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Joint Viking

Exercise Joint Viking brings together reconnaissance, infantry, armor and artillery assets for a NATO joint and combined arms exercise, simulating high-intensity warfare in challenging artic conditions. Exercise Joint Viking takes place over an exceptionally large geographic area, with a maneuver area covering more than two-hundred square kilometers of forested and mountainous terrain.

In March 2015, Norwegian Defense Forces conducted a joint national exercise under the name of “Joint Viking 15.” The exercise was conducted in the northernmost county of the country, Finnmark. This exercise marked a pronounced shift since Norway had not conducted military exercises of this scale in this part of the country since 1967. Norwegian authorities announced this exercise to the Russian authorities through the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), in accordance with the “Vienna Document” that regulates details regarding the mutual announcement of certain military activities. Additionally, Norway opened this exercise for allied and Russian inspectors. While some NATO countries sent observers, Russia did not respond to this invitation.

The Norwegian exercise started on 1 March and ended on 20 March, but the simulated combat phase lasted from 9 March to 18 March. It was substantial in terms of the country’s military capabilities. Around 5000 personnel participated, using the bulk of the Army´s heavy equipment, Airforce aircraft, and Navy surface and sub-surface vessels.

In the midst of this exercise, the Russians initiated what they called a surprise military inspection (snap), mobilizing the entire Northern Fleet, the Joint Strategic Command North (JSCN) and moving forces into the region opposite Finnmark, thus expanding their response into a nationwide inspection/exercise as the Norwegian exercise progressed. This snap exercise generated substantial turmoil. It was widely discussed in the news media in Norway and elsewhere in Scandinavia as well as in Russian and international media.

In March 2017 Paratroopers of B Troop, 1-91 CAV conducted partnered classroom and cold-weather environment training alongside soldiers of Norway's Northern Brigade, receiving instruction on a variety of skills critically important to conducting operations north of the Arctic Circle. "The importance of Joint Viking is two-fold," said Capt. Thomas Huens, Commander of B Troop, 1-91 CAV. "Expanding our capability to fight in arctic or cold weather environments is extremely valuable. At the same time, as a U.S. Army Europe based unit, we have a great opportunity to train and interface with a NATO allies."

"Looking to the future, we don't want to wait until we are having to operate together in a combat environment to learn how to integrate and be effective. Joint Viking is a unique opportunity to conduct maneuver operations over an extremely large maneuver space in a multi-national setting." said Huens. Paratroopers of 1-91 CAV received specialized instruction in the employment of BV 206 all-terrain tracked personnel carriers, cold-weather tents, emergency stoves, and cold-weather injury prevention in preparation for live fire training and maneuver exercises as part of Joint Viking.

Further, B Troop has taken advantage of opportunities to train in winter search and rescue. Paratroopers of 1-91 CAV participated in practical exercises covering methods of conducting area searches for victims of avalanche events, learned to identify areas with high risk of avalanche, gained additional experience utilizing emergency personal locator beacons in search operations, and refined methods for conducting area searches in the aftermath of an avalanche.

The training received and relationships formed during Joint Viking 17 will further strengthen 1-91 CAV's ability to respond to crises as the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Sky Soldiers) is the U.S. Army's Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapid forces to the United States European, Africa and Central Commands areas of responsibilities. Forward-based in Italy and Germany, the Brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build interoperability and strengthen the Alliance.