Rukla

Fred Martin and his wife Valjean Young (left) of Atlanta, pose with Nerijus Gvergzdis (front), his sister Raminta and their mother Egidija at their apartment in Kaunas, Lithuania, circa 1996. Fred and Valjean, More

From left: Sgt. Edward Sharpe, a section chief, and Conyers, Ga. native and Sgt. Enrique Melero, an artilleryman, a native of Salinas, Puerto Rico, both members of Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 41st Field Art More

United States Army Sgt. Brandon Griffin, left, an M1 armor crewman assigned to Team Eagle, Task Force 2-7 Infantry, during Atlantic Resolve here at Rukla, Lithuania, describes the M1A1/2 Abrams Main Battle Tank More

From right: Capt. Matt Westcott, a native of Columbus, Ga., also commander of Alpha Company, 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade talks with members of the House Appropriations Committee duri More

From left to right is Pfc. Joshua Le, Pvt. Lucas Johnson, Sgt. Jac Clausen, Jonas Gudauskas, Mayor of Silale, Lithuania, Dr. Mantas Adomenas, Lithuanian Parliament member, and Pfc. Connor Walcher. The US Army S More

Maj. Patrick Stone, the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment executive officer, greets Lt. Gen. Frederick “Ben” Hodges, the U.S. Army Europe commander, March 24, 2016 during his visit to Rukla, Lithuania. During More

Soldiers of Task Force Stilwell salute during the national anthems of Lithuania and the United States during a ceremony at Rukla, Lithuania, on Sept. 11, 2015, remembering the tragic events and honor those indi More

U.S. Army Capt. Bryan E. Adams, commander of Team Eagle, Task Force 2-7 Infantry, left, answers question from Maj. Gen. Almantas Leika, Lithuanian Land Forces commander, right, about the M110 Semi-Automatic Sni More

United States Army Soldiers from 1st Squad, 1st Platoon, Team Eagle, Task Force 2-7 Infantry, navigate an obstacle course during a Best Squad competition held at the Great Lithuanian Hetman Jonusas Radvila Trai More

Sgt. 1st Class Brian Ullrich, center, facing away, calls Team Eagle, Task Force 2-7 Infantry to attention for the last time as the unit’s first sergeant at the Great Lithuanian Hetman Jonusas Radvila Training R More

Motor Transport Operator, Sgt. Jose Saquicili from La Troncal, Ecuador, stands with Soldiers from Lightning Troop, 3-2 Cavalry Regiment and the 18th Military Police Brigade before their convoy begins. Saquicili More

Sgt. 1st Class Brian Ullrich, center, 1st Sgt. of Team Eagle, Task Force 2-7 Infantry, gives a safety brief for the day’s squad live-fire exercise here in Rukla, Lithuania, April 23, 2015. Ullrich addresses bot More

United States Army 1st Lt. Bryce Heckber, 3rd Platoon Leader assigned to Team Eagle, Task Force 2-7 Infantry, gives a brief from a sand table prior to a joint live-fire exercise held at the Great Lithuanian Het More

VILNIUS, Lithuania - Specialists Jesse Johnson (left) and Jetter Stokes (right), both with 39th Transportation Bn., climb the hill to Gedimina’s Hall, the only remaining defensive tower in Vilnius, the country’ More

United States Army Soldiers assigned to Team Eagle, Task Force 2-7 Infantry convoy their way from the barracks at the Great Lithuanian Hetman Jonusas Radvila Training Regiment, in Rukla, Lithuania, to the Gener More

United States Army Sgt. Brandon Griffin, a 23-year-old native of Tyler, Texas, right, assigned to Team Eagle, Task Force 2-7 Infantry, listens to Portuguese Army Sgt. Maria Campino of the Cavalry Regiment No. 6 More

American and Lithuanian personnel load a Lithuanian palletized load system onto a M-1000 Heavy Equipment Transport System Trailer Oct. 14 in the Gaiziunu Training Area. The successful movement mission actions d More

U.S. Army Sgt. Edward Sharp, left, Sgt. Enrique Melero, right, and Spc. Pedro Scott, bottom right, make their way to their designated position during a live-fire exercise here at the General Silvestras Zilkalis More

Troop leaders from 2nd Coy, Algirdo Battalion, Iron Wolf Brigade of the Lithuanian Army and Team Eagle, Task Force 2-7, of the U.S. Army, based in Rukla, Lithuania, prepare for a squad live-fire exercise in Ruk More

Col. Robert P. Ashe, left, commander of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, listens to Maj. Gen. Almantas Leika, Lithuanian Land Forces Commander, right, as he talks to Team Eagle, Task More

United States Army Spc. Jesse Bray, a 21-year-old native of McDonough, Ga., assigned to Team Eagle, Task Force 2-7 Infantry, returns fire from behind cover during a force on force competition with Team Eagle’s More

From right: Staff Sgt. Jeremy Illy, a native of Virginia Beach, Va. and Spc. Dillon Cortereal, a native of Sandwich, Mass.; both infantryman with Eagle Troop, Task Force 2-7 Infantry, based in Rukla, Lithuania More

From left: Pvt. James Filbin, a native of Chicago, Ill. and Pvt. Marshawn Collins, a native of Palm Springs, Calif. both Soldiers with Eagle Troop, Task Force 2-7 Infantry, based in Rukla, Lithuania, jump to ge More

A Lithuanian naval color guard renders honors during a Memorial Day observance at the burial ground of the Maciku concentration camp near Silute, Lithuania, May 25, 2015. The ceremony; also attended by U.S. Sol More

Former Ambassador David Killion, Senior Senate Staff Representative for the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, talks with Lt. Col. Mantas Paskevicius, the chief of staff of Iron Wolf Brigade More

A U.S. Army UH-60M Blackhawk helicopter operated by B Company, 43rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, drops paratroopers assigned to Dog Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd In More

German and Lithuanian Army, tactical air control party and joint terminal attack controller personnel, plot mock enemy positions in preparation to call in air support during training exercise Saber Strike near More

From left; Sgt. Anthony Tillman, a Miami, Fla. native, Staff Sgt. Daniel Ortiz, an El Paso, Texas native, and Spc. Fred Zamot, a San Antonio, Texas, native; all armor crewman with Charlie Company, Task Force 2- More

From left: Pvt. Tomas Guntulis, a radioman and Pvt. Andrius Miniachmetovas, an infantryman; both with Birute Battalion, Lithuanian army, discuss defense tactics before a mock raid during exercise Saber Strike, More

Center: Spc. Brendon Grove, a native of Peoria, Ill., an armor crewman with Team Eagle, Task Force 2-7 Infantry, based in Rukla, Lithuania, helps defend against a Lithuanian Army service member during a soccer More

United States Army Sgt. Colby Gregory, right, a native of Bloomsburg, Pa., assigned to A Troop, 104th Cavalry Regiment, Pa. Army National Guard, talks with Lithuanian Lands Forces Pvt. Marijus Sarickas, assigne More

Soldiers with Recon Platoon, Jager Battalion 292, Armed Forces of Germany, search the area for mock enemy troops from a Wiesel A2 TOW (Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided) track vehicle during exercis More

Service members from differing nations march into place carrying national flags before the opening ceremony of Saber Strike at the General Silvestras Zlikaliskas Training Area in Pabrade, Lithuania June 8, 2015 More

Participants gather for a group photo before the day’s activities at Stiamo Insieme (“We are together”); an annual day of fun, recognition and communion for displaced children, in Nemencine, Lithuania, May 23, More

German Soldiers from C Team, 3rd Train, Jager Battalion prepare to start a Squad competition that involved American, Lithuanian and Portuguese armies and covered land navigation, team live-fire, an obstacle cou More

German Army Staff Sgt. Jonathan Lucke, a native of Stuttgart, assigned to 5th Company, Jager Battalion 292, sits in his camouflaged Wiesel A2 track vehicle and observes the surrounding area for enemy threats du More

U.S. Army National Guard Sgt. Turner Masek, a native of York, Pa., watches Sgt William Krzan, a native of Mountain Top, Pa., both assigned to A Troop, 2nd 104th Cavalry Regiment, as Krzan operates The Long-Rang More

Lithuanian Soldiers display military equipment for local citizens during a cultural exchange event in Jonava, Lithuania, June 13, 2015. The Soldiers are participants of Saber Strike, a long-standing U.S. Army E More

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė, right, takes time to talk to Soldiers assigned to Team Eagle, Task Force 2-7 Infantry about their weapons platforms during the final day of Saber Strike 2015 at the Grea More

An A-10C Thunderbolt II jet aircraft flies over to simulate a bombing run in support of ground troops during exercise Saber Strike, near Rukla, Lithuania, June 12, 2015. Saber Strike is a long-standing U.S. Arm More

Soldiers from the German, Lithuanian, Portuguese and U.S. armed forces, salute during the playing of the Lithuanian national anthem at a Unity Day celebration in Rukla, Lithuania, May 15, 2015. The Soldiers are More

U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to Dog Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, listen to Lithuanian Land Forces 1st Lt. Domas Laukaitis, center, a Birstonas native assigned to t More

An infantryman with the Grand Dutches Birute Uhlan Battalion, Lithuanian Armed Forces, patrols the woods for mock enemy troops during exercise Saber Strike at a training area near Rukla, Lithuania, June 15, 201 More

German Army Capt. Jochen Haack, left, and 1st Lt. Tobias Schulten, forward observers assigned to 5th Company, Jager Battalion, scan for targets on the battlefield during during a multinational exercise held at More

United States Army Soldiers assigned to Team Eagle, Task Force 2-7 Infantry take practice shots at a basketball goal prior to a three on three streetball tournament held at the Great Lithuanian Hetman Jonusas R More

German army Upper Cpl. Andre Schadler, a native of Aulendorf, assigned to Recon Platoon, Jager Battalion 292, scans the battlefield for threats with a thermal sight during the first day of training at the Great More

A U.S. Army paratrooper assigned to Dog Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, retrieves sandbags from a front-end loader operated by Lithuanian Land Forces Soldiers assigned t More

United States Army Cpl. Zachary Lubbers, a native of Louisville, Ky., assigned to Team Eagle, Task Force 2-7 Infantry as an infantryman, scans for targets from his foxhole during multinational training at the G More

Soldiers of Team Eagle, Task Force 2-7 Infantry, based in Rukla, Lithuania walk toward a simulated enemy target after dismounting from M1126 Striker Infantry Carrier Vehicles during live-fire squad movement exe More

Soldiers of Team Eagle, Task Force 2-7 Infantry, based in Rukla, Lithuania, begin an obstacle course during a squad competition held at a training area in Rukla, May 14, 2015. The Soldiers are involved with Ope More

United States Army Soldiers assigned to Dog Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, traverse a water obstacle with their gear during a Lithuanian Land Forces Best Squad Competit More

A United States Army Abrams M1A2 Main Battle Tank leads the charge during a battle demonstration along with two Lithuanian Land Forces M113 Armored Personnel Carriers during the final day of Saber Strike 2015 a More

Unites States Army Soldiers assigned to Dog Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), stand at Parade Rest in formation after a multinational For More

United States Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Raymond T. Odierno is briefed on a multinational training mission involving Dog Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat More

U.S. Army and Lithuanian Land Forces Soldiers prepare to raise National and NATO flags during the opening ceremony of Exercise Engineer Thunder held at the Great Lithuanian Hetman Jonusas Radvila Training Regim More

Spc. Jonathon Gonzalez, a M240 gunner with Team Eagle, Task Force 2-7, based in Rukla, Lithuania, assists Pvt. Thomas Sakalauskas, an infantryman with 2nd Coy, Algirdo Battalion, Iron Wolf Brigade of the Lithua More

Paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade join NATO allies from the Lithuanian army's Iron Wolf Mechanized Infantry Brigade at a ceremony to open Exercise Black Arrow 14 here May 12. Black Arrow is a tactica More

Paratroopers from the U.S. Army's Legion Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, train alongside soldiers from the Lithuanian army's Iron Wolf Brigade May 16, 2014 during Exerci More

A Lithuanian soldier with Iron Wolf Mechanized Brigade brief Lithuanian Land Forces Commander Maj. Gen. Almantas Leika, left, and U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Frederick Hodges, center, the commander of NATO Allied Land C More

Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh discusses mission importance with paratroopers of the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade in Rukla, Lithuania, May 18, 2014. The "Sky Soldiers" fr More

Lithuanian Vice-Minister of National Defense Marijus Velicka speaks with Spc. Atkinson William, a paratrooper assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, about a Javel More

Paratroopers from the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade carry their primary and reserve parachutes as they prepare for airborne operations at Jonava Airfield in Rukla, Lithuania, Ma More

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite speaks with U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Andrew Gray (left), Staff Sgt. Devin Diaz, and Cpl. Allen Wilson (right), paratroopers assigned to 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 1 More

Capt. Nicholas Salimbene, the commander of Legion Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, greets Lithuanian Minister of National Defense Juozas Olekas near Rukla, Lithuania, May More

Lithuanian Col. Raimundas Vaiksnoras (left), commander of Lithuania’s Iron Wolf Mechanized Infantry Brigade, introduces U.S. Army 1st Lt. Austin Rees (center) and Sgt. 1st Class Corey Thomas, both members of th More

A Lithuanian basic training soldier stands ready to receive instruction from their drill sergeant during a training demonstration near Rukla, Lithuania, June 3, 2014. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Kimberly Bratic)

Paratroopers assigned to 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, follow a Lithuanian paratrooper through a dense forest during part of the Lithuanian Iron Wolf Mechanized Infantry Brigad More

Pfc. J. William Roundtree, of Lancaster, Ohio, a paratrooper assigned to 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, takes up a security position during training on Jonava Airfield in Rukla, More

A Lithuanian paratrooper assigned to the Iron Wolf Mechanized Infantry Brigade crawls through a muddy, water-filled trench under barbed wire during the Iron Wolf Best Squad competition in Rukla, Lithuania, June More

Maj. Anthony Costello, officer in charge of 173rd Airborne Brigade paratroopers in Lithuania, stands beside other distinguished guests June 5, 2014 during an award ceremony for the Lithuanian Iron Wolf Mechaniz More

Spc. Eric Bandy and Staff Sgt. Kimberly Bratic stand at attention to receive recognition from the 173rd Airborne Brigade paratroopers for their work in providing public affairs coverage of the joint training be More

First Sgt. Richard Atkinson with the 56th Stryker Brigade Command Team acquires his target and fires the .50 caliber machine gun mounted on top of a Stryker Assault Vehicle during a joint training exercise with More

The leaders of Allied Forces gathered in Lithuania for a multinational joint training exercise attend a briefing prior to the opening ceremony of Saber Strike in Lithuania 2014. PHOTO: Sgt. Jason Lay, 145th Mob More

Maj. Anthony Costello (left), Team Lithuania commander assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, talks with Maj. Gen. Almantas Leika (center), Lithuanian Land Forces commander, and Col. Vytautas Reklaitis (right) More

Paratroopers from 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade welcome Soldiers from the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade June 13 after landing their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters in Rukla, Lithuan More

A Lithuanian Soldier explains the use and functions of military equipment to a local community member during a multinational static equipment display held by Denmark, Lithuania, Poland and U.S. militaries, in R More

Paratroopers with the 173rd Airborne Brigade meet Sgt. Maj. Arunas Birbalas (center right), sergeant major of the Lithuanian armed forces June 15 at Rukla, Lithuania. Birbalas thanked the Soldiers for their har More

A soldier from the Reaction Battle Group of the 2nd Brigade of the Danish Division holds his position during a multinational field training exercise in cooperation with Saber Strike 2014 on June 16, 2014, at th More

U.S. paratroopers from the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, made their final airborne jump in Lithuania on June 17 before returning to their home station. Joining the U.S. paratro More

Lithuanian's Speaker of Parliament, Loreta Grauziniene and Minister of Defense, Juozas Olekas arrive at Gaižiūnų Training Range June 17 for a multinational combat maneuver demonstration during Saber Strike 2014 More

Paratroopers from the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, participate in the Saber Strike 2014 closing ceremony, June 18, in Rukla, Lithuania. Saber Strike is a long-standing, multi More

Paratroopers from Troop A, 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, arrive in Rukla, Lithuania, June 24 to train with Lithuanian Land Forces for NATO training exercises. They replaced paratr More

Republican Congressman Devin Nunes, U.S. representative from California’s 22nd district, visits with Capt. Timothy Keilty of Long Island, N.Y., commander of Troop A, 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd A More

Sgt. 1st Class Brett Macy of Indianapolis, mortar platoon sergeant for 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, demonstrates striking techniques to "Sky Soldiers" and Lithuanian Land Forces More

Lithuanian soldiers from the Iron Wolfe Mechanized Infantry Brigade conduct a building clearance drill Sept. 15 at Brig. Gen. Kazys Vieverskis Kazlu Rudos Training Area, Lithuania, with members of the 173rd Air More

U.S. paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade and Lithuanian Soldiers from the Iron Wolf Mechanized Infantry Brigade gather at an explosives range for hands-on combined training Sept. 16 at Brig. Gen. Kazys More

U.S. paratroopers from 2nd Platoon, Able Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade observe a Claymore mine detonated Sept. 16 at Brig. Gen. Kazys Vieverskis Kazlu Rudos Training Ar More

Pennsylvania Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Matthew Keeler of the 109th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment films an interview with forward observer Pfc. Tyler Hanna and gunner Pfc. Tristten Wagner of Able Company More

Latvian Pvt. Jonas Jakimkovas with Kestutis Battalion, Iron Wolf Mechanized Infantry Brigade, assists an American paratrooper assigned to 173rd Airborne Brigade practice with a Carl Gustav M3 recoilless rifle S More

Lithuanian Soldiers with the Iron Wolf Mechanized Infantry Brigade fire tracer rounds from an M320 rifle-mounted grenade launcher Sept. 18 at Brig. Gen. Kazys Vieverskis Kazlu Rudos Training Area, Lithuania. U. More

Capt. Michael Sims, commander, C Troop, 1st Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, and Maj. Matthew Hodges, team chief, Task Force Lithuania, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, speak with Maj. Gen. Almanta More

Maj. Gen. Almantas Leika, commander, Lithuanian Land Forces, welcomes U.S. Soldiers to Lithuania Oct. 8 for Atlantic Resolve, multinational combined arms exercise taking place across Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania More

Staff Sgt. Christopher Nemier, Bradley Fighting Vehicle maintenance supervisor, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, discusses Army technical manuals, p More

U.S. Cavalry Soldiers and their Lithuanian Land Forces counterparts participate in an advanced rifle marksmanship range Oct. 15. Soldiers from Company B, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat More

Soldiers assigned to B Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, perform maintenance on the tracks of the M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle at a motor pool in Rukl More

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Army veteran, greets Maj. Matthew P. Weberg, brigade chaplain, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, during the se More

A pop-up silhouette target awaits members of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, at a Lithuanian Army training area in Rukla, Lithuania, Nov. 18, 2014. Memb More

Spc. Nicholas Patin, of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, gives a demonstration of the COFT, or Conduct of Fire Trainer, to members of the Lithuanian Land More

Lightning Troop, 3d Cavalry Regiment, 2d Cavalry Regiment is unofficially welcomed at their first formation in Rukla, Lithuania, Jan. 12, 2015. The troop is living and training with the Lithuanian Land Force as More

Lightning Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment and the Algirdas Battalion, Iron Wolf Brigade, of the Armed Forces of Lithuanian conducted training operations in Rukla, Lithuania, Feb. 3, 2015. The training More