North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Allied Command Operations
March 30, 2015
Exercise Summer Shield set to wrap up
ĀDAŽI, Latvia: In support of the Alliance’s enhanced readiness, more than 1100 troops have taken part in Operation Summer Shield XII at the Ādaži Training Area, Latvia. The exercise which began on 21 March concludes on Tuesday, 31 March.
The annual training event is a combined land, air and naval exercise, with participants from Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Luxembourg, Canada and the U.S.
The goal for the training event is to integrate and coordinate fire support in infantry unit operations through combat support elements.
“Summer shield is all combat support units involved in defensive operations,” said Summer Shield Director Maj. Girts Savins. “The main objective is to coordinate the joint fire elements in the exercise.”
Artillery, aviation, defence against weapons of mass destruction, support of engineers in united operation with overcoming obstacles, involving joint fire support front observers and close air support controllers are all elements the troops were trained and tested on.
“I was initially thinking this would be a bigger challenge but all the troops were very professional and they overcame all the small differences, said Major Savins. “By the end they were working effectively and efficiently hand-in-hand.”
Moved to Latvia in 2014, Summer Shield tests the strength of the Alliance by bringing NATO members together working towards a common goal.
“The training we are doing in this part of the world is showing the world that we are together and we are looking to have our countries be independent,” said Major Savins.
Story by SHAPE Public Affairs Office
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