From REFORGER to Saber Junction… A look at Army in Europe: past and present

Oct. 2, 2012

By Joint Multinational Training Command Public Affairs

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  From REFORGER to Saber Junction… A look at Army in Europe: past and present

  In 1982, during the U.S. Army in Europe’s REFORGER exercise, there were tanks. This month, the U.S. Army’s exercise, Saber Junction, brings the 2nd Cavalry Regiment’s Stryker vehicle and hundreds of aircraft and vehicles, including foreign jets, helicopters, wheeled and tracked vehicles used by the 19 participating militaries. U.S. Army photo.

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  From REFORGER to Saber Junction… A look at Army in Europe: past and present

  In this REFORGER photo, more than 400 M113 armored personnel carriers’ convoy to training using the German autobahn in 1985. U.S. Army photo.

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  From REFORGER to Saber Junction… A look at Army in Europe: past and present

  Once upon a time Soldiers flew to European destinations to participate in REFORGER. Today, more than 1700 multinational Soldiers from 18 European nations are training with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment at Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels Training areas in Bavaria. U.S. Army photo.

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  From REFORGER to Saber Junction… A look at Army in Europe: past and present

  In 1967, riflemen from Charlie Company of the 1st Bn., 36th Inf. Brigade train at Grafenwoehr Training Area, during REFORGER. This month, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment confronts a battle-hardened opposing force at Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels training areas during Saber Junction, the U.S. Army’s largest training exercise since REFORGER in 1989. U.S. Army photo.

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  From REFORGER to Saber Junction… A look at Army in Europe: past and present

  In 1968, these soldiers unloaded inflatable pontoons during a bridge-building exercise on the Main River southeast of Frankfurt, as part of REFORGER, USAREUR’s largest and most memorable training events. U.S. Army photo.

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  From REFORGER to Saber Junction… A look at Army in Europe: past and present

  During the 1960s, border patrols were normal business as Europe was divided. Today, European nations enjoy almost 60-years of peace and stability in the region. Exercise Saber Junction, brings together 19 nations, of which 13 are NATO countries. U.S. Army photo.

U.S. Army Europe's Saber Junction 2012 provides the 2nd Cavalry Regiment and international Soldiers the ability to train in a sophisticated, complex and real-time battle environment among Bavarian hillside, which is reminiscent of Return of Forces to Germany (REFORGER), an exercise that spanned almost 40 years.

Saber Junction is a U.S. Army Europe joint, multinational military exercise involving approximately 1,700 personnel from 19 countries within the U.S. European Command area of responsibility.

Overall, the exercise is a part of USEUCOM’s Joint Training and Exercise Program designed to enhance joint combined interoperability with allied and partner nations. Saber Junction highlights the U.S. Army’s Decisive Action Training Environment, as described in U.S. Army’s recent training doctrine, ADP 3-0, Unified Land Operations.

The training prepares U.S. and multinational Soldiers for decisive and sustainable land operations through the simultaneous combination of offensive, defensive and stability operations that are appropriate to the mission and the environment.  This exercise will continue to build partner capacity, enhance interoperability and focus on Joint, Intergovernmental, and integration to improve combat readiness.

For more information about the exercise, visit the Saber Junction homepage.

About us: U.S. Army Europe is uniquely positioned to advance American strategic interests across Eurasia, building teams, assuring allies and deterring enemies. The relationships we build during more than 1,000 theater security cooperation events in more than 40 countries each year lead directly to support for U.S. actions such as in Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya.