Soldiers with the 173rd Airborne Brigade march through a town after parachuting into into a village field outside of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, for Exercise Saber Junction on Sept. 4, 2024. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
HOHENFELS, Germany — Farms in Bavaria served as the drop zone this week for a practice run showing what allied forces might experience if ever faced with a Russian incursion.
On Wednesday, scores of paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade jumped from Air Force C-130s and C-17s into the tiny hamlet of Eglsee as part of exercise Saber Junction.
After landing in freshly fertilized fields, the Vicenza, Italy-based “Sky Soldiers” marched about 2 miles to the 7th Army Training Command’s Joint Multinational Readiness Center, where the realities of the Russia-Ukraine war had been readied: dragon’s teeth, trenches, drones, electronic jamming devices and a seasoned opposition.
“What’s awaiting them is probably the hardest fight they’ve ever been in,” training unit commander Brig. Gen. Steven Carpenter said. “But we want it to be hardest here so when they get to combat, it seems just a little bit easier.”
Soldiers with the 173rd Airborne Brigade parachute out of C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules aircraft to a field outside of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, for Exercise Saber Junction on Sept. 4, 2024. The annual exercise in Bavaria tested U.S. and NATO troops in joint operations, with a focus on airborne tactics and lessons learned from Russia's war with Ukraine. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)
A soldier with the 173rd Airborne Brigade links up with his team after parachuting into a field outside of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center Hohenfels Training Area for Exercise Saber Junction on Sept. 4, 2024. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Paratroopers with the 173rd Airborne Brigade parachute near the Joint Multinational Readiness Center Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, for Exercise Saber Junction on Sept. 4, 2024. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Two soldiers with the 173rd Airborne Brigade provide security after parachuting into a field outside of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, for Exercise Saber Junction on Sept. 4, 2024. The multinational land warfare exercise incorporated battlefield lessons from the Ukraine war. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Soldiers with the 173rd Airborne Brigade march through a German town after a parachute landing outside of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center Hohenfels Training Area on Sept. 4, 2024. Saber Junction 24 brought together over 4,000 troops from the U.S. and 10 partner nations. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)
The annual Saber Junction land warfare exercise, which runs through Sept. 19, features approximately 4,300 troops, mostly from the U.S. and 10 other partner nations under an Italian high command.
It is being held at the training areas in Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels. The exercise includes simulated artillery, armor, medical, communications and even psychological operations.
Brigade commander Col. Joshua Gaspard said the Army had monitored “battle labs” like Ukraine in preparation for the exercise. The force had already flown drones to survey its surroundings and had its signals jammed.
The paratroopers face stiff resistance from the Army training center’s resident opposition force, 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, which comes equipped with faux Russian vehicles.
Spectators watch soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade parachute outside of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, for Exercise Saber Junction on Sept. 4, 2024. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
A soldier with the 173rd Airborne Brigade inspects his weapon after parachuting into a field outside of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, for Exercise Saber Junction on Sept. 4, 2024. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Army soldiers with the 173rd Airborne Brigade parachute into a field outside of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center Hohenfels Training Area for Exercise Saber Junction on Sept. 4, 2024. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
A soldier with the 173rd Airborne Brigade awaits his next task after parachuting near Joint Multinational Readiness Center Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, for Exercise Saber Junction on Sept. 4, 2024. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)
Carpenter said Ukraine’s ability to attack from the rear using a tactic known as vertical envelopment has frustrated Russian advances and showed the continued need for airborne operations.
“Our ability to get vertical envelopment, to get soldiers deep, not just to do reconnaissance operations, but disrupt the rear lines would be incredibly valuable,” he said.
He stressed the importance of rotating all NATO allies and partners through the command’s suite of yearly exercises. This year’s participants include Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Italy, Lithuania, Montenegro, Moldova, North Macedonia and the United Kingdom, an Army statement said.
Georgia’s continued participation is notable. Russia occupies about 20% of the once solidly pro-Western country’s internationally recognized borders. But over the past year, Georgia’s ruling party has moved closer to Russia politically amid fierce domestic opposition.
After their landing, the paratroopers marched through villages toward the 40,000-acre training facility, known as “the Box.” German spectators set up patio chairs and gathered in groups to watch the spectacle.
Sgt. 1st Class Austin Pounds, a platoon sergeant from Galveston, Texas, said they had parachuted down a bit more quickly than expected. His troops had eight days of fighting ahead of them, he said.
“As soon as we get in, we’re going to get our teeth kicked in,” he said. “But we’re scrappy, so we’ll kick right back.”
