ImmediateResponse

Immediate Response

Immediate Response 25 is a U.S. Army large-scale exercise enhancing cyber and CBRNE defense capabilities, NATO integration through state partnership readiness programs and multinational exercises to equip NATO’s regional plans and uphold U.S. commitments to the Alliance. Immediate Response 25 demonstrates multinational live fires conducted with NATO networks, a cyber exercise, water crossing, and CBRNE exercises from May 26 - June 9 with over 12,000 participants and hosted in eight countries to include Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Slovakia.

Videos

Video by Austin Rooney

A Time of Great Consequence: Former CNO Reflects on Navy Readiness and 9/11 (promotional video version 3)

Defense Media Activity - Navy Production

Sept. 8, 2021 | 0:24

The 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks offers Americans an opportunity to remember the victims of that horrific day and reflect on the courage and bravery of the first responders who tirelessly worked to save lives in New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The attacks galvanized the country and resulted in unprecedented unity among the American people.

The Navy lost 42 people that day, so for the sea service, 9/11 is also a story of fortitude and resilience. Considering the monolithic, blue-water threats the Navy faced up until that day, it could be said the service had to change quickly in order to meet the new asymmetric threat. However, a case could also be made that the needed change had actually begun more than a year earlier when Adm. Vern Clark became Chief of Naval Operations (CNO).

On Sept. 11, 2001, Clark had been CNO for a little less than 14 months. Armed with lessons learned from the attack on USS Cole, which occurred less than three months after he became CNO, and a laser-like focus on his top five priorities – manpower, current readiness, future readiness, quality of service, and alignment – the Navy’s readiness on 9/11 was higher than it had been in years

Clark addressed personnel matters that first year with honest, forthright discussions about the meaning and value of service. However, he came to the office with an understanding that service is a two-way street. In fact, it’s the cornerstone of what he calls covenant leadership; when Sailors make commitments to serve, it is incumbent on leaders to make commitments to Sailors in return. Making sure Sailors have the tools they need to succeed, and opportunities to make a difference, contribute, grow, and develop is how leaders fulfil that obligation. This focus on returning the commitment of Sailors helped the Navy achieve unprecedented levels of retention in the months leading up to 9/11.

Furthermore, his team developed a holistic approach to ensure ships had what they needed to be ready, rather than a programmatic one-size-fits-all process of driving every Navy command through the same readiness gates whether needed or not. Dedicating a large portion of the Navy’s overall budget to current readiness and prioritizing the acquisition of spare parts and munitions made the different as ships prepared to get underway following the attacks. Plus, reopening supply chains for parts and ordnance meant that those lines would continue, and even ramp up production in the demanding days ahead. Clark said “paying that price” in peacetime, dramatically increased readiness and meant that when America needed it the most, the Navy was manned, trained, equipped, and maintained to take the fight to the enemy.

In the years that followed, no idea was off the table and innovation was encouraged in all corners of the service.

Clark retired in July 2005. All Hands Magazine producers Austin Rooney and MC2 Brent Pyfrom recently spoke with Admiral Clark at his home in Colorado to find out how the Navy changed to meet new world challenges it faced in the wake of 9/11.

Not surprisingly, he told them the service of American Sailors was essential and awe-inspiring. Like their shipmates from World War II’s “Greatest Generation,” Sailors rose to the challenge after 9/11 and made the nation proud. In the 20 years since the attack, young people have continued to answer the call to serve in uniform. With a continued emphasis on readiness, Clark says he sees in today’s Sailors the same greatness.

(U.S. Navy video by Austin Rooney/released)

Albania
In Albania, the New Jersey Army National Guard will conduct live-fire activities with Albanian Armed Forces, as part of the State Partnership Program.
Bulgaria
The USAREUR-AF Band & Chorus, along with other U.S. Army units, will conduct a series of dynamic performances and community engagements across Bulgaria ahead of DEFENDER 25.

In Bulgaria, the 31st Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Brigade, Alabama Army National Guard, will have personnel provide protection support to NATO’s 1st German Netherlands Corps and command and control of all CBRNE units and training in Immediate Response 25. A CBRN headquarters will be established at a satellite location to execute a division-level CBRN mission command center.

Additionally, the Bulgarian national exercise, Bulgarian Sentinel, will be linked to Immediate Response 25 and consists of a battalion from 3^rd Brigade Combat Team, 1^st Armored Division, one Forward Land Forces (FLF) multinational battlegroup and Bulgarian Land Force Command conducting a battalion-level live-fire exercise at two separate training areas. (The FLF is one of eight battlegroups contributing to NATO’s forward presence and hosted by Bulgaria, with Italy being the framework nation.)
Croatia

In Croatia, troops from the U.S. Army 18th Military Police Brigade, 21st TSC, will establish a Theater Detention Facility and a Joint Interrogation and Debriefing Center (JIDC) to increase detention operations, expeditionary deployment operations and command and control capabilities with Allies and partners. Role 2 ancillary medical support will be supported by the Croatian Armed Forces.

Soldiers from the Maryland Army National Guard will conduct a live fire exercise with their state partner, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Additionally, a mechanized brigade attack training event will take place with soldiers from the U.S., Albania, Croatia, Germany, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Slovenia.

Two Croatian national exercises, named Lift and Laufer, will be linked to exercise Immediate Response 25.
Greece

Immediate Response kicks off in Greece - The Hellenic Army will host an opening ceremony with multinational participation marking the commencement of Immediate Response 25. Equipment and weaponry being used during the exercise will also be on display.

In Greece, a water crossing and battalion air assault will occur with personnel from the 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Vermont Army National Guard, and Greek 20th Armored Division.

Combined arms live-fire training will take place near Petrochori. A chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive training event will take place at a Hellenic port to demonstrate a chemical attack, disrupting port operations, and exercise decontamination scenarios with French, Greek and U.S. forces including the U.S. Army 21st TSC and 184th Ordnance Battalion, 52nd Explosive Ordnance Device Group, 20th CBRNE Command.
Kosovo
In Kosovo, personnel from 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard will participate in Immediate Response 25 as a division headquarters overseeing four multinational brigades.
Montenegro

In Montenegro, Maine Army National Guard, Montenegro Armed Forces, and host nation government agencies will conduct a cyber range enhancing host nation cyber defense and communications security to deter and defend in crisis and conflict.

U.S. Navy Maritime Expeditionary Security Group 2, and Montenegrin and Albania Naval Forces will conduct port security sustainment training in Montenegro and transfer to Albania to improve force projection and integration in the Adriatic.
North Macedonia

A public event will be held in the city of Kavadarci, where NATO Allies and partners will showcase military equipment and vehicles being used during Immediate Response 25.

The 86^th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Vermont Army National Guard will conduct a multinational live fire exercise alongside their state partner, North Macedonia.

In North Macedonia, the 86th IBCT will conduct training activities alongside the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia, Austrian Armed Forces, Albanian Armed Forces, Hellenic Army, Kosovo Security Forces, and Armed Forces of Montenegro. Activities at Krivolak Training Area include mountain training, field training exercise, combined arms live-fire and small arms live-fires.
Slovakia
In Slovakia, U.S. Army 1st Global Field Medical Laboratory, 20th CBRNE Command, will conduct defensive CBRNE tasks to mitigate threats while being integrated with a multinational CBRNE task force at the CBRN Training and Testing Center.

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