Exercise Hedgehog 25, Estonia’s largest annual military exercise held May 5-23, 2025, brought together over 16,000 troops from ten NATO nations, including U.S. Army units and the Maryland National Guard, to enhance interoperability and readiness. U.S. forces contributed HIMARS, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, and fire support teams, acting as both opposing forces and supporting elements in a realistic training scenario. Participants emphasized the importance of building relationships with allies, strengthening collective defense, and supporting the freedom and security of partner nations like Estonia, highlighting the success of the State Partnership Program in fostering long-term cooperation and regional stability.

Exercise Hedgehog, Estonia’s largest military exercise held May 12-16, 2025, brought together over 16,000 troops from 12 NATO nations – including the United States and Maryland National Guard – to focus on interoperability and realistic warfighting scenarios. The Maryland National Guard has a long-standing partnership with Estonia through the State Partnership Program, dating back to 1993, and played a key role in the exercise by providing fire support expertise and strengthening relationships with Estonian forces. Participants emphasized the value of building these multinational connections for enhanced readiness and collective defense, highlighting the program’s success in fostering trust and cooperation among allies.

On May 4th, 2025, U.S. Army soldiers from the 1st Armored Division and 3rd Infantry Division participated in Latvia’s annual military parade celebrating the Restoration of Latvian Independence. The event, held in Talsi, included a parade with soldiers from Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, and a flyover featuring U.S. UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters alongside Latvian and Canadian aircraft. There was also a public display of military equipment, like the M109 Paladin howitzer, allowing for interaction between soldiers and the Latvian public. The participation highlights the strong relationship between the U.S., NATO, and Latvia, and demonstrates a commitment to interoperability and regional security through joint training and exercises under Task Force Iron. Soldiers expressed the importance of connecting with the Latvian people and culture during this significant national holiday.

U.S. and Latvian service members, diplomats and other guests gathered at the Latvian War Museum for the opening of a new exhibit, “Message Follows,” which commemorates the 32-year history of the U.S.-Latvia military partnership on April 11, 2025.

The V Corps Color Guard, led by Sgt 1st Class Taylor Prohammer, played a significant role in the 81st anniversary of D-Day commemorations in Normandy. As the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, also known as NCOIC, Prohammer brought a personal sense of pride and dedication to the event, one rooted in both family history and a deeper understanding of service.

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, commanding general of V Corps, delivered remarks Saturday at the Eisenhower Monument near the Father Maternowski Memorial in Amfreville, France, June 7, 2025, honoring the legacy of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Allied forces whose courage shaped the course of World War II.

Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, commanding general of V Corps, delivered remarks Friday, June 6th, 2025, at the Signal Monument near Omaha Beach, Normandy, France, commemorating the Soldiers who landed there during the D-Day invasion and honoring V Corps’ enduring role in the fight for European freedom.

Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, commanding general of V Corps, delivered remarks Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at a ceremony honoring Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower in one of the first French towns liberated by Allied forces during World War II.

From May 11-15, 2025, V Corps held its annual Best Squad Competition at Grafenwöhr Training Area in Germany. Six teams from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, 41st Field Artillery Brigade, and 12th Combat Aviation Brigade competed in a rigorous 120-hour test of both mental and physical endurance, including land navigation, weapons ranges, the Army Combat Fitness Test, and a ruck march. Team 3 from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment – Staff Sgt. Caleb Rawlings, Sgt. Conrad David, Spc. Devin Schallert, Pfc. Elesban Ruiz, and Pfc. Keagan Boston – won the competition, marking the regiment’s fourth consecutive victory. Pfc. Elesban Ruiz was also named V Corps Soldier of the Year. The competition, modeled after the USAREUR-AF Best Squad Competition, is designed to strengthen teamwork and prepare Soldiers for higher-level challenges. It replaced the older "Best Warrior" competition to emphasize a team-based approach to warfare. The winning squad will now represent V Corps at the USAREUR-AF competition in August 2025. They attribute their success to strong bonds and regular team-building exercises.

From April 28 - May 2, 2025, U.S. Soldiers from the 1st Armored Division conducted platoon-level situational training exercises (STX) at Novo Selo Training Area in Bulgaria. These exercises focused on honing combat skills like raids, ambushes, and defensive maneuvers, preparing them to meet the division’s standards for combat readiness. The training is part of a larger rotational deployment to support V Corps in Europe, building readiness and interoperability with NATO allies. Soldiers emphasized the importance of continuous training to avoid complacency and maintain a high level of proficiency. The STX builds progressively from section-level exercises to platoon and company-level scenarios, culminating in live-fire exercises and potential deployment after qualification at the National Training Center. A key component is the after-action review process, used to identify weaknesses and improve battlefield effectiveness.