Operation Atlantic Resolve

Through Operation Atlantic Resolve, the United States is demonstrating its continued commitment to collective security through a series of actions designed to reassure NATO allies and partners of America's dedication to enduring peace and stability in the region, in light of the Russian intervention in Ukraine. The US troops on the Atlantic Resolve mission are deployed on a nine-month rotation.

Operation Atlantic Resolve began in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland as part of unscheduled Land Forces Assurance Exercises to demonstrate commitment to NATO obligations and sustain interoperability with allied forces. US Army Europe’s 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) deployed company-sized contingents (150 per country) of U.S. paratroopers to Poland (April 23), Latvia (April 24), Lithuania (April 26) and Estonia (April 28) to begin expanded land force training

The first land forces activity associated with this operation was Exercise Saber Guardian 14: (Bulgaria, March 21 - April 4). Approximately 550 U.S. service members, with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, United Kingdom, Georgia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Turkey and Ukraine. The exercise was a U.S. Army Europe and Bulgarian Land Forces-led combined Joint Task Force and brigade command post exercise /computer-assisted exercise. This exercise was designed to strengthen international agency and military partnering, foster trust and improve interoperability between NATO and partner nations involved in foreign humanitarian assistance operations with U.S. forces.

Under NATO Baltic Air Policing, the U.S. more than doubled the number of aircraft allocated to this mission. On March 6, the United States deployed an additional six F-15Cs to augment the four F-15Cs already in Lithuania filling a NATO peacetime requirement to have quick-reaction interceptor aircraft "ramp-ready" for a four-month period. The U.S. rotation began in January. Poland took over the Baltic Air Policing task on May 1 with augmentation from the United Kingdom, Denmark and France.

The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG 103) conducted operations in the Black Sea in March 2014 to reassure our allies of the U.S. commitment to the region. Truxtun made port calls in Constanta, Romania, and Haifa, Israel; and participated in a passing exercise (PASSEX) with Romanian and Bulgarian naval forces. The ship extended in the Black Sea to conduct an additional port visit in Varna, Bulgaria; to host an onboard maritime planning conference with Bulgarian and Romanian officers; and participate in a second PASSEX.

As part of both the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and the 2015 Defense Appropriations Act, the European Reassurance Initiative will provide $1 billion in funding to enable the DoD to continue its efforts to reassure NATO allies and bolster the security and capacity of our partners in the region. This initiative will enable DoD to:

• Continue conducting military exercises and training on land, in the air and at sea, while sustaining a rotational presence across Europe in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve;
• Increase the responsiveness of U.S. forces to reinforce NATO by exploring initiatives such as prepositioning of equipment and enhancing reception facilities in Europe;
• Increase participation by the U.S. Navy in NATO naval force deployments, including more persistent deployments to the Black and Baltic seas;
• Build the capacity of close partners such as Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine to enhance interoperability to work alongside the United States and NATO forces, as well as provide for their own defense.

Ultimately, the European Reassurance Initiative allows the US to continue to take the necessary actions to increase the readiness and responsiveness not only of the US military forces in Europe, but also of NATO allies and partners to address any threat and help deter further destabilizing activities in the region.

The training of the Ukrainian National Guard by the US Army Europe soldiers will start in spring following Kiev’s request, spokesperson for US European Command David Westover said 22 January 2015. “The training, scheduled to begin in spring, comes at the request of the Ukrainian government as they work to reform their police forces and establish their newly formed National Guard,” Westover said adding that the mission is part of a US State Department initiative to assist Ukraine in strengthening its law enforcement capabilities, conducting internal defense, and maintaining rule of law.

The United States said March 09, 2015 some 750 U.S. Army tanks, helicopters, and other equipment had arrived in Riga, Latvia. The Pentagon said the March 9 deployment was a part of the U.S. military's Operation Atlantic Resolve aimed at demonstrating commitment to NATO allies in light of what members of the alliance see as Russia's increasingly aggressive attitude.

The Defense Department said some 3,000 members of a 3rd Infantry Division brigade combat team would begin flowing into the region as part of a three-month deployment. The unit will participate in multinational training missions with NATO partners in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. It will take over responsibility for the training mission from the U.S. 2nd Cavalry Regiment, which will depart later in the month.

Approximately 250 U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), arrived in Germany for a nine-month rotation as part of the regionally allocated forces supporting Atlantic Resolve, June 22-23, 2020. This was the sixth brigade-sized rotational aviation unit to support Atlantic Resolve, which will build readiness, increase interoperability and enhance the bonds between ally and partner militaries with multinational training events.

Prior to arriving in Europe, 101st CAB conducted a rigorous train-up, including individual and crew skill tasks, gunnery qualification and multiple training exercises at the National Training Center and the Joint Readiness Training Center while combating the COVID-19 pandemic. To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, 101st CAB will spend two weeks at Camp Kasserine in Grafenwoehr, Germany, isolated in small groups before moving to forward locations alongside allies and partners.

7th Army Training Command structured the camp into four separate areas made up of tents and amenities for each location such as laundry, showers and hot chow. Each Soldier is given 72 square feet of personal space as well as access to physical fitness resources available on a scheduled basis. The Soldiers are separated into the small groups according to the date of their arrival, so if a group tests positive for the virus, it would not affect the remaining Soldiers.

Despite being isolated for two weeks, 101st CAB is eager to conduct multinational training in Europe for the next nine months. The unit will have plenty of opportunities to hone their skills during the rotation. During the two weeks spent in isolation, the aviation brigade plans to use their time conducting lower-level, individual training such as Sergeant Time’s Training. Although the world paused for a moment due to the outbreak of COVID-19, U.S. Army Europe’s efforts to increase interoperability and strengthen the NATO alliance and partnership between the U.S. and host nations did not.

101st CAB deployed with approximately 2,000 personnel, 50 UH-60 and HH-60 Black Hawks; 4 CH-47 Chinooks; 25 AH-64 Apaches; and more than 1,800 wheeled vehicles and pieces of equipment. 101st CAB will conduct much of its training alongside Atlantic Resolve nation counterparts from Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. The deployment of ready, combat-credible U.S. forces to Europe in support of Atlantic Resolve is evidence of the strong and unremitting U.S. commitment to NATO and Europe.