On Wednesday, the US Army started a major exercise called “Dragoon Ready 23” at the Grafenwöhr military training area in the Upper Palatinate district of Neustadt an der Waldnaab. Around 2,500 soldiers from the US Army, from Italy and Great Britain are involved. The exercise lasts until February 14.
Vehicles, helicopters and planes in action
A total of around 900 military vehicles are involved, including 600 wheeled vehicles. 42 helicopters and ten airplanes are also deployed. In the coming days, they will move in around 40 smaller military convoys between the Hohenfels and Grafenwoehr training areas, said a spokesman for the US garrison Bavaria. Accordingly, the convoys can also be on the road between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. in the districts of Amberg-Sulzbach or Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz.
Due to their size and weight, the military vehicles move slowly and have limited visibility, the US Army asks that road users be considerate on the roads. Some of the exercise also takes place outside the military training area, which is why there can be more noise in the neighboring districts.
The next major exercise will follow in March
The purpose of the exercise is to ensure the operational readiness of the troops and at the same time to train cooperation with NATO allies. After “Dragoon Ready 23” the next annual major exercise starts on February 17th. It is called “Allied Spirit 23” and is scheduled to last until mid-March.
The exercises are annual exercises with NATO allies or NATO partner countries. The training of Ukrainian soldiers takes place independently of the planned exercises and only within the military training area.
