U.S., Lithuania, NATO Allies In 17-Nation, 6,000-Troop Drills

U.S. Army Europe
September 9, 2014
WHAT IS SABER JUNCTION?
Saber Junction 14 prepares U.S., NATO allies and European partners to conduct unified land operations through the simultaneous combination of offensive, defensive and stability operations.

Saber Junction 14 is a U.S. Army Europe led, U.S. European Command directed, multinational, multiservice exercise that involves more than 5,800 personnel from 17 countries in several locations in Europe. Each year the exercise provides joint and combined multinational training on a large scale, with thousands of U.S. and partner nation forces and hundreds of aircraft spread across Europe synchronized in a single security cooperation effort.
The 173rd Airborne Brigade and Lithuania’s “Iron Wolf” mechanized infantry brigade are the primary partners who will train side by side during the exercise, along with forces from USAREUR’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment and U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard elements.
Saber Junction is the primary venue with which the Army conducts Decisive Action training in Europe. It is structured to build expeditionary capabilities and prepare brigade-level Army and allied units for worldwide contingencies through exercises such as airborne operations and the joint and combined seizure of a notional enemy airfield in Latvia by providing follow-on forces.
The exercise gives Army units an opportunity to collaborate with U.S., NATO and European partners on concepts such as interoperability and decisive and sustainable land operations through the simultaneous combination of offensive, defensive and stability operations. At the same time it serves as one of the Army’s primary venues for assuring America’s European partners of continued U.S. commitment to NATO, regional security and stability.
STEADFAST JAVELIN II
A portion of Saber Junction has transitioned into a NATO military exercise called Steadfast Javelin II, Sept. 2-8. Steadfast Javelin II will involve vehicles, aircraft and Soldiers from nine different nations and take place across five NATO countries including Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.
Steadfast Javelin II is designed to dynamically demonstrate NATO’s commitment to its fundamental purpose to safeguard the freedom and security of its members and partners. Steadfast Javelin II will be led by NATO’s Allied Land Command (LANDCOM) and will facilitate the training of more than 2,000 multinational Soldiers in unified land operations and interoperability.

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