LANDCOM In Exercise ANAKONDA 16
�������������������������������
ANAKONDA is a Polish-led training event that takes place every two years . Exercise ANAKONDA 2016 ( AN16 ) trained , exercised and integrated Polish national command and force structures into an allied , joint , multinational environment . It was the biggest military drills held in Poland since the end of the Polish People ’ s Republic in 1989 .
AN16 was also one of U . S . Army Europe ’ s premier multinational training events .
This exercise further supported assurance and deterrence measures by demonstrating allied defense capabilities to deploy , to mass and sustain combat power .
This exercise involved more than 31000 participants from 24 nations , including Albania , Bulgaria , Canada , Croatia , Czech Republic , Estonia , Finland , Germany , Hungary , Latvia , Lithuania , Macedonia , Poland , Romania , Slovakia , Slovenia , Spain , Sweden , Turkey , the United Kingdom and the United States .
AN16 was the largest exercise in the modern history of Poland and one of the most important military events in Europe this year . Its scenario was purely defensive and not directed against any country . The exercise took place in the Polish military training areas ( Drawsko , Orzysz , Ustka , Wędrzyn , Żagań , Dęba , Biedrusko , Toruń , Chełmno , Biała Góra ) and in international air space and sea waters of the Baltic Sea . This exercise was fully in line with the commitments taken by Allies at the NATO Summit in Wales in September 2014 , particularly in terms of the key elements of the Readiness Action Plan such as assurance measures and adaptation .
The combined effort of approximately 31000 troops equipped with 3000 vehicles , 105 aircraft and 12 vessels resulted in a joint defensive operation including countering hybrid warfare . AN16 provided participating countries with an opportunity to showcase their ability to operate together and defend against any threat to their security . The exercise was also a manifestation of transatlantic bonds ( participation of more than 14000 USA and CAN troops ) and indivisibility of security .
Transparency matters for Poland . Poland invited up to two observers from each OSCE participating states to monitor the exercise .
This Polish-led exercise tested the readiness and interoperability of Polish Armed Forces with participating Allies and partners . The 10-day exercise had live fire , command post , field training , cyber and electronic warfare drills . The operations not only depend on comparing the procedures of operations , but also on capabilities to realize common complex operations of fire support in favor of fighting units .
Within the past few years , ANAKONDA exercise has evolved from a typically military undertaking , through the exercise involving national non-military sector , to an alliance exercise with active engagement of NATO member countries .
LANDCOM staff deployed to Krakow on 5 June 2016 . After running an internal dry training and conducting a Take-Over of Land Domain Responsibility from ( POL ) LCC , LANDCOM in its HICON and operational role participated in AN16 Stage 2 CPX / CAX . Stage 2 ( 13-17 JUN ) served as a venue to train commands in large-scale high-intensity warfare ( HIW ) operations on the territory of Poland . The primary training audience was MNC NE and the secondary training audience consisted of LAND- COM and the ( POL ) Land Component Command as the POL Corps HQ in the Rear Area .
AN16 offered LANDCOM a training platform , which provided a multinational training audience a unique opportunity to integrate commands and forces in planning and con-
20LAND POWER