Moscow has repeatedly claimed that its buildup of military forces near its border with Ukraine is part of an ongoing exercise. Currently, soldiers from fifteen nations – including the U.S. Army – are now taking part in the Allied Spirit 22 joint exercises in Germany.

The exercise is directed by U.S. Army Europe and Africa, conducted by the 7th Army Training Command, and hosted by the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC). Allied Spirit 22 is designed “to enable integration between allies and partners in a competitive combat training environment.”

The exercise began on January 21 and will conclude on February 5. It’s being led by the German Army's 1st Armoured Division, whose staff is also providing command and control over a multinational brigade and other elements. The 1st Armoured Division is based in Oldenberg, Germany, and currently part of NATO's 1st German Netherlands Corps.

"Allied Spirit 22 is a very important exercise for 1st Armoured Division," said Brig. Gen. Heico Huebner, the division's commander. "It provides excellent training opportunities in an outstanding training environment for parts of the German 41st Mechanized Infantry Brigade, as well as the command post of the Dutch 43rd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, both formations being part of 1st Armoured Division."

Allied Spirit

About 5,200 soldiers from fifteen nations are participating in the long-planned exercise. Unlike the Saber Junction and Combined Resolve exercises, which are also conducted at JMRC and feature U.S. brigade combat teams in a lead role augmented by allies and partners, Allied Spirit places an allied unit as the main training audience.

"Allied Spirit provides U.S units with the opportunity to train with allies and partners in a simulated combat environment," said U.S. Army Maj. David Allen, operations chief for JMRC. "This strengthens the alliance and facilitates the exchange of ideas, techniques, and procedures between militaries."

The U.S. Army reported that about 1,100 American soldiers are participating in Allied Spirit 22, including elements from the rotationally deployed Operation Atlantic Resolve armored brigade combat team and combat aviation brigade.

"Allied Spirit gives us the chance to interact and work with important allies and partners," said U.S. Army Col. Reggie Harper, commander of the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade. "This is an excellent training opportunity for Air Cav to improve as a unit and as a member of the combined arms team."

Mobile Training Capability

JMRC is the U.S. Army's only combat training center outside the United States. It provides mobile training capability to NATO members and is used to train leaders, staff, and units up to brigade combat teams alongside allies and partners, according to a press release.

"Each rotation incorporates the most up-to-date techniques, tactics, and procedures to ensure the units have the best training environment available," Allen said.

JMRC is also a component of 7th Army Training Command, the U.S. Army's only overseas training command. Located in the Bavarian town of Hohenfels, it was first developed as a training area for the U.S. military in the 1950s. It operated as the Hohenfels Training Aera until 1988, when it became the home of the Combat Maneuver Training Center (CMTC). The mission of the CMTC was to provide realistic combined arms training for the United States Army, Europe and the Seventh Army's maneuver battalion task forces in force-on-force exercises.

In December 2005, the CMTC was redesignated as the JMRC, part of the Joint Multinational Training Center (JMTC), which oversees training for all U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR). It currently provides virtual and constructive training for all U.S. Army forces stationed and deployed in Europe and Africa, as well as select US European Command allied and partner units.

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer who has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers and websites. He regularly writes about military small arms, and is the author of several books on military headgear including A Gallery of Military Headdress, which is available on Amazon.com.

Image: Reuters.