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NEWS | June 6, 2016

Exercise Anakonda 2016 Opening Ceremony in Chelmno

By Staff Sgt. Bradley Miller 326th Mobile Public Affairs Detatchment

Local citizens and media looked on as service members from the U.S., Germany, the U.K., the Netherlands, Bulgaria and Macedonia joined Polish soldiers as they marched through the city square of Chelmno as a symbol of partnership among the nations.

During his speech at the ceremony, Col. Arturo Horton, commander of the 18th Military Police Brigade, spoke about how the exercise is the premier training event for U.S. Army Europe. Exercise Anakonda 2016 is a Polish-led national that seeks to train, exercise, and integrate Polish national command and force structures into an allied, joint and multi-national environment.

“This exercise further supports assurance and deterrence measures by demonstrating allied defense capabilities to deploy, mass and sustain combat power,” said Horton. “Exercise Anakonda 2016 sends a clear message that the partner nations are capable of uniting and working together for collective security.”

Horton said the exercise serves to enhance alliance interoperability and readiness by rapidly deploying more than 25,000 personnel from partner nations across multiple training areas. Horton believes this exercise will ensure partner nations are able to rapidly assemble and train anywhere they are required.

“This multi-national task force is just one indicator of our continued commitment to the government and the people of Poland,” Horton said. 

Horton believes Poland is a vitally important and significant place for the U.S. as a critical strategic partner in the defense of the alliance partners, the deterrence of aggression, and the stability and prosperity of Europe.