About 10,400 U.S. soldiers and over 12,750 multinational service members from more than 12 allied and partner nations will test interoperability in Exercise Immediate Response 24, scheduled from April 30 to May 31.
The American contingent includes 1,600 U.S. Army soldiers from the Fort Johnson, Louisiana-based 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, according to Army Europe and Africa Command.
The U.S. infantrymen started a three-country journey from Narvik, Norway, on Tuesday, a 900-kilometer road trip to Sweden and Finland.
The U.S. Army’s road march from Norway to Finland will be replicated in other exercise milestones, such as the first use of the Narvik and Kalundborg seaports in military training and the deployment of light brigade combatants in the Nordic region.
Maj. Gen. Greg Anderson, 10th Mountain Division commanding general, expressed excitement on training with and learning from U.S. allies, including units from NATO’s two newest members, Finland and Sweden. Anderson views the exercise as an opportunity to develop “joint and combined warfighting excellence and capabilities both today and in the years to come.”
Aside from joining Exercise Immediate Response 24, the U.S. soldiers will also participate in Finland’s Northern Forest 24 exercise and NATO’s Steadfast Defender exercise.