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RIGA, Latvia – Smoke billowed across the mud-covered field as U.S. Abrams tanks joined German Leopard tanks to race across the open field marking the start of an eight-day exercise at the Ādaži military training area, Latvia on March 23, 2021. Exercise "Crystal Arrow 2021" saw two NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Groups (Latvia and Lithuania), their parent Brigades and U.S. soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment consolidating tactics and techniques necessary for an interoperable force to provide effective deterrence and defense.

NATO Allies and partners from across the globe came together to support and participate with NATO enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battle Group Latvia to increase cooperation, compatibility and interoperability in the event of a real-world fight against any foreign aggressors who would threaten Latvia’s boarders.

Though the scenario might seem simple as battle plans are created, challenges were faced by the Allies and partners. “The terrain here is very soft,” said U.S. Sgt. Elijah White, a tank commander assigned to Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment. “We drop track all the time. This is one of the hardest places to train with tanks in my opinion.”

Terrain was not the only challenges faced. Throughout the eight days, soldiers experienced all four seasons of Latvian weather to include rain, snow and freezing temperatures. “It is pretty cold here and we are not accustomed to it in Spain. I think we did pretty well” said 1st Lt. Aurelio Montero, a tank commander assigned to the Spanish Army.

The exercise tested Montero and White’s crews to operate across a battlefield to overcome objectives and defend the objective after taking control of it. While the two tank commanders sat on opposing sides of the battlefield, they had common goals. Those goals included testing partner nations abilities to communicate with each other despite language barriers, identify any weaknesses and reinforce their commitment to NATO Allies and Partners.

Crystal Arrow 21, Photo by 1st Sgt. G. Indrēvics, Sgt. Ē. Kukutis, Latvian Army

Crystal Arrow 21, Photo by 1st Sgt. G. Indrēvics, Sgt. Ē. Kukutis, Latvian Army

Crystal Arrow 21, Photo by 1st Sgt. G. Indrēvics, Sgt. Ē. Kukutis, Latvian Army

Crystal Arrow 21, Photo by 1st Sgt. G. Indrēvics, Sgt. Ē. Kukutis, Latvian Army

As the battlefield lines moved back and forth across the training area, weaknesses in defense and battlefield communications were identified with the help of a multi-national team of Observer Controller Trainers (OCTs). “I am here as an OCT,” said Sgt. Sabastien Lightfoot, an engineer assigned to the 5th Canadian Engineer Regiment. “We observe the battlefield, control it to make it as real as possible and train the force with input from what we see.” As an OCT, Sgt. Lightfoot followed opposing forces across the battlefield where his team employed smoke and pyrotechnics to simulate incoming fire and to disable or destroy military equipment and vehicles. Throughout the exercise, Sgt. Lightfoot and his fellow OCTs took notes of how the NATO forces reacted that will be used in future combined training events to make NATO forces stronger together.

Though the exercise was the focus of the combined training, Allied and partner forces were able to build professional relationships and share battlefield tactics and techniques as well as share their diverse cultures with each other. “It is always good to know how other nations work and learn from them,” 1st Lt. Montero stated.

It is really interesting. Everyone is excited to see what kind of capabilities we have and what kind of capabilities our Allies have, Sgt. White added. We are building comradery as well.

The final day of the exercise, soldiers returned their equipment and vehicles to the motor pools and took a well-earned rest before participating in a joint live-fire demonstration to ambassadors, military dignitaries, Latvian Minister of Defense, and local media outlets. “It is going to be loud,” said the narrator of the live fire demonstration. “You will get to see the full might of NATO."

Live fire demonstration, Crystal Arrow 21, Photo by 1st Sgt. G. Indrēvics, Latvian Army

Live fire demonstration, Crystal Arrow 21, Photo by 1st Sgt. G. Indrēvics, Latvian Army

Live fire demonstration, Crystal Arrow 21, Photo by 1st Sgt. G. Indrēvics, Latvian Army

Live fire demonstration, Crystal Arrow 21, Photo by 1st Sgt. G. Indrēvics, Latvian Army