U.S. Army Soldiers representing different staff sections within V Corps review intelligence reports as Col. Kevin Jackson, V Corps Chief of Staff, left, briefs strategies and operations May 13, 2025, at Camp Kościuszko, Poland. The primary mission of V Corps is to conduct operational planning, mission command, and oversight of rotational forces in Europe. It also provides additional capabilities in support of allies and partners in the region, such as deterring aggression on NATO’s Eastern Flank. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Devin Klecan)

May 16, 2025

V Corps Conducts CPX 1 in support of Swift Response 25

POZNAN, Poland — U.S. Army V Corps completed a Command Post Exercise (CPX1) from May 6-15th as part of the multinational Swift Response 25, a large-scale exercise involving forces from ten nations across five European countries, to prepare for the Warfighter 2026 exercise next spring. The exercise focused on enhancing interoperability with NATO allies, integrating new technologies like the Maven Smart System, and simulating both real-world and large-scale combat operations to strengthen deterrence and readiness on NATO’s Eastern Flank, aligning with the broader DEFENDER 25 initiative and V Corps’ mission of operational planning and regional support.

U.S. Army soldiers with Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, and the Spanish Armed Forces work together to replace the engine on a U.S. M88A2 Hercules Armored Recovery Vehicle at Camp Adazi, Latvia, April 14, 2025. The Spanish Armed Forces assisted the U.S. with a Leopard 2ER Buffalo tracked recovery vehicle and a crane to replace an engine of an M88A2. V Corps and NATO Allies deter adversaries by demonstrating a combat-credible force through multinational training and exercises. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Rachel Hall)

May 12, 2025

NATO Allies Flex U.S. and Spanish Recovery Capabilities

CAMP ADAZI, Latvia — U.S. Army soldiers with Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, and the Spanish Armed Forces worked together to replace the engine on a U.S. M88 Hercules Armored Recovery Vehicle on April 14, 2025.

A U.S. AH-64 Apache fires missiles at targets during a training mission at Camp Ādaži, Latvia, May 02, 2025. Four AH-64 Apaches from the Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Armored Division, flew to a training area at Camp Adazi to demonstrate the aircraft’s precision and lethality to distinguished guests attending the training event. The U.S. remains committed to the NATO alliance and our Latvian allies. Latvia’s investment in its defense and cooperation with the U.S. strengthens deterrence and security along NATO’s eastern flank. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Rose Di Trolio)

May 9, 2025

U.S. Army AH-64 Apaches roar through Latvia demonstrating lethality

CAMP ADAZI, Latvia — On May 2, 2025, U.S. Army Apache helicopters and NATO forces (from Canada, Italy, and Latvia) conducted a successful live-fire exercise in Latvia. The exercise focused on strengthening cooperation and communication between the Apache crews and NATO Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) – who provide crucial targeting information from the ground.

Italian Army OR-8 Eduard Raduna (left,) Canadian Army Capt. Chelsea Stephen (center,) U.S. Army Capt. Mark Fisher, commander of Bravo company, 10th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, in support of Task Force Iron, discusses events during Verboom in Ādaži, Latvia, March 18, 2025. Exercise Verboom is a multinational training exercise with the goal of enhancing soldiers from varying nations interoperability and effectiveness on the removal of anti-personnel obstacles. Task Force Iron's mission is to engage in multinational training and exercises across the continent to increase lethality, while strengthening partnerships with our NATO allies and regional security partners. The task force provides combat-credible forces to V Corps, America’s only forward-deployed corps in Europe. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Trevor Wilson)

May 5, 2025

Strengthening battle readiness: U.S. Soldiers participate in multinational engineering exercise Verboom

ADAZI, Latvia — U.S. Army soldiers from Bravo Company, 10th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, in support of Task Force Iron, joined other multinational soldiers from Albania, Canada, Czechia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Spain, and the United Kingdom for NATO exercise Verboom in Adazi, Latvia, March 14-21, 2025.

Estonian soldiers drive multiple M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) off the airfield at Amari Air Base, Estonia, April 29, 2025. In 2022, the U.S. State Department approved HIMARS sales to Estonia, which have now been received. Their arrival will give Estonia precise long-range artillery capabilities to strike deep behind enemy lines. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jaidyn Moore)

May 2, 2025

Forging Firepower: U.S. and Estonia Unite with HIMARS

AMARI AIR BASE, Estonia — On April 30, 2025, Estonia officially received six U.S.-made HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems), significantly boosting its long-range defense capabilities. This delivery is the result of years of preparation, training with U.S. forces (specifically Task Force Voit and V Corps through the EHI initiative), and a commitment from both Estonia and the U.S. to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank. Leaders from both countries emphasized the importance of this partnership for deterrence and defense, with Estonia planning to quickly begin using the systems and increasing its defense spending. The U.S. provided extensive training, enabling Estonian soldiers to operate the HIMARS effectively almost immediately upon delivery. This is seen as a pivotal moment for Estonia, the Baltics, and NATO as a whole.

Members of the V Corps Command Team and senior staff members stand together for a group photo with senior leaders from the 1st Armored Division and various supporting units during the Spring Senior Leaders Forum, April 25, 2025, Camp Kościuszko, Poland. Over the course of two learning days, senior leaders used the opportunity to discuss talking points such as crisis response, interoperability, and sustaining over distance. As the forum concluded, leaders were ready to further bolster their unit’s readiness within Victory Corps’ area of operations across Europe. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Devin Klecan)

May 1, 2025

V Corps Hosts Senior Leader Forum in Poland

POZNAN, Poland — From April 23-25, V Corps hosted a senior leader forum at Camp Kościuszko in Poland, bringing together Army leaders from across Europe. The forum focused on preparing for large-scale combat operations, specifically to deter aggression and secure NATO’s Eastern Flank. Key discussion topics included intelligence, modernization, challenges on the Eastern Flank, and improving warfighting capabilities. Speakers like General Donahue emphasized the importance of combat readiness and interoperability. The overall goal was to strengthen unit readiness and reinforce the U.S. Army's commitment to its NATO allies. V Corps’ main role in Poland is operational planning and overseeing forces in the region.

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to 526 Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), carry a simulated casualty with a litter during a mass casualty exercise on Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, Romania, April 22, 2025. This exercise had U.S. Soldiers and NATO partners demonstrate their ability to rapidly adapt, communicate and support casualties during a crisis scenario, enhancing interoperability and readiness. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Nathan Arellano Tlaczani)

April 25, 2025

101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and NATO Allies Conduct a Mass Casualty Exercise in Romania

MIHAIL KOGĂLNICEANU AIR BASE, Romania — On April 23, 2025, U.S. and NATO allies (specifically French and Spanish forces) conducted a large-scale mass casualty exercise at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base in Romania. The drill simulated a missile attack and focused on practicing rapid medical response, patient triage, and evacuation procedures. The exercise aimed to improve readiness, interoperability between NATO allies, and confirm the ability to provide care in a crisis. Participants highlighted the importance of realistic training – including the role of Chaplains in providing spiritual support to the wounded – and expressed confidence in their ability to work together effectively if a real-world event occurred. Overall, the exercise was deemed a success, exceeding expectations and strengthening NATO’s presence on its eastern flank.

U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Class David Rizo, 10th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, looks on as obstacle demolition takes place during exercise Verboom in Ādaži, Latvia, March 19, 2025. During exercise Verboom, U.S. engineers conducted joint training with Multinational NATO Battlegroup Latvia, including Albania, Canada, Czechia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Countries shared capabilities through a series of events including engineer reconnaissance, obstacle construction, joint capability breaching, target demolitions and professional development events. Task Force Iron's mission is to engage in multinational training and exercises across the continent to increase lethality, while strengthening partnerships with our NATO allies and regional security partners. The task force provides combat-credible forces to V Corps, America’s only forward-deployed corps in Europe.

April 9, 2025

Strengthening battle readiness: U.S. soldiers participate in multinational engineering exercise Verboom

ADAZI, Latvia — From March 14-21, 2025, U.S. Army engineers from the 3rd Infantry Division’s 10th Brigade Engineer Battalion participated in NATO exercise Verboom in Latvia, alongside soldiers from nine other allied nations. The exercise focused on joint engineering training – including obstacle breaching, demolitions, and reconnaissance – to improve combat readiness and cooperation. Participants highlighted the value of learning from each other’s techniques and strengthening interoperability. The exercise involved quickly deploying forces and overcoming complex obstacles using armored vehicles and a joint assault bridge. Verboom demonstrated NATO’s collective defense capabilities and the U.S.’s commitment to security in the Baltic region, as part of Task Force Iron’s broader mission to build partnerships and enhance lethality across Europe.

U.S. Airmen assigned to 86th Airlift Wing stand watch over key checkpoints as a U.S. Army M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System assigned to 3rd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment backs onto a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft during cold load training on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 24, 2025. The training supported Operation Thunderbolt Convergence, a multinational HIMARS Rapid Infiltration exercise designed to enhance precision fires and interoperability across NATO forces. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Hunter Carpenter)

April 2, 2025

Thunderbolt Convergence: U.S., NATO forces prove rapid HIMARS deployment in joint fires exercise

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany — U.S. Army High Mobility Artillery Rocket System crews, alongside Belgian and Norwegian forces, recently executed Exercise Thunderbolt Convergence March 24–27, 2025, designed to test how quickly NATO allies can coordinate precision fires across countries and distance in real time. Led by 3rd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment, the mission focused on HIMARS rapid infiltration, beyond line of sight targeting, and time-on-target strike coordination.

A U.S. Army color guard from the 1st Armor Division honored Lester F. Schrenk on March 22, 2025, as he returned to the site of his captivity, Stalag Luft IV, Tychowo, Poland. Les, a 101-year-old veteran, survived 15 months as a prisoner of war during WWII at Stalag Luft IV. This is the first time he has returned since being released over 80 years ago.

April 2, 2025

Captive for 15 Months, WWII Veteran Returns to POW Camp

TYCHOWO, Poland — Eighty years after his liberation from a German prisoner of war camp, 101-year-old Lester F. Schrenk returned to the site of his captivity, Stalag Luft IV in Tychowo, Poland, on Friday, March 22, 2025. "To be back here in Poland after all these years, it's truly a blessing," Schrenk said, his eyes twinkling. "There was a time when this place held painful memories, but that anger, that resentment... it has no place in my heart anymore."