U.S. Army Europe
April 15, 2015
Army Europe senior leaders visit Saber Junction 15
By Sgt. Daniel Cole, U.S. Army Europe Public Affairs
HOHENFELS, Germany: Saber Junction 15 welcomed approximately 20 multinational senior leaders, including Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, commander of Army Europe, here, April 15, as part of a distinguished visitor event to showcase the multinational training event.
Saber Junction 15, which includes more than 4,700 participants from 17 countries, prepares NATO and partner-nation armies for offensive, defensive and stability operations.
“Our Soldiers [U.S.] prefer training with partners because we know that is how we are going to fight,” Hodges said.
Leaders met soldiers from varying countries to discuss their specialized equipment set up at a static display. The display included both U.S. and foreign equipment and fighting vehicles.
Additionally, interoperability capabilities were displayed during a full-scale attack scenario in the training area, or ‘box’ as it is commonly referred to here. Soldiers engaged opposing forces on foot, with infantry fighting vehicles and air support.
The day wrapped up with a media press conference where leaders openly answered questions about the training, the strengthening of the multinational alliance, and the abilities being fostered to keep ‘winning in a complex world.’
Saber Junction originally began in 2011 drawing from the lessons learned from operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Saber Junction 15 runs April 1-30, 2015.
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