Lt. Gen. Frederick “Ben” Hodges, U.S. Army Europe commander,

Lt. Gen. Frederick “Ben” Hodges, U.S. Army Europe commander, met with U.S. and Latvian military forces to discuss ongoing joint partnership training throughout Operation Summer Shield XII at Adazi Military Base, Latvia, March 27, 2015. Hodges attended a live-fire training event showcasing the capabilities of the M777 155mm Howitzer, hosted by service members from Bravo Battery, Field Artillery Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, and Latvian Soldiers of Fire Support Company, Combat Support Battalion. The troopers have been training their Latvian counterparts on the M777 for nearly two weeks. Operation Summer Shield XII is one of many exercises comprising the Atlantic Resolve mission which focuses on enhanced land force multinational training and security cooperation activities across Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to ensure interoperability, strengthen relationships among allied militaries, and demonstrate U.S. commitment to NATO. (U.S. Army photos by 1st Lt. Nicole Rossman, 204th Public Affairs Detachment/Released)