SwiftResponse

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.

Videos

Video by Petty Officer 1st Class Paul Seeber

CH-46 Sea Knight on its Way to Retirement

Fleet Combat Camera Pacific

Aug. 23, 2014 | 1:49

The CH-46 Sea Knight Helicopter was used during Partnerships of the Americas 2014 in what could be its last operational deployment.

00:00:00 [SOT, LCpl Ranieri Fotelli, HMM 364 crew chief] It’s what people think of when Marine Corps aviation is mentioned in any conversation.”

00:06:00 [VO, SGT Adwin Esters, Public Affairs, 4th Marine Logistics Group. ] The Marines of Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 are flying in what is very likely the final deployment for the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter as they support Partnership of the Americas in Chile. The significance of this milestone is not lost on these Marines.

00:27:00 [SOT, Cpl Vidal Gonzalez HMM 364 flightline mechanic] The 46 going away is a sad, sad thing to think about. I’ve been working on these helicopters for four years now and they’ve been in the Marine Corps for quite some time. Over fifty years of service. The day that they have to go away is gonna be a sad one.

00:40:00 [VO] After five decades of venerable service to the Marine Corps, the Sea Knight is being phased out in favor of the MV22 Osprey.

00:50:00 [SOT, Sgt Carmen Zangari, HMM 364 crew chief] The tactics are changing, the future of warfare is evolving, the battlefield is evolving, and the new aircraft is designed to kind of fulfill the role we see in the future.

00:59:00 [VO] The end of an era brings with it memories that stretch back for generations.

01:05:00 [SOT, Capt William Norris, A Co. 1/23] My father was actually a 46 pilot back in the day for the Navy, so I made sure to get a couple of pictures of them so he doesn’t cry when I go home and tell him that it’s gone forever.

01:15:00 [VO] Few still serving in the Marine Corps have as long a history with the Sea Knight as Brigadier General David Coffman, Commander, United States Marine Corps Forces South.

01:24:00 [SOT, BGen David W. Coffman Commander, United States Marine Corps Forces, South] If I could have stayed a 1st Lieutenant, functional check pilot and flight leader and flight instructor in HMM-262 Flying Tigers at Kaneohe Bay for the entire 30 years I would still be there doing that. It’s such great fun, it’s such a great effect and such a great contribution to the Marine Corps team.

01:42:00[VO] Sgt Adwin Esters, Public Affairs, 4th Marine Logistics Group

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

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

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
As 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

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
Troops moving from United Kingdom to Norway and Sweden.

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