Soldiers from 10 ally and partner nations in formation

Soldiers from 10 ally and partner nations in formation during the opening ceremony of exercise Immediate Response 16. Immediate Response 16 is a multinational, brigade-level command post exercise utilizing computer-assisted simulations and field training exercises spanning two countries, Croatia and Slovenia. The exercises and simulations are built upon a decisive action based scenario and are designed to enhance regional stability, strengthen Allied and partner nation capacity, and improve interoperability among partner nations. The exercise will occur Sept. 9-23, 2016, and will include more than 1,900 Soldiers and security forces from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Immediate Response 16 supports the goal of a “Strong Europe” in that militaries and security forces are trained and ready to combine forces to ensure unified security across Allied and partner nations. Immediate Response is a preplanned exercise that has occurred annually for the past six years.
U.S. Army photo by CPT Jason Koontz