Saber Strike

Saber Strike is a long-standing, multilateral, multifaceted, U.S Army Europe-led security cooperation exercise primarily focused on the three Baltic States. The exercise spans multiple locations in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia and involves approximately 2,000 personnel from 14 countries.

In addition to major contingents from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, Saber Strike 2013 includes participation from Finland, France, the United Kingdom, Poland, NATO’s Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC NE), U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), the U.S. Army and Air National Guard, U.S. Army Cadet Command and observers from Norway and Sweden.

The exercise trains participants on command and control as well as interoperability with regional partners and is comprised 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 U.S. close air support with partner nation ground forces and the demonstration of U.S. Expeditionary Medical Support (EMEDS) capability.

This theater security cooperation exercise provides commanders and their staffs practical experience in organizing, controlling and supporting coalition operations and allows the United States, NATO and participating nations to demonstrate their own unique roles in contributing to regional and global stability by strengthening international military partnerships, enhancing multinational interoperability and preparing participants for worldwide contingency operations.

Saber Strike 2016

Approximately 10,000 personnel from 13 countries participateed in the U.S. Army Europe-led joint, multinational exercise "Saber Strike 16," taking place in multiple locations in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from May 30 to June 22. The aim of the exercise is to facilitate cooperation among Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, as well as other participating nations, including Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, United Kingdom, and the United States. Saber Strike improves joint operational capability in a range of missions as well as preparing the participating nations to support multinational contingency operations. The exercise also trained participants on command-and-control and interoperability with Allies and regional partners through division-led, brigade-level command post and computer-assisted exercises and battalion-level field and situational training exercises.

Leading up to the Saber Strike exercise this year, the U.S. Army's 2nd Cavalry Regiment demonstrated a dynamic presence throughout the region by showcasing freedom of movement during a 2,200-kilometer tactical road march from Germany to Estonia. The road march, "Dragoon Ride II," runs from May 27 to June 15. It featured 1,400 Soldiers and 400 vehicles stopping in several cities to host public displays of their equipment along with their Allied counterparts. Saber Strike 16 is one of a series of separate exercises running concurrently in June 2016in eastern Europe, during which elements of the training will link with Anakonda 16 and Swift Response 16 training. Each exercise further supports assurance and deterrence measures by demonstrating Allied defense capabilities to deploy, mass and sustain combat power. Saber Strike16 also featured the integration of U.S. close-air support with Allied and partner-nation ground forces and a demonstration of U.S. air deployment of forces and equipment. U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command is providing B-52 aircraft to participate in air operations training throughout Saber Strike and the separate BALTOPS 16 exercise in the Baltic Sea.

Saber Strike 2015

Estonia is participating in exercise Saber Strike along with more than 6,000 participants from 13 additional nations. Saber Strike 2015 is a longstanding, U.S. Army Europe-led cooperative training exercise. This year’s exercise objectives facilitate cooperation amongst the U.S., Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland to improve joint operational capability in a range of missions as well as preparing the participating nations and units to support multinational contingency operations.

U.S., Polish, German and Danish soldiers gathered for the opening ceremony of Saber Strike 15, a multinational training exercise, June 8, 2015 at the Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area in Poland. Part of Atlantic Resolve, an ongoing multinational partnership focused on joint training and security cooperation between NATO allies, Saber Strike 15 is a long-standing U.S. Army Europe-led cooperative training exercise. This year’s exercise objectives facilitate cooperation amongst the U.S., Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland to improve joint operational capability in a range of missions as well as preparing the participating nations and units to support multinational contingency operations. There are more than 6,000 participants from 13 different nations.

Saber Strike 2014

On June 9, there was a solemn opening ceremony of a military exercise "Saber Strike 2014" at Adaži military camp, which this year coincided with the host-nation exercise "Baltic Host 2014" and naval exercise "BALTOPS 2014". The exercise, which concluded June 20, spans multiple locations in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, and involves approximately 4,500 personnel from 10 countries.

The exercise trains participants on command and control and interoperability with regional partners. It is comprised of a brigade-level command post exercise and computer-assisted exercise, occurring at various sites in Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia, including locations near Tartu, Vilnius, Pabrade, Amari, Tapa and Nemencine. In Lithuania, the battalion-level training it takes place in Gaiziunai Training Range near Rukla, as well as company-level field and situational training exercises taking place at the Adazi Training Area, Latvia.

Units from USAREUR taking part in the exercise include elements of the USAREUR headquarters, the Joint Multinational Simulation Center, the 15th Engineer Battalion, the 19th Battlefield Coordination Detachment, the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, the 5th Signal Command and the 21st Theater Sustainment Command. A key element of Saber Strike is the participation of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, from Fort Hood, Texas. The battalion is part of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, the Army's designated regionally aligned force provider for Europe.

This year's exercise also included elements of U.S. Air Forces in Europe; Air National Guard units from Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Washington; Army National Guard units from Louisiana, Michigan, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and Utah; and forces from Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland and United Kingdom. This is the first year Denmark and Canada have participated in the exercise. Saber Strike 14 also featured the integration of U.S. close air support with partner nation ground forces. All activities highlight joint, multi-national training among the participating nations and are designed to improve operational capability in a variety of missions.

Saber Strike 2013

Lithuania was the host nation for the 2013 Saber Strike exercise, and participated with a large contingent in both the command post exercise and the field training exercise portions. The armed forces of both Latvia and Estonia were also major exercise contributors with large formations participating in all aspects of the exercise.

Saber Strike involved approximately 2,000 military personnel from 14 nations including: Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Poland, Romania, NATO's Multinational Corps Northeast, U.S. Army Europe, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Joint Multinational Training Command, Joint Multinational Simulation Center, Joint Multinational Readiness Center, 5th Signal Command, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, the United States Army and Air National Guard, and U.S. Army Cadet Command. Norway and Sweden sent observers.

Units from U.S. Army Europe included the headquarters’ Contingency Command Post, Joint Multinational Training Command, Joint Multinational Simulation Center, Observer Coach Trainers from the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, 5th Signal Command, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, 18th Engineer Brigade and 234th Engineer Detachment. U.S. Air Forces in Europe are providing Joint Tactical Air Controllers, a Contingency Response Group and the demonstration of EMEDS capabilities with units from Aviano airbase in Italy, Ramstein airbase in Germany and a contingent from Camp Bullis, Texas.

The Pennsylvania Army National Guard participated in both the command post exercise with a command and control element and the field training exercise with a platoon of light Infantry, and cadets from the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). The Maryland Air National Guard provided A-10 close air support aircraft and the Pennsylvania Air National Guard supported with KC-135 aerial refuelers.

Saber Strike 2013 concluded June 13 as training locations in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia held closing ceremonies to commemorate two weeks of multinational exercises in the Baltics. "The exercise was an extreme success," said Col. Frederick Jessen, U.S. Army Europe's contingency-command post officer in charge. "We partnered with numerous nations improving our partner capacity and ability to command and control, enhancing our overall interoperability."

Saber Strike 2012

Soldiers, Airmen and Marines from 8 different nations came together to officially signify the kickoff of Exercise Saber Strike 2012 during a ceremony held 10 June 2012. SbS12 is a U.S. Army Europe-led, multinational exercise scheduled to run from June 10 - 22 at multiple training areas in Estonia and Latvia. The exercise, which has approximately 2000 participants, promotes regional stability and security, strengthens international military partnering and fosters trust while improving interoperability between participating nations.The nations participating in the exercise were the U.S., Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Canada, Finland, France and the United Kingdom.

The main objectives for SbS12 is to improve NATO interoperability and strengthen the relationship between military forces of the U.S., Baltic nations and other participating nations, to conduct mission readiness exercises for units preparing to deploy to Afghanistan in support of the International Security Assistance Force, to exercise host nation support of the reception, staging and onward movement and integration of participating forces. Those objectives will be met by the multinational Soldiers participating in situational and field training exercises such as convoy operations, base defense scenarios, urban patrol (mounted and dismounted) scenarios, cordon and search scenarios and counter-improvised explosive device scenarios.

Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip visited Airmen from the Michigan Air National Guard who were operating fighter and aerial refueling aircraft at the Amari Air Base in Estonia during Saber Strike 2012, an exercise based in Estonia and Latvia aimed at building partnership between the host nations and visiting forces from six different countries. The exercise was coordinated by U.S. Army Europe. "Saber Strike is an excellent example of stable and ongoing defense co-operation between US and Estonian military forces," said Ansip. "These exercises demonstrate that our US allies support us, and that the Estonian military and civilian organizations are well prepared and fully able to collaborate with them.”

During the exercise, U.S. A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft utilized a gunnery range in Adzai, Latvia, to simulate supporting a movement of friendly ground troops in the region. American KC-135 Stratotankers were also in the region, providing air-to-air refueling support to the A-10s. Both types of aircraft were flown by the Michigan Air National Guard and were based at Amari in Estonia. The exercise represented the first time that fighter aircraft from the U.S. operated from Estonia.

After two weeks of intense training, about 2000 troops from eight nations begin to pack up and head home from five locations spread across Estonia and Latvia as exercise Saber Strike 2012 came to an official close 22 June 2012 following ceremonies in Tapa, Estonia, and Adazi, Latvia. The troops will leave having made new friends, learned new techniques, and developed the confidence that they will be able to better operate together in upcoming deployments to Afghanistan.

Saber Strike 2011

Saber Strike 2011 was the first of what will be an ongoing cooperative training effort between these four partner nations and is intended to increase the combat readiness of forces preparing to deploy in support of the ISAF. The exercise included a Command Post Exercise, a Field Training Exercise and Situational Training Exercises that are aimed at training the participating countries to operate more effectively together. The tasks trained in this exercise are specifically designed to prepare the troops for operations in Afghanistan and include Improvised Explosive Device defeat training, convoy and patrol operations, and cordon and search operations.

Saber Strike 2011 is a multinational exercise taking place at the Adazi Training Area in Latvia, which involves units from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, the 172nd Infantry Brigade and the 21st TSC's 16th Sustainment Brigade. The exercise is not only a training opportunity, but also a sign of the importance of the relationship among the participating nations. The U.S. Army and the Baltic States conducted an opening ceremony for Saber Strike 11 at the Adazi Training Area October 18. The multinational training exercise Saber Strike 2011 marked its conclusion with a closing ceremony October 29.