Soldiers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, supporting Task Force Pegasus, move tactically towards the objective during a live fire-exercise Nov. 13 at the Nursipalu Training Area near Camp Taara, Estonia. The exercise was intended to test how quickly and efficiently different platoons could complete the objective under adverse conditions.
(U.S. Army photos by Spc. Trey Gonzales, 105th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)
3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division Soldiers conduct live-fire training exercise in Estonia
Staff Sgt. Rose Di Trolio
70th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
CAMP TAARA, Estonia (Nov. 13, 2024) – Amidst the shadowed wood lines of Estonia, in the cold mist and relentless rain, Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI) moved with consistent purpose. Raindrops clung to tree branches while the Soldiers pressed forward, boots sinking into the drenched earth and the moist moss.
With rifles ready in hand and resolve carved upon their faces, they advanced toward an unseen obstacle. Their mission was clear: to confront the chaos of the training exercise and develop their continuous tactics for the unknown trials ahead.
The day began with a safety briefing, followed by a tactical approach through the dense wood line. During their training mission, they stayed vigilant while relying on stealth and precision to close in on a simulated enemy position. The platoon quickly advanced while showcasing their use of cover, cunning communication techniques, and collaborative teamwork to stay on course within adverse conditions.
“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that our junior Soldiers are incredibly proficient at adapting to integrating new technology in our formations,” said Col. Joshua G. Glonek, commander of 3rd BCT, 10th Mountain Division (LI). “Many of these new pieces of equipment we feel are very intuitive to them, and so they are rapidly employing them in a way that provides greater lethality for our formation out there on the battlefield.”
As the infantrymen transitioned into the assault phase of the training, they coordinated a decisive maneuver to assault a stimulated enemy trench system. The intensity of the live-fire exercise challenged their movement and skills as they were put to the test. With boots first into the muddy trenches, the Soldiers had clear sights and coordinated movements throughout the damp terrain.
“We are doing our platoon live-fire, a culminating event, and we have been practicing and building up,” said 1st Lt. Markus Hartman, a platoon leader assigned to B Company, 2- 30 Infantry. “We did our team stuff, squad live-fire, squad events, and platoon training exercises. This is it, using live ammo, targets, actual things to shoot at, and a lot of assets we’ve been allocated. So it has all been coming together, and we get to actually show what we have been working on.”
The camaraderie was a close-knit bond, and the hardships and adversity brought the team closer. Even in bitter cold, moist conditions, the infantrymen remained disciplined, maintaining focus and upbeat enthusiasm throughout the whole training day.
This particular exercise's significance reinforced the teams’ readiness, stiffened the unit’s overall combat effectiveness, and strengthened NATO collaboration. The bond shared among the infantrymen through the undesirable conditions demonstrated the definition of organic teamwork. The Soldiers left the Estonian wood line better prepared for the challenges ahead.