LANDPOWER MAGAZINE SPRING 2021 | Page 29

MAGAZINE
Group Poland strengthened its readiness and lethality through multinational training exercises including Wojtek Fire , Mercury Rising , and Bull Run . Each of these challenged the Battle Group ’ s interoperability and catalyzed the development of unified standards and procedures to enable closer integration across the formation . Furthermore , recognizing the challenges posed by the constant rotation of units , the Battle Group staff consolidated this progress into the eFP Standard Operating Procedure ( SOP ) in order to generate sustained Battle Group readiness to be passed on from unit to unit during future rotations . Codifying these lessons into the eFP SOP will enable future rotations to be able to more rapidly navigate the challenges inherent to change , integrate into the Battle Group and build upon tried and tested best practices .
Building readiness in enhanced Forward Presence During its training progression throughout the rotation , Battle Group Poland emphasized collective training events designed to confront inherent challenges caused by national differences in order to encourage integration across the multinational force . Through these challenging training events , the Battle Group validated its ability to accomplish its ultimate mission – to deter and if necessary , rapidly respond to acts of aggression against the Alliance . On the human level , these events also enabled Battle Group Poland to build rapport and trust across its allied force as Soldiers shared hardship during tough , realistic training .
training was designed to build and sustain the Battle Group ' s ability to plan for and employ its extensive fires capability . In addition to synchronizing the Battle Group ’ s organic Croatian Multiple Launch Rocket Systems ( MLRS ) and U . S . M777s Howitzers , five US AH-64 Apache Helicopters from Task Force No Mercy provided the Battle Group ' s integrated staff and team of multinational Forward Observers and Joint Terminal Attack Controllers ( JTAC ) the opportunity to employ this OPERATION ATLANTIC RESOLVE asset . Beyond the standard Call for Fire , the Battle Group Poland ’ s organic UK , Croatian and U . S . sensors had the opportunity to employ Apaches under day and night live fire conditions . Moreover , the Apaches had the opportunity to call for and observe fires from both Croatian and U . S . artillery . This training exercise demonstrated the Battle Group ’ s extensive fires capabilities and allowed it to exercise and refine its fires SOPs . From this exercise , Battle Group Poland gained a greater understanding of how to plan for and execute fire missions using observers and fires elements across the allied nations .
MERCURY RISING
SPRING 2021
Wojtek Fire In September , Battle Group Poland teamed up with the U . S . 1-101st Combat Aviation Brigade to refine the Battle Group ' s Air to Ground integration during Operation Wojtek Fire . The
WOJTEK FIRE
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