U.S. paratroopers and Estonian soldiers conducted joint urban operations in Estonia 10911161

Defence & Security News - United States
 
U.S. paratroopers and Estonian soldiers conducted joint urban operations in Estonia.
U.S. paratroopers assigned to 3rd Platoon, Battle Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade, conducted joint urban operation training with two Estonian military companies and the Estonian border police Thursday in Hellenurme, Estonia.
     
U.S. paratroopers assigned to 3rd Platoon, Battle Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade, conducted joint urban operation training with two Estonian military companies and the Estonian border police Thursday in Hellenurme, Estonia. U.S. Army Paratroopers Spc. Jeffery Hooper (left) and Pfc. Cole Phillips (right), both assigned to 3rd Platoon, Battle Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade, support their Estonian allies by pulling security during joint urban operations training Nov. 3, 2016 in Hellenurme, Estonia. (Photo Credit: Pfc. James Dutkavich)
     
"Training like this helps strengthen the partnership between the United States and Estonia," explained U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Scott Stamback, a paratrooper assigned to 3rd Platoon, Battle Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade.

During this military exercise, U.S. Army paratroopers and Estonian military cleared and seized buildings while the opposing force, consisting of Estonian military and the Estonian Border Police, fought to maintain control until their reinforcements arrived.

"We are building a stronger partnership," said U.S. Army Spc. Nathan White, a paratrooper assigned to 3rd Platoon, Battle Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade. "Each nation does things a different way. We are learning from them, and they are learning from us."


The 173rd Airborne Brigade, based in Vicenza, Italy, is the Army Contingency Response Force in Europe, capable of projecting forces to conduct a full range of military operations across the United States European, Central and Africa Command areas of responsibility within 18 hours.