LANDPOWER MAGAZINE SPRING 2021 | Page 30

MAGAZINE

Mercury Rising For the first time in its four-year history , Battle Group Poland conducted an Alert-Marshal-Deploy exercise that tested the ability to rapidly move the entire Battle Group from the Bemowo Piskie Training Area in response to a potential threat . OPERATION MERCURY RISING , a Deployment Readiness Exercise , began on the morning of November 21st when the Battle Group received a simulated alert from its higher headquarters and immediately began conducting the necessary planning and preparation to

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deploy into an exercise . During this training event , the Battle Group emphasized refining its ammunition distribution procedures and ability to exercise command and control as the Battle Group quickly built combat power . Mercury Rising challenged the interoperability and readiness of the Battle Group in a way not tested before .

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SPRING 2021

capabilities and demonstrated its ability to employ its PACE plan ( primary , alternate , contingency , and emergency ) to communicate both within the Battle Group and with host nation forces from the Polish Army ’ s 15th Mechanized Infantry Brigade ( 15MIB ). Along with validating the Battle Group ’ s capabilities , the exercise provided the Battle Group an opportunity to develop and exercise a unified standard for conducting tactical road march and passage of lines .

eFP integration with host nation forces The Battle Group also trained extensively during the rotation on its ability to integrate with and fight alongside host nation forces from the 15MIB . In reflection , Lieutenant Colonel Higgins emphasized the importance of training alongside host nation forces . “ Similar to the required rapport and trust that the Battle Group must share in order to be successful , we must also have the same relationship with 15MIB . We have trained alongside them just as we would fight alongside them ,” he said . Part of this integration included participation in host nation training opportunities . In November , Battle Group Poland integrated alongside 15MIB in TUMAK 20 , an annual training event in which 15MIB ’ s combat readiness is assessed by their higher headquarters . This exercise challenged the Battle Group to synchronize planning within adjacent operations of 15MIB . During the Operation , Battle Group Poland ’ s command post maintained contact with the Polish 15MIB to enable constant coordination of their elements . Highlights from TUMAK 20 include a combined Wet Gap Crossing Exercise and Live Fire Exercise with 15th MIB . These critical training events demonstrated the Battle Group ’ s ability to effectively integrate alongside Polish forces and highlight the strong relationship Battle Group Poland maintains with 15MIB .

eFP SOP to preserve interoperability & sustain gains After the completion of these critical training events and throughout the rotation , Battle Group Poland staff made a concerted effort to consolidate lessons-learned and best practices into the eFP Standard Operating Procedure ( SOP ) in preparation for handing off responsibility of the mission to their successors . To enable sustained readiness , the Battle Group executed After Action Reviews ( AARs ) where the staff collected and preserved experiences and lessons-learned from partner nations , troop commanders , and staff sections . These AARs served to not only identify unresolved challenges for improvement in future training iterations , but also helped to illuminate best-practices for incorporation into the SOP . Incorporating these valuable experiences and lessons-learned into the eFP SOP provides the Battle Group with an enduring

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