MAGAZINE
FALL 2020
process . Additionally , the role of NCOs in personnel management is growing . On top of that , multinational exercises help to increase the efficiency of the reform of the Armed Forces of Ukraine , as well as accelerate the process of implementing NATO standards in their daily activities .
The total number of Rapid Trident participants in 2014 reached 2,164 servicemen : 945 from Ukraine , 354 from the United States , and 865 from 11 NATO countries and partners ( Poland , Romania , Georgia , United Kingdom ( UK ), Bulgaria , Sweden , Canada , Norway , Denmark , Azerbaijan , Turkey ). Gradually , the scale of training grew . After analyzing actions of the Russian armed forces in the East of Ukraine , the exercises started to follow a specifically developed scenario of a probable enemy advance ( expansion ) into the territory of Ukraine , approaching NATO ' s eastern boundary .
In 2020 , 6,000 servicemen , 30 units of wheeled vehicles , 23 aircraft and helicopters are expected to participate in the multinational exercise " Rapid Trident - 2020 ". The Armed Forces of Ukraine will commit 4,200 servicemen with armaments and military equipment . An additional 1,000 soldiers will be from the United States of America , and 1,000 soldiers from the Armed Forces of NATO states and partner countries ( Poland , Romania , Bulgaria , Georgia , Italy , Germany , UK , Slovakia , representatives of the NATO Allied Land Command Headquarters in Europe ) and the Lithuanian – Polish – Ukrainian Brigade ( LITPOLUKRBRIG ).
For NATO , the importance of the training can be seen in the ability to conduct collective training of units of NATO states and partner countries , demonstrating the unity in its commitment to resolutely stand up against Russia ' s aggressive policies . For NATO service members , this is a great opportunity to learn from the combat experience of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in their war with the Russian Federation , and hone techniques of countering possible actions of the aggressor , including hybrid war elements .
For the training ' s strategic value relative to relations between Ukraine and NATO , deployment of forces and means during exercises on the territory of Ukraine is a strong signal to the aggressor that , in the event of an escalation , the price of such steps will be costly . Thanks to this training , the Ukrainian people are well aware that they will not be left alone with the aggressive state , which is the Russian Federation .
Finally , NATO and Ukraine have begun to realize what behaviour is effective in responding to Kremlin ’ s policies . The Rapid Trident multinational exercises series will continue to play an important role as an element of deterrence of the enemy . The stronger the Ukrainian Armed Forces become , the less likely it is that Kremlin will opt for a large-scale invasion of Ukraine . LC
The difference in training this year compared to previous years is that , instead of practicing defense , multinational units like LITPOLUKRBRIG will perform an offensive scenario , which takes into account the current situation in eastern Ukraine and employment tactics of units of different services and branches of the Russian armed forces . LITPOLUKRBRIG is a multinational brigade consisting of units from the Lithuanian , Polish and Ukrainian armies first created in 2009 . Other countries are free to join the trilateral agreement .
The value of such exercises for the Ukrainian army is in the possibility of gaining combat experience from the armed forces of the world ' s leading countries and increasing the level of interoperability . Besides , officers get a chance to gain experience in the NATO-based decision-making
Photo : Taras GREN
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