire exercise in Lithuania: U.S. Army Sgt. Miranda Sandoval, a tank armor crewman with Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, gives an interview about a platoon live-fire exercise at Camp Herkus, Lithuania, Jan. 14, 2024. The 3rd Infantry Division’s mission in Europe is to engage in multinational training and exercises across the continent, working alongside NATO Allies and regional security partners to provide combat-credible forces to V Corps, America’s forward deployed corps in Europe. (U.S. Army video by Sgt. Alex Soliday)

Brave Partner:Joint US/North Macedonia SNAP Drills Underway

Some 180 Soldiers from U.S. Army V Corps' 2nd Cavalry Regiment will host joint country Forces for Exercise Brave Partner in North Macedonia.The drills run from 1-10 December 2023 at the Krivolak Training Area,Republic of North Macedonia,a NATO Ally.Said 2nd Cav Regiment commander Col. Robert McChrystal:Short notice exercises like Brave Partner are a way to train in new environments and enhance interoperability.*About 30 Soldiers from the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia will support the drills,which are to feature a live-fire range with versatile Stryker Infantry Fighting Vehicles.The exercise enhances regional partnerships and increases combat readiness in a realistic,multi-national training environment,said U.S. Army Europe - Africa in a news release.*Short notice planning events like Brave Partner help ensure our Forces and NATO Allies are ready to respond to real-world contingincies with little or no advance notice.On 7 December,U.S. Ambassador to North Macedonia Angela Aggelar will attend Brave Partner with North Macedonia's Minister of Defence Slavjanka Petrovska.Ambassador Aggelar noted that:The training exercise between North Macedonia's 1st Brigade and the U.S. 2nd Cavalry Stryker Regiment demonstrates interoperability and the invaluable cooperation between our countries' militaries.Once again,we see the crucial importance of joint exercises with our valued NATO Ally,and the benefits they bring to regional stability.*On 1 December 2023,Army of the Republic of North Macedonia Brig. Gen. Sashko Lafchiski,1st Infantry Brigade commander,met with U.S. Soldiers from 2nd Squadron,2nd Cavalry Regiment at Skopje International Airport.The U.S. troops had just arrived for Brave Partner,the Short Notice Action Planning (SNAP) exercise.Brave Partner is designed to demonstrate USAEUR-AF's operational reach;validate U.S. investments in North Macedonia;and increase readiness.The 2nd Cav brought their Stryker eight-wheeled armoured fighting vehicles with them.They were derived from the Canadian Light Armoured Vehicle III by General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada,and are manufactured for the U.S. Army by General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada and General Dynamics Land Systems Division,U.S.Strykers can drive up to 60 mph/96.5 kmh and have a range of 330 mi/531 km,and have a central tire inflation system.They are a family of 10 different variants with a common chassis.With robust armour protection,they carry a squad of nine Infantry Soldiers and two crew mmbers.*The basic Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) has a basic soft mount cradle which can mount with a .50 calibre M2 machine gun;MK 19 40 mm grenade launcher;or MK 240 7.6 mm machine gun.It is also armed with four M6 smoke grenade launchers.The Stryker is produced for Stryker Brigade Combat Teams (SBCT).*The turret for the Stryker's Mobile Gun System (MGS) is armed with an M68A1E4 105 mm cannon and an M2 O.5 calibre machine gun.The ICV's are equipped with periscopes for protected viewing and digital communications systems.* General Dynamics (GD)

Army 3rd Infantry Division to Europe for NATO Operation

Some 4500 U.S. Army Soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division are headed for Europe,or have alredy arrived there,to bolster NATO's Eastern Flank.Members of the 3rd Infantry Division's Headquarters began departing from Hunter Army Airfield,Georgia on 5 September 2023.On 9 September,a change of command ceremony was held as the Army's 4th Infantry Division transferred authority for Poland-Baltic States protection to 3rd Infantry Division,Task Force Marne-referring to the unit's history in the World War I Battle of the Marne.Task Force Marne will serve in support of Operation Assure,Deter and Reinforce,working alongside NATO Allies and regional security Partners to provide combat-credible Forces to U.S. Army V Corps,America's forward deployed corps in Europe,the Army said.Thus Task Force Marne assumes control of infantry,armored,aviation,and logisitics units across Poland and the Baltic Sea Region.Said 3rd Infantry Division commander,Major General Christopher Norrie:Once again,we have the privilege of standing together with our Polish Allies,the Baltic States,and the rest of NATO.We have stood shoulder-to-shoulder against tyranny and oppression,and we pray that this Alliance will continue to be a beacon of hope for all who aspire for freedom and justice around the world.Added Lt.Gen.John Kolasheski,commanding general of V Corps:Your presence here on the Eastern Flank of NATO is essential to gauranteeing a free and open Europe.We will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our Allies from across the Alliance during this deployment,which is critical.And should deterrence fail,we will be prepared to defend every inch of sovereign NATO territory.*The Army explained that the Marne Division is the hammer of the U.S. Army's XVIII Airborne Corps,able to raidly deploy,fight,and win against near-peer competitors in large-scale combat operations.The 3rd Infantry Division is the most modernised and lethal formation in the U.S. Army and is fully trained and ready for this important mission.About 4500 Soldiers from 3rd Infantry Division HQ,3rd Infantry Division Artillery Brigade,3rd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade and 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team are deploying to various locations across Europe to support NATO Allies;deter further aggression against NATO member states;and train with host-nation Forces to build readiness and interoperability.They join about 2,000 Soldiers from the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade who deployed to Europe earlier this year,as well as other U.S. Army units currently serving in Europe from Task Force Marne.To prepare for this mission,3rd Infantry Division conducted multiple complex exercises,modernisation,and a culminating training event at Fort Irwin,California.* Should deterrence fail,US Army troops in Poland would be tasked with keeping the Suwalki Gap open,retired Marine Corps Colonel Mark Cancian,a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies,told the Task and Purpose newsletter.The Suwalki Gap is a stretch of rural land on the Poland-Lithuania border that is of great strategic significance.It is the only land crossing from Poland to the Baltic States of Lithuania,Latvia and Estonia.The 3rd Infantry Division troops are joining the approximately 85,000 U.S. Forces already in Europe.The deploying Soldiers represent the U.S. commitment to uphold the principles of democracy,territorial integrity,sovereignty,and respect for the international rules-based order.

Agile Sprit 23:Defending the Republic of Georgia

NATO Exercise Agile Spirit 23 is underway in the Republic of Georgia.It began on 21 August and runs through 1 September 2023.Led by U.S. Army V Corps and joined by Georgia Defence Forces,Turkiye and Multinational Division Southeast,it primarily is based in Goergia,with one additional site in Turkiye.The drills are meant to support theatre security cooperation and improve interoperability among NATO Allies and Partners,as well as bolster multinational readiness capabilities by exercising rapid mobility,posturing combat creible forces across the European theatre to the country of Georgia to hone their defence efforts and deter aggression in the Black Sea Region while also exercising the enduring U.S. State Partnership Program with the Georgia Army National Guard.Said Lt.Gen John S. Kolasheski,commanding general of U.S. Army V Corps:We are well-prepared to integrate with exercise participants and greatly look forward to a successful exercise that builds combined lethality and readiness.* Critical training includes a Brigade-level Command Post Exercise with NATO Multinational Division Southeast;a Brigade-level field training exercise;a Combined Battalion-level Joint Forcible Entry into Turkiye;Combined Battalion Live Fire and Field Training drills;combined special forces operations;combined medical and protection training;and other live-fire exercises in multiple locations within the country of Georgia.In a realistic training environment,the drills improve interoperability at the tactical level between joint U.S. Forces,Allies and Partner Forces;planning for GDF Special Operations Forces and conventional forces integration;and exercising with combined multinational units,improving Command and Control capabilities.It ensures that US,Allied and Partner Forces maintain our deterrence capability with a combination of combat-ready multinational forces.Some 3600 military personnel from 21 Allied and Partner Forces include:Azerbaijan,Belgium,Bulgaria,Bosnia and Herzegovina,Canada,France,Germany,Greece,Hungary,Italy,Jordan,Latvia,Lithuania,Moldova,Norway,Poland,Romania,Slovakia,Spain,Turkiye,the UK and the US.The breakdown of Forces is about 1200 US personnel;1900 Georgia Defence Forces personnel;and around 500 from the other participants.The drills will take place in the following Georgia Training Areas:Vaziani,Krtsanisi,Norio,and Senaki.Turkiye will host drills at the Kayseri Airbase Martyr BAK Drop Zone.Neighbours in the Black Sea Region,Turkiye and Georgia share a commen border.* The US and Turkiye have a renewed closeness as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wishes to meet with President Joseph R. Biden in the near future.