News Stories Archive

Norwegian Leopard tank crews from the Telemark Battalion prepare for a live-fire exercise in Rena, Norway, Feb. 18, 2016. The U.S. Marines and Norwegians are preparing for Exercise Cold Response 16, which will bring together 12 NATO Allied and partner nations and approximately 16,000 troops in order to enhance joint crisis response capabilities in cold weather environments. The Norwegian Telemark Battalion instructed various U.S. Marine units on cold weather survival techniques to driving armored vehicles on ice-covered roads in the weeks leading up to exercise Cold Response 16 beginning at the end of the month. The two nations along with the other participating countries will conduct multi-lateral training to improve U.S. Marine Corps capability to operate in cold-weather environments. - Norwegian Leopard tank crews from the Telemark Battalion prepare for a live-fire exercise in Rena, Norway, Feb. 18, 2016. The U.S. Marines and Norwegians are preparing for Exercise Cold Response 16, which will bring together 12 NATO Allied and partner nations and approximately 16,000 troops in order to enhance joint crisis response capabilities in cold weather environments. The Norwegian Telemark Battalion instructed various U.S. Marine units on cold weather survival techniques to driving armored vehicles on ice-covered roads in the weeks leading up to exercise Cold Response 16 beginning at the end of the month. The two nations along with the other participating countries will conduct multi-lateral training to improve U.S. Marine Corps capability to operate in cold-weather environments.

A U.S. Marine with 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade fires the Stinger missile system during a live-fire event in Ørland, Norway, Feb. 24, 2016. The live-fire event was held in preparation for Exercise Cold Response 16, featuring 12 NATO allies and partner nations and approximately 16,000 troops. - A U.S. Marine with 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade fires the Stinger missile system during a live-fire event in Ørland, Norway, Feb. 24, 2016. The live-fire event was held in preparation for Exercise Cold Response 16, featuring 12 NATO allies and partner nations and approximately 16,000 troops.

Lance Cpl. Joany Echeverry, cannoneer with Combined Arms Company, assists other team members in collecting the ammunition for a live-fire shoot in Rena, Norway, Feb. 23, 2016, in preparation for Exercise Cold Response 16. The exercise will include 12 NATO allies and partner nations, and approximately 16,000 troops. The Marines will provide indirect fire support for infantry units during the exercise. - Lance Cpl. Joany Echeverry, cannoneer with Combined Arms Company, assists other team members in collecting the ammunition for a live-fire shoot in Rena, Norway, Feb. 23, 2016, in preparation for Exercise Cold Response 16. The exercise will include 12 NATO allies and partner nations, and approximately 16,000 troops. The Marines will provide indirect fire support for infantry units during the exercise.

Capt. Jonathan Blankenship, a company commander with Black Sea Rotational Force, confirms the assault on the enemy objective is complete during the final exercise of cold-weather training aboard Porsangmoen, Norway, Feb. 16-20, 2016. Arctic training was conducted by U.K. Royal Marine Commando Mountain Leaders and hosted by the Norwegian military to improve the U.S. Marine Corps’ capability to support their NATO Allies in extreme environments. - Capt. Jonathan Blankenship, a company commander with Black Sea Rotational Force, confirms the assault on the enemy objective is complete during the final exercise of cold-weather training aboard Porsangmoen, Norway, Feb. 16-20, 2016. Arctic training was conducted by U.K. Royal Marine Commando Mountain Leaders and hosted by the Norwegian military to improve the U.S. Marine Corps’ capability to support their NATO Allies in extreme environments.

A Norwegian recovery vehicle hooks up to a U.S. Marine Corps Amphibious Assault Vehicle prior to the start of a live-fire range in Rena, Norway, as part of their pre-exercise training Feb. 17, 2016. The Marines and Norwegian Army are working together as part of Exercise Cold Response, a joint NATO and allied country exercise comprised of 12 countries and approximately 16,000 troops. The U.S. European Command appreciates the opportunity for taking part in such a large multinational exercise at the invitation of our Norwegian Allies; and we are especially thankful for the chance to put our skills to the test in unique cold weather conditions. - A Norwegian recovery vehicle hooks up to a U.S. Marine Corps Amphibious Assault Vehicle prior to the start of a live-fire range in Rena, Norway, as part of their pre-exercise training Feb. 17, 2016. The Marines and Norwegian Army are working together as part of Exercise Cold Response, a joint NATO and allied country exercise comprised of 12 countries and approximately 16,000 troops. The U.S. European Command appreciates the opportunity for taking part in such a large multinational exercise at the invitation of our Norwegian Allies; and we are especially thankful for the chance to put our skills to the test in unique cold weather conditions.

U.S. Marine Corps amphibious assault vehicles before a public "splash" demonstration in the Trondheim Fjord in Norway, Jan. 10. The partnership between the Norwegian military and U.S. Marines enables NATO to pivot toward crisis by alleviating logistics requirements to support a broad-spectrum military operations. - U.S. Marine Corps amphibious assault vehicles before a public "splash" demonstration in the Trondheim Fjord in Norway, Jan. 10. The partnership between the Norwegian military and U.S. Marines enables NATO to pivot toward crisis by alleviating logistics requirements to support a broad-spectrum military operations.

1st Lt. Nicholas Patistas, the adjutant with Black Sea Rotational Force, attempts to break the ice cold-weather training at Skoganvarre, Norway, Feb. 5, 2016. The Arctic training was conducted by the U.K. Royal Commandos and hosted by the Norwegian military to improve the U.S. Marine Corps’ capability to support their NATO Allies in extreme environments. - 1st Lt. Nicholas Patistas, the adjutant with Black Sea Rotational Force, attempts to break the ice cold-weather training at Skoganvarre, Norway, Feb. 5, 2016. The Arctic training was conducted by the U.K. Royal Commandos and hosted by the Norwegian military to improve the U.S. Marine Corps’ capability to support their NATO Allies in extreme environments.

Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464 load a CH-53E Super Stallion onto a C-5 Galaxy in preparation for Operation Cold Response 2016 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Feb. 3, 2016. The key purpose of Cold Response is to train and educate participants on how to conduct combat operations in a cold weather environment. Up to 2,000 Marines and 15,000 military personnel from 14 nations will attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization-level exercise. - Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464 load a CH-53E Super Stallion onto a C-5 Galaxy in preparation for Operation Cold Response 2016 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Feb. 3, 2016. The key purpose of Cold Response is to train and educate participants on how to conduct combat operations in a cold weather environment. Up to 2,000 Marines and 15,000 military personnel from 14 nations will attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization-level exercise.

Cpl. Robert Schmitt sews an Arctic camouflage net during cold weather training at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, California, Jan. 21, 2016. The cold weather training done in the Sierra Mountains is a warm-up to Exercise Cold Response 1-16 in Norway. Nearly 80 Marines with 2nd LAAD Bn. participated in the two-weeklong exercise that taught basic mobility in snow, defensive and offensive tactics as well as basic cold weather and high altitude conditions training. - Cpl. Robert Schmitt sews an Arctic camouflage net during cold weather training at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, California, Jan. 21, 2016. The cold weather training done in the Sierra Mountains is a warm-up to Exercise Cold Response 1-16 in Norway. Nearly 80 Marines with 2nd LAAD Bn. participated in the two-weeklong exercise that taught basic mobility in snow, defensive and offensive tactics as well as basic cold weather and high altitude conditions training.