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Exercise RESCUER/MEDCEUR 2004 Set to Begin

European Command

Release Date: July 12, 2004

SCHWETZINGEN, Germany - During the last two weeks of July, soldiers from 14 nations will come together in the Baltic States for exercises designed to provide medical training and assess participating nation's ability in anti-terrorism, search and rescue, and disaster relief scenarios

Roughly 2,000 troops will take part in the 15-day RESCUER/Medical Exercise Central Europe (MEDCEUR) 2004, in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Bulgaria. Soldiers from the United States, Germany, Poland, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan are taking part with host nations troops.

"This exercise is basically four exercises rolled into one," said Maj. Chris Baker, a U.S. Army Europe operations officer who led planning for mission. "We have a computer-based scenario that sets the stage for the whole exercise. Woven into this scenario is a medical exercise, a diving exercise and a search and rescue exercise."

For the host nations, RESCUER / MEDCEUR 2004 (RM04) will provide a real-world assessment of their medical capabilities and ability to respond to both disasters and military contingencies. The exercises are set to begin July 16. Each host country has a specific objective within the exercise, Baker said.

During RESCUER, Latvia's share of RM04, a computer-assisted scenario runs troops through anti-terrorism, disaster response and search and rescue exercises. The exercise is designed to provide training in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and response operations.

In Lithuania, the MEDCEUR exercise will give the multinational force a chance to exchange medical information and techniques while training to deal with emergencies, such as mass casualty events.

In Talinn, Estonia, troops will take part in a diving exercise (DIVEX) to test their abilities to handle ordnance threats underwater and salvage operations. Meanwhile, Estonian and Polish troops will coordinate a Search and Rescue exercise (SAREX) near Tapa, Estonia.

A multilateral, "In the Spirit of Partnership for Peace" exercise, RESCUER / MEDCEUR 2004 (RM04) will also provide humanitarian assistance to host countries. A team of U.S. Army Engineers and Naval Construction Battalions are working on renovation and construction projects in all three Baltic countries.