Saber Junction 21 kicked off at the Grafenwoehr Training Area with a live-fire artillery exercise before transitioning via a tactical road march to the Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, where the exercise will continue until Sep. 24. Saber Junction 21 is a 7th Army Training Command-conducted, U.S. Army Europe and Africa-directed annual exercise designed to assess the readiness of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment to execute unified land operations in a joint, combined environment and to promote interoperability with participating ally and partner nations. JMRC focuses on multinational interoperability and delivers a realistic, complex operational environment supported by observer/coach-trainers.
“As with all training exercises, we are preparing for any contingency and improving relations with allied nations and partners. Joint training exercises continue to strengthen the alliance and partnership,” Ryan said. “It facilitates training, tactics and procedures across multinational militaries,” said Lt. Col. Kevin Ryan, director of the exercise control group at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center.
The 2nd Cavalry Regiment conducts steady state garrison operations in order to facilitate preparation for future full spectrum operations through European Command’s area of responsibility, and provides the 7th Army Training Command with a lethal and agile force capable of rapid deployment throughout the European theater in order to assure allies, deter adversaries, and when ordered, defend the NATO alliance. Approximately 3,800 participants from the U.S. and ally and partner nations are participating in Saber Junction 21 until the end of September. Participating nations are Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Moldova, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
Saber Strike is an annual international exercise held since 2010 by the United States Army Europe (USAREUR) focused on the Baltic States. The exercise trains participants on command and control as well as interoperability with regional partners and consists of a brigade-level command post exercise and computer assisted exercise, as well as company-level field and situational training exercises. It also features the integration of United States close air support (CAS) with partner nation ground forces and the demonstration of United States Expeditionary Medical Support (EMEDS) capability.
