U.S. Army mortarmen assigned to 2nd Battalion, 503rd

U.S. Army mortarmen assigned to 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, fire an 81mm mortar 252A1 in the night during Exercise Rock Sokol at Pocek Range in Postonja, Slovenia, March 10, 2016. Exercise Rock Sokol is a bilateral training exercise between U.S. Soldiers assigned to 173rd Airborne Brigade and the Slovenian Armed Forces, focused on small-unit tactics and building on previous lessons learned, forging the bonds and enhancing readiness between allied forces. The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army's Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapidly-deploying forces to the U.S. Army Europe, Africa and Central Command areas of responsibility within 18 hours. The brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build stronger relationships and strengthen the alliance. (U.S. Army photo by Visual Information Specialist Davide Dalla Massara/Released)