Home  /  Newsroom  /  News  /  2023  /  Multinational Division North East assumes command of U.S. 2nd Cavalry Regiment for exercise Griffin Shock

SZCZECIN, Poland - As part of exercise Griffin Shock, Headquarters Multinational Division North East (MND-NE) assumed command of the U.S. Army's 2nd Cavalry Regiment on May 13 in Bemowo Piskie, Poland. Griffin Shock is an exercise designed to demonstrate how the United States as a framework nation can rapidly reinforce NATO enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battlegroup Poland and expand its size from a battalion to a brigade-sized element as required. 

Executed on May 8-26, Griffin Shock supports NATO deterrence initiatives and the new NATO Force Model, which Allies agreed to during the 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid. During the hand over/take over ceremony, Lieutenant General Jürgen-Joachim von Sandrart, Commander Multinational Corps Northeast, stated:

MND-NE covers the most important ground in all of NATO – the Suwalki corridor – our lifeline to the Baltics, which must be kept open at all times and under all circumstances. The close cooperation with our US Allies is a cornerstone to accomplish this mission.

Soldiers assigned to NATO eFP Battlegroup Poland and U.S. soldiers assigned to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment salute the colours during the exercise Griffin Shock 23 hand ove/take over ceremony in Bemowo Piskie, Poland, May 13, 2023 © Staff Sergeant Matthew A. Foster

Lieutenant General Jürgen-Joachim von Sandrart, left, Multinational Corps Northeast Commander transfers authority to Major General Zenon Brzuszko, Multinational Division Northeast Commander during exercise Griffin Shock 23 hand over/take over ceremony, signifying the 2nd Cavalry Regiment’s transition under the command of Multinational Division North East in Bemowo Piskie, Poland, May 13, 2023 © Sergeant Lianne M. Hirano

More than 3,000 service members from U.S. and NATO nations participate in the exercise to enhance interoperability objectives. U.S. participating units include 4th Infantry Division, 4th Infantry Division Artillery, 4th Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, 16th Sustainment Brigade, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, and 1-14th Field Artillery Battalion. Poland, Romania and the United Kingdom also participate.

"Exercise Griffin Shock demonstrates our continued commitment to European security and the Alliance," said V Corps Commander Lieutenant GeneralJohn S. Kolasheski. 

It will validate our ability to quickly scale the NATO battlegroup in Poland into a full combat brigade under the command and control of MND-NE. We are excited to partner with Polish Armed Forces General Command and Multinational Corps Northeast to demonstrate this capability.

Commanders and soldiers assigned to NATO eFP Battlegroup Poland together with U.S. soldiers assigned to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment salute the colors during the exercise Griffin Shock 23 hand over/take over ceremony, signifying the Regiment’s transition under the command of Multinational Division Northeast in Bemowo Piskie, Poland, May 13, 2023. As the framework nation in Poland, exercise Griffin Shock demonstrates the U.S. Army’s ability to assure the NATO Alliance by rapidly reinforcing the NATO Battlegroup Poland to a brigade size unit © Staff Sergeant Matthew A. Foster

Placed under MNC NE, Multinational Division North East (headquartered in Elbląg, Poland) coordinates activities of the Lithuanian Iron Wolf and Polish 15th Mechanized Brigades as well as their subordinate eFP Battlegroups. In this way, the Division Headquarters strengthens the integration between NATO's ground troops and their respective Host Nation Defence Forces so they can act together in a variety of settings including combat. Operating at a high level of readiness, the Corps' divisional command is prepared to carry out collective defence operations in accordance with Article 5 of the Washington Treaty.

Remarks by Commander Multinational Corps Northeast during the Griffin Shock hand over/take over ceremony:

Video by Staff Sergeant Matthew A. Foster