SABER STRIKE 12 Initial Planning Conference Trip Report
16 Sept 2012
MEMORANDUM FOR Chief, G4 Plans Operations and Exercises
SUBJECT: Saber Strike 12 Initial Planning Conference Trip Report
1. Executive Summary. The Initial Planning Conference (IPC) was held from 11-16
September 2011 in Adazi Training Area, Latvia.
The exercise schedule is an academics train-up for the CPX in Estonia and STX training
in Latvia the first week. The second week will focus on the FTX in Latvia and the CPX in
Estonia. The contracting and ACSA transactions will be separated between the two
countries.
• Exercise schedule
• Participating US units include:
• 2nd Calvary Regiment will bring 243 soldiers to the exercise. They will also
bring 16 Stryker vehicles and associated gear, including one M88 tracked recovery
vehicle.
• A Marine Rifle Company will participate in Saber Strike with 140 Marines.
They will receive their equipment from MCPPN in Norway, shipped directly to-door in
Adazi, most likely through the port of Riga.
• 7th TTSB, 5th Signal Command, will support the exercise with two CPNs and
crews to provide NIPR and DSN services to locations in both Estonia and Latvia. They
will also provide the SNAP system for ADVON NIPR services before the CPNs are
operational.
• Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) will send four
observer/controllers to support the FTX.
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SABER STRIKE 12 Initial Planning Conference Trip Report
16 Sept 2012
• Joint Multinational Training Command (JMTC-TSAE) will assist with training
support and supplies, most importantly MOUT sites and MILES gear and assistance.
• USAFE’s slated support for Saber Strike 12 is one CRG (requiring 2 x C130
flights to deploy) to support potential KC-125, A-10, and C-17 operations. Executing
these operations depends on these air national guard units obtaining their own funding
to move cargo to Estonia. The air base will be Amari, Estonia.
• Pennsylvania Army National Guard (28th ID) will provide personnel for the
CPX. This unit will also provide a 30 man reconnaissance platoon and 4 Stryker
vehicles if the state can obtain its own stratlift funding for C-17 movement of this cargo.
• Armed Forces Network (AFN) will be supporting the exercise with 3 x
HMMWV, 2 x ¾T trailer, and 2 x Generators out of Mannheim, Germany. They will
request one additional empty 20’ container for additional cargo. They will be based in
Latvia but send up personnel for media coverage into Estonia when needed.
• 21st Theater Sustainment Command will provide a National Support Element
(NSE) to support base operations in both countries. They will also act as the Combined
Joint Task Force for the exercise, as well as manning the Theater-opening exercise.
Enablers included in their package would include movement control support and
contracting officer representatives.
• There will be an MRE requirement for US units in Latvia and Estonia. A DLA
shipment of tarped trucks is preferred to eliminate a second pickup of containers, but
more information to follow after the site survey. Bottled water will be delivered by the
DLA contractor in country. The plan is to deliver separately to either country, depending
on DLA input TBD.
• Partner nations: Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania are the primary partner nations
participating in the exercise. They are self funded and have requested only ammunition
(they will buy) from the United States. We are currently researching the procedures to
obtain this ammunition under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.
2. Concept of support
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Latvia Base – Adazi Training Area
Estonian Bases – Tartu and Tapa
Estonian Bases – Amari Air Base/Paldiski and Tallinn
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SABER STRIKE 12 Initial Planning Conference Trip Report
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A. Class I
Feeding plan
• Planned ration cycle varied depending on date
9-10 JUN A-A-A (weekend)
11-15 JUN A-M-A
16-17 JUN A-A-A (weekend)
18-21 JUN A-M-M (due to longer training time schedules)
21 JUN – end contract A-A-A
• “A” meals will be provided by ACSA in Estonian camps
 “A” meals will be provided by ACSA or commercial contract at Adazi Training
Area (Latvia)
 MREs are for US personnel only; all other partner nations have their own
MREs
Bottled water
• DLA will supply all US participants with bottled water via BPA from an incountry source (both Estonia and Latvia)
Dining Facilities
• The exercise will require a maximum of 5 facilities in Estonia and one in
Latvia. Some Estonian facilities due to small numbers may be serviced by transported
food and not prepared in that facility.
• The Air Force personnel in Amari could obtain CL I from the base Paldiski
(used at the same time for the Marine exercise BALTOPS) to preclude the need to open
another DFAC on the austere Air Base. The Estonians are aware of the requirements
and will work with the US under the ACSA for the most efficient plan that also meets US
sanitation standards.
• Hand wash stations outside the DFACs are provided under the field
sanitation contract or ACSA in Latvia, under ACSA in Estonia.
B. Class II
• US units will bring all required CL II admin and life support supplies.
• US can purchase FOO authorized supplies that are exhausted or
unforecasted.
• There is a requirement for MILES batteries from JMTC and JTAC related
batteries for the Air Force. Depending on HAZMAT requirements, these batteries should
be delivered by DLA to the unit and shipped to Adazi via ground.
C. Class III
• The exercise will require JP8 shipment(s) due to the Stryker vehicles. The
plan is to eliminate contracting diesel in Latvia and use JP8 for all diesel requirements.
Since there will be no ACSA support from Latvia, ACSA is also not an option for this
requirement.
• As of now there is no MOGAS requirement. All NTVs will have fuel included in
their contract or will be paid for by the renter.
• Aviation fuel and diesel for the Air Force equipment in Amari, Estonia, will be
provided by ACSA with Estonia
• A small diesel requirement for the CPN/JNN at Tapa, Estonia, will be provided
by ACSA with Estonia.
D. Class IV
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• There are no requests from the US yet for CL IV.
• Partner nations will bring their own CL IV.
E. CL V
• 2 CR will order small arms and mortar ammunition for their live fire and firing
range.
• There is a requirement for PA Army National guard if their Recon platoon is
able to participate. This requirement will be added to 2CR’s at they will draw all
ammunition.
• The Marine infantry Company’s ammunition is stored in Rota. The plan is to
try and consolidate at ASP 9 for one shipment only to Latvia.
• Proposed plan for ammunition movement is line haul and the storage site at
Adazi has been confirmed.
F. CL VI
• All participants will carry the required personal items to last the duration of the
exercise
• Estonia is bringing their cantina trailer, which can sell various items to soldiers.
They will take both euro and credit card.
G. CL VII and IX
• Partner nations will provide their own vehicles.
• US units will bring their own vehicles and maintenance support. 2 CR will
transport two portable maintenance shops to provide 20 level maintenance.
• NTVs will be provided via DTS or transportation contract (without drivers).
Due to liability issues and the arduous contracting process in general, DTS is the
preferred method.
H. CL VIII
• CL VIII shipment and source TBD.
• 2CR will send 1 provider and 5 combat medics to support the FTX. US
medical support is TBD in Estonia, but host nation providers will be present.
• TBD 30th MED FST support
3. Life Support Area
Adazi
• Adazi training area consists of a life support area (austere) and a central base
area, with the training sites surrounding.
• The EOC and all other command and control elements will be located in the
theater and NCO club buildings.
• US will pay for all electricity used during the occupation time period via ACSA
with Latvia
Estonia Bases
 The CJTF HQ and Theater Opening Exercise personnel will live and work in
Tallinn. All personnel will live in hard buildings with showers and toilets provided in
these buildings.
 Amari Air Base is an austere air base in Northern Estonia. The CRG will live
and work on this base (since they have their own tentage), but the remaining personnel
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will most likely stay on the nearby Paldiski Base, with more robust life support in place
due to the NAVEUR exercise BALTOPS occurring at the same time.
 Tartu is a very small base (Capacity of 60 pax) but with hardstand billeting,
toilets, and showers. US personnel here (max 15) would most likely consume
transported food as there is no proper food preparation facilities there.
 Tapa is the main training area in Estonia. It has a high capacity of personnel
and hardstand billeting, toilets, showers, and DFAC.
Personnel billeting (intent)
• The STX/FTX training audience will live in tents on Adazi.
• All other personnel (NSE, etc.) will live in hard billeting inside the Adazi base
area.
• In Estonia all soldiers will live on the base where they work
• Amari US Air Force personnel will either stay on Amari (CRG will stay for
sure), or stay at Paldiski and commute to Amari for work.
Showers, Toilets, and Laundry
• Adazi hard buildings provide showers, sinks, and toilets inside.
• The LSA on Adazi requires containerized shower trailers with sinks and
portable toilets.
• Estonian bases all have hard buildings with showers, sinks, and toilets inside.
The exception is Amari Air Base, which requires portable toilets and shower trailers with
sinks.
Refuse
• Refuse collection is provided through ACSA or commercial contract in Latvia.
• Refuse collection at Estonian bases is provided through ACSA.
Motor Pool
• The Latvian Army with provide motorpool space on Adazi.
• The Estonian Army will provide motorpool space on their bases, although US
will only have CPN/JNN military vehicles in Estonia.
• There is sufficient space for washing, however contracting pressure washers
is extremely expensive. The Marine cargo will have to be sufficiently cleaned to be
stored again at MCPPN, and the Germany based cargo will need to be washed to US
standards to meet tightening German AG requirements. One COA is to have units
provide their own pressure washers.
Other
• Money exchange will be available on Adazi by a Financial Management Team.
Estonia’s currency is the euro so soldiers should bring enough for the duration or visit an
ATM to withdraw needed funds.
4. Movement (please see concept of support brief for graphics and timeline)
Deployment concept
• All unit cargo will consolidate in Vilseck. The cargo will be loaded on a train,
depart on a rail ferry from Luebeck, arrive in Latvia (port TBD), and be downloaded in
Ropazi, Latvia. All cargo can be road-marched to the training area from the railhead
except for the M88 tracked vehicle and containers.
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• Shipping units will submit TMRs to their respective branch movement control
teams from home station to Vilseck. 21st TSC TIB will prepare the consolidated TMR
from Vilseck to Latvia.
• CL V is slated to move via line haul out of Germany’s ASP 9 (Miesau) directly
to the Adazi. Marine ammo that cannot be consolidated at ASP 9 will have to be moved
from Rota, Spain to Germany.
• Most CONUS and OCONUS based exercise participants will move stratair out
of one designated aggregation point.
• USAFE CRG pax and cargo will deploy with 2 x C130 AMD lines.
• All other Air Force personnel will move with their respective state’s organic
cargo air support to Amari Airfield in Estonia.
• Ammunition and sensitive containers will require 6966 Transportation support
from 21st TSC, all other cargo can move via rail.
Redeployment concept
• Transportation modes remain the same for redeployment.
• Cargo wash-down is required for cargo returning to Germany and Norway
• US Customs and Agriculture inspectors will clear cargo to US standards
(sufficient for German and Norway standards).
• All units will leave behind sufficient personnel to wash their vehicles and
program this into their boots on ground plan
Customs procedures
• Both Estonia and Latvia accept the AE 302.
• Customs procedures and timelines are captured in the Entry/Exit portion of the
Exercise Support Agreement (ESA)
• US units will provide cargo listings two weeks before cargo arrives to customs
POCs in each respective country. The details of this listing are TBD, but it should be of
similar fidelity of the 302’s cargo details.
5. Medical/Preventive Med/Vet Support
• An environmental baseline survey recon will be conducted prior to the
exercise.
• The main US medical support element will be the 2nd CR. However, other
medical units have expressed interest in SbS12 for training purposes.
• Please see concept of support for evacuation procedures.
6. Mortuary affairs
• In the event of a death of a US or Allied Coalition soldier, he/she is transported
to USA Memorial Affairs Activity –Europe (USAMAA-E) in Landstuhl. All remains are
processed for disposition back to the US or Allied Country
• All assessments and surveys are already in place for mortuary affairs, and a
draft ESA annex is complete for both countries
7. Contracting
• Latvia does not have sufficient funds to provide ACSA support to the US.
They cannot support any requirement that needs money up front. Thus ACSA with
Latvia will only be used for utilities.
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• COA 1 is that the US will commercially contract all requirements at Adazi; this
creates a lot of work and added cost to the exercise. It also creates several different
contracts for the same thing on the same base when different countries are
commercially contracting.
• COA 2 is for Estonia as the lead nation to contract requirements in Latvia, and
then the US will use an ACSA with them to fulfill their requirements
• The portable toilets, shower trailers, trash refuse, and hand wash stations will
have to be commercially contracted in Latvia, but are ACSA supported in Estonia where
needed.
• NTVs in Latvia and Estonia will be either commercially contracted or under
DTS. Buses will be commercially contracted in both locations as well.
• MHE Adazi, and Ropazi will be commercially contracted (the US will try and
bring green forklifts to the exercise to cut this requirement)
• MHE in Estonia can be provided by the Estonian Army for the JNN/CPN
containers
• Line haul trucks for the M88 and containers from the railhead to Adazi, as well
as between Adazi and Tapa will be commercially contracted.
• Generators, lighting, and tent flooring will be commercially contracted in the
Adazi LSA.
• The procurement strategy is available upon request to the G4 planner which
goes into more details.
8. Way ahead
Exercise Milestones
• MSEL Conference/Site Survey: 1-4 NOV 11 (Riga/Adazi, Latvia), 6-10 NOV
11 (Tallinn/Tapa, Estonia)
• Main Planning Conference: 28 NOV-2 DEC 11 (Tallinn, Estonia)
• Final Planning Conference: 26-30 MAR 12 (Tallinn, Estonia)
• Exercise Execution:11-22 JUN 2012 (Latvia/Estonia).
9. POC for this report is Ms. Elise Holtan, G4 Exercise Planner. DSN 370-8368
elise.holtan@eur.army.mil
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