US and Nato allies train during Combined Resolve XII exercise

The US and Nato allies are training at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, as part of the Combined Resolve XII semi-annual multinational exercise.

The US Army Europe and 7th Army Training Command-led exercise is an opportunity to test the readiness and interoperability of forces during Atlantic Resolve.

Combined Resolve began on 1 August and will run until 27 August at the Grafenwöhr and Hohenfels training areas.

The two-phased exercise is also designed to increase regional stability, and enhance relationships among allied and partner forces.

More than 5,000 service personnel from 21 countries are participating in the exercise.

The training scenarios involve Nato allies and partner nations on one side and opposing forces (OPFOR) on the other.

Soldiers and armoured vehicles from Ukraine and certain other countries are part of both sides.

Bravo Company platoon leader US Army 2nd lieutenant Michael Sticco said: “Friendly Ukrainians have the dark olive [vehicles], some of them the BDU pattern and Americans mostly have tan tanks, some BDU [pattern].”

The US Army stated that such exercises help address challenges and allow forces to make use of new skills in future joint missions.

Sticco added: “Sometimes you can’t [tell them apart], it’s hard, it really is a struggle. A little more cross-talk between the different nationalities might help bridge that, just socialising or something as basic as that.”

To overcome the language barrier, the 3rd Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment is equipped with an interpreter.

A US soldier has been appointed as a liaison officer to assist the Ukrainian Forces.

This will enable the US-led allied forces to communicate directly with the Ukrainians.

Combined Resolve stresses the importance of communication to reduce friendly fire.