U.S. Army Europe

April 22, 2014

173rd deploys to provide additional training to European Allies and Partner militaries

By U.S. Army Europe Public Affairs



WEISBADEN, Germany: Today Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby and U.S. European Command in Stuttgart Germany announced plans to deploy US Army Europe forces to Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to conduct expanded land force training exercises, reinforcing our commitment to the security of our allies in the region. This move to is intended as a continued demonstration of the United States’ commitment to NATO and our collective defense responsibilities.

According to the Office of the Secretary of Defense a company-sized contingent of U.S. paratroopers from USAREUR’s 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), based in Vicenza, Italy, will arrive in Poland April 23 to begin training exercises with the Polish Army. This is the first in a series of expanded U.S. land force training activities in Poland and the Baltic region, scheduled to take place over the next several months. Additional companies from the 173rd IBCT will arrive in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia for similar exercises in the coming days.

EUCOM is increasing its land force activities in the region…These events are in addition to previously scheduled multinational land force military exercises and are aimed at assuring our regional allies of the United States’ unwavering commitment to NATO.

About us: U.S. Army Europe is uniquely positioned to advance American strategic interests across Eurasia and has unparalleled capability to prevent conflict, shape the environment and, if necessary, win decisively. The relationships we build during more than 1000 theater security cooperation events in more than 40 countries each year lead directly to support for multinational contingency operations around the world, strengthen regional partnerships, and enhance global security.