Under vast Romanian skies, a multinational spectacle took flight as United States, Romanian, and German aircraft participated in the 4th edition of the Black Sea Air Show at Mihail Kogălniceanu International Airport in Romania on August 2, 2025. With a record attendance of over 20,000 spectators, leaders and Soldiers from the 1st Armored Division and 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) had the unique opportunity to showcase the capabilities of vehicles, equipment, and aircraft to the local community alongside our NATO Allies and partners.

Camp Tapa, Estonia — Nestled deep within the Baltic country of Estonia, Soldiers with the 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, alongside allied forces, executed a combined arms live fire exercise, or CALFEX, July 21-25, at the Central Training Area.

In the wet and rainy woods of Germany, drone blades whirr and cut through the drizzle as Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division test newly minted First Person View (FPV) drones. These drones are part of the US Army's armored brigade combat team TiC (Transformation in Contact) training progression and experimentation, which tests new, low-cost, and portable methods for defeating adversaries utilizing small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS). The drones Soldiers are testing are designed to be one-way single munition-drones that strike a moving or stationary target. As weapon systems, these small FPV drones are inexpensive and portable, allowing individuals to deploy them in combat without relying on larger, more expensive weapon systems.

U.S. Army Garrison Poland turned the page on its next chapter of leadership July 15, 2025, as Col. Jeremy McHugh assumed command from Col. Jesse Chace. McHugh will be the first commander with a two-year tenure.

On June 23, 2025, U.S. Army soldiers from Task Force Iron and the Maryland National Guard joined NATO allies in Estonia’s Victory Day parade in Pärnu. This parade commemorates Estonia’s 1919 victory in its War of Independence and celebrates the nation’s freedom. The U.S. participation – including a color guard and a flyover of Black Hawk helicopters – was meant to demonstrate strong support for Estonia and NATO’s commitment to Baltic security. The event also highlighted the importance of international cooperation, with soldiers practicing cross-border operations. The Maryland National Guard has a long-standing partnership with Estonia, dating back to 1993, and has been instrumental in helping Estonia build its defense capabilities and join NATO. The parade was attended by the President of Estonia, who thanked the U.S., UK, and French soldiers stationed in Estonia.

From June 1-13, 2025, U.S. Army soldiers from the Michigan National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment participated in Exercise Baltic Viking in Latvia, training alongside NATO allies from Denmark and the Latvian Armed Forces. The exercise focused on enhancing combat skills, particularly in preparation for large-scale combat operations and modern trench warfare. Soldiers practiced live-fire exercises, machine gun training, and maneuvering within a realistic trench system. A key benefit was the opportunity to learn from and improve interoperability with allied nations. This deployment to Latvia – part of a larger Michigan National Guard mobilization exercise involving over 2000 personnel – demonstrated the state’s ability to rapidly deploy forces and integrate with NATO partners, boosting overall combat readiness and strengthening the alliance. Leaders emphasized the unique value of the training environment in Latvia, which couldn't be replicated elsewhere.

On May 31, 2025, U.S. Army soldiers from Task Force Iron, along with NATO allies from the U.K., Romania, Croatia, and Poland, participated in a parade celebrating the 600th anniversary of the city of Ełk, Poland. The event was a way for the multinational battle group – stationed nearby to enhance NATO readiness – to connect with the local community. Hundreds of residents came out to interact with the soldiers and view military vehicles. Leaders from both the U.S. Army and the city of Ełk emphasized the importance of building strong relationships and demonstrating a commitment to Poland’s security and NATO’s collective defense. The parade and festivities highlighted the camaraderie and shared values between the U.S., Poland, and other NATO allies. It underscored the importance of these partnerships in maintaining stability and security in the region.

Senior leaders from V Corps and NATO partner forces came together Thursday during LANDEURO’s Warrior’s Corner to discuss how they’re building allied warfighting capability in Europe.

Bulgaria army and U.S. Army leaders discussed their shared effort to spearhead innovation on NATO’s Eastern Flank at LANDEURO here July 16. Bulgaria army Maj. Gen. Deyan Deshkov, Bulgarian Land Forces commander, and U.S. Army Col. Donald Neal, commander of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment based in Germany, teamed together to deliver the first Warriors Corner presentation at the Association of the United States Army LANDEURO symposium and exposition in the RheinMain CongessCenter.

Senior enlisted leaders from the United States, United Kingdom and Estonia gathered at LANDEURO’s Warrior’s Corner Wednesday to discuss the future of the NCO corps in Europe, emphasizing warfighting, transformation, interoperability, and the need to reinforce foundational skills.