10th AAMDC Soldiers prepare for Patriot live-fire in Greece

CHANIA, Greece (Sept. 28, 2015) — Spc. Josh Wagner, a Soldier with the 5th Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, and Sgt. 1st Class Philipp Wagenknecht, a German soldier with SAM Wing 1, prepare German Patriot systems for movement during a training exercise Sept. 28 as part of “Rapid Arrow,” a bi-national live-fire exercise at the NATO Missile Firing Installation here. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Randall Jackson)

CHANIA, Greece (Sept. 28, 2015) — The 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command Soldiers have started integrating for a live-fire training exercise ending Oct. 4 at the NATO Missile Firing Installation here.

The 10th AAMDC Soldiers, along with five crews from 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, and 5th Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, are conducting a bi-national live-fire exercise, called “Rapid Arrow” with their German Air Force allies from SAM Wing 1 based in northern Germany.

The U.S. crews will operate side by side with the German soldiers, with the exercise culminating in a live-fire of U.S. missiles using the German’s Patriot systems to engage multiple targets.

The purpose of this exercise is to enhance operator proficiency, build coalition relationships, promote esprit de corps and demonstrate air and missile defense capabilities.