SWIFT RESPONSE

Swift Response
 
 
 
Swift Response 25 demonstrates multinational power projection and the expansion of critical capabilities on the battlefield in the High North and Baltics through airborne jumps and integration of technology in support of the Army Modernization Strategy and DoD Arctic Strategy. Swift Response 25 involves five near-simultaneous airborne insertions, HIRAIN training, a field hospital exercise and live fires conducted with NATO networks in Norway, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden and Finland from May 11 – 31, 2025.
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Video by Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot
Iowa Guard members clean up debris after derecho storm
185th Air Refueling Wing, Iowa Air National Guard
Aug. 18, 2020 | 3:40
Iowa National Guard Airmen and Soldiers are in eastern Iowa this week assisting with cleanup operations following a severe wind storm that caused wide spread damage in the Hawkeye State.

Airmen from the 185th Air Refueling Wing Civil Engineering Squadron based in Sioux City, Iowa joined Soldiers from the Army National Guard’s 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team and the 734th Regional Support Group in Cedar Rapids where they are cleaning up downed trees in order to make way for utility companies to reconnect power.

The 50 member team in Cedar Rapids is part of a larger group of 200 Iowa National Guard members who are working with local municipalities and power companies clearing out debris.

After Guard members clear streets civilian agencies can reconnect power to the community where tens of thousands of customers have been without power since last week.

Wide spread power outages were due to the weather phenomena referred to as a derecho that is characterized by the large geographical area of damage caused by extremely high winds. The hurricane force winds flattened crops in rural areas, uprooted trees and caused wide spread structural damage to homes and business in Easter Iowa.

Air Guard members are equipped with recently acquired debris clean up packages that include items like chain saws and skid loaders as part of the Civil Engineer domestic response kits. The kits combined with Army heavy vehicles allow cleanup teams to quickly clear downed trees.

Lower Thirds:
Senior Master Sgt. David Twohig
185th ARW Civil Engineer
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Airmenclean-upIowapowerIowa National Guardair guardcivil engineering squadronsoldiersSioux City185th Air Refueling WingCedar Rapids2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Teamskid loaderdomestic responsewind stormDerechochain sawhigh winds734th Regional Support GroupEastern Iowajoined Army National Guarddebris clean up packages
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What is happening where?

  • Italy
    ItalyParatroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade will depart from Italy to conduct an airborne drop into Lithuania.
  • Finland

    FinlandThe Finnish Army will conduct a live fire exercise with the Polish Armed Forces and U.S. Forces will fire HIMARS also known as HIRAIN training.

    Polish paratroopers will conduct an airborne jump into Finland, where they will join the Finnish Army to conduct force on force training.

  • Latvia

    Latvia

    In Latvia, paratroopers from Spanish Airborne Brigade and 173rd Airborne Brigade will conduct an airborne jump into Latvia and a live-fire exercises will follow .
    Also, the Latvian national exercise, Crystal Arrow, will be conducted simultaneously with Swift Response 25.  
  • Lithuania

    Lithuania

    In Lithuania, there will be a Field hospital exercise and medical operations. A U.S.-based blood support detachment will deploy to Europe, where they will be issued Army Prepositioned Stock and join the 512th Field Hospital in Lithuania. The exercise will demonstrate theater medical support operations while working under chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear conditions. The field hospital exercise will also include a simulated blood draw and resupply to forward positioned medical teams using drones.
    Paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade will conduct an airborne assault into Lithuania alongside NATO Allies from France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands.
    The Lithuanian national exercise Iron Wolf will be linked with Swift Response 25 events with participants from the Netherlands, Lithuania and Germany.
  • Norway
    NorwayAs part of Swift Response 25, paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division will deploy from the U.S. and conduct
    a direct airborne jump into Norway in the first major event commencing DEFENDER 25. This event is one of five,
    near-simultaneous airborne operations that will be taking place in Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden.
     

    Also U.S. and Host Nation will conduct Live-fires in Norway.

  • Sweden

    Sweden

    NATO Allies will conduct an airborne jump into Gotland Island, setting the stage for U.S. Marines to conduct a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System Rapid Insertion (HIRAIN) training on the island.

  • United Kingdom

    United KingdomTroops moving from United Kingdom to Norway and Sweden.