U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade alongside
Italian soldiers from the 3rd Alpini Regiment conduct an integrated
marksmanship range in during Exercise Steel Blizzard in windy snow-covered
mountainous terrain at Pian dell’Alpe in Usseaux, Italy.
Three reconnaissance platoons from the
173rd Airborne Brigade take part in a three-phase training regimen with the
3rd Alpini Regiment to expand force capabilities by learning how to shoot,
move, and operate in mountainous and arctic conditions. Over the course of
the training, these paratroopers learn different methods of skiing and
traversing mountains, engaging in combat while skiing and operating
alongside the Alpini, culminating in a validation exercise against opposing
forces in a mountainous environment. This training plays a key role in
further developing the relationship, interoperability and mission
capabilities of both forces.
Exercise Steel Blizzard is an Italian Army-hosted
multinational mountain and arctic warfare training exercise.
The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army's Contingency
Response Force in Europe, providing rapidly deployable
forces to the United States European, African, and Central
Command areas of responsibility. Forward deployed across
Italy and Germany, the brigade routinely trains alongside
NATO allies and partners to build partnerships and
strengthen the alliance.
U.S. Army video by Cpl. Giuseppe Terrasi February 15, 2022