U.S., Canadian Troops Join Poland in Combined Airborne Operation

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 6, 2014 – A combined airborne training operation is underway with U.S. forces and NATO partners Canada and Poland, a Pentagon spokesman announced today, calling it a further demonstration of a commitment to alliance security.

Army Col. Steven Warren discussed details of the operation with Pentagon reporters.

About 100 paratroopers from the U.S. Army’s 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, along with 35 Canadian paratroopers, kicked off a four-day combined airborne training operation with the Polish army’s 6th Airborne Brigade yesterday, Warren said.

The paratroopers linked up and loaded U.S. and Canadian aircraft at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and dropped yesterday near Krakow, Poland, he added.

The colonel said they completed the airborne drop and moved to Zagan Training Area to conduct combined infantry training.

This exercise was initially planned between the 173rd’s “Sky Soldiers” of 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, and the Polish 6th Airborne Brigade, he said.

The addition of Canadian paratroopers from Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, Warren noted, further demonstrates U.S. and Canadian commitment to NATO security.

“The training will [provide] the opportunity for airborne forces from three NATO nations to increase interoperability at the battalion level and below,” he said.