Lithuanian soldiers (left) from 3rd Company, Algirdas Mechanized Infantry Battalion, in a M113 armored personnel carrier, follow U.S. Troopers from 3rd Platoon, Lightning Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, in a Stryker during a live-fire joint training exercise in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, at Pabrade Training Area, Lithuania, March 2, 2015.

WASHINGTON — Thousands of troops and major hardware from the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division are heading to the Baltic region to reassure NATO allies fearful of Russian aggression, according to the Pentagon.

Approximately 3,000 soldiers from the division’s 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team are bringing approximately 750 vehicles and pieces of heavy equipment with them, including tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, artillery pieces and helicopters. The gear arrived Monday via ship in Riga, Latvia, Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren told reporters.

The troops and equipment will participate in multinational training exercises with Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, which will kick off in May. The exercises are part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a U.S.-Army led mission which began last year after Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea region and sent troops and equipment to the eastern part of the country to support pro-Moscow separatists. NATO allies in Eastern Europe, which were under Russian domination during the Cold War, are worried the Kremlin will try to destabilize other neighboring countries.

Some servicemembers from the 1st Armored Brigade have arrived in the region and more will follow next month, according to Maj. James Brindle, a Pentagon spokesman.

The unit, based at Fort Stewart, Ga., will replace U.S. Army Europe’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment, which has been conducting training with NATO allies in Eastern Europe since January. The regiment will return to its base in Vilseck, Germany.

The 1st Armored Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, is the Army’s regionally aligned force for Europe. The regionally aligned forces concept is an Army initiative to build long-term ties between specific units and overseas partners and enhance troops’ familiarity with regional security environments.

The 1st Armored Brigade will wrap up its rotational deployment in mid-June. But all of the heavy rolling stock that the unit is bringing over, to include tanks and armored personnel carriers, is slated to remain in the European theater after the brigade departs, according to U.S. defense officials.

harper.jon@stripes.com

Twitter: @JHarperStripes

