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 Tech. Sgt. Andrew Jackson

Hawaii Army National Guard Soldier receives State Medal of Valor for his involvement in rescue during Hurricane Lane

State of Hawaii, Department of Defense, Public Affairs Office

Feb. 9, 2019 | 4:34

B-Roll with Interview
Hawaii Army National Guard Soldier, Staff Sgt. Gregory A.Y. Lum Ho, Jr. was presented with the State Medal of Valor by Governor David Ige at small
ceremony at Wheeler Army Airfield.

Sound Bite - 00:0023:15 - General Kenneth Hara, Deputy Adjutant General Hawaii.

Sound Bite - 00:01:03:49 - Hawaii Governor, David Ige

Sound Bite - 00:03:00:55 - Staff Sgt. Gregory A.Y. Lum Ho, Jr.

Interview -00:03:36:13 - Staff Sgt. Gregory A.Y. Lum Ho, Jr

On the night of August 23, 2018, Staff Sgt. Gregory A.Y. Lum Ho, Jr. used
his HIARNG security patrol's Humvee to ferry Hawaii County firefighters
across hip-high rushing flood water to get to a stranded family of six, and
their pet. The family and their pet were rescued and brought to safety.

Lum Ho was a part of Task Force Hawaii, the Hawaii National Guard's unit
assigned the mission of supporting Hawaii County during the Kilauea lava
flow that started in May 2018. With the lava support mission coming to an
end, the Task Force adjusted its mission and began Hurricane Lane response
and recovery support.

The criteria for the State Medal of Valor is: The MV is awarded for the
Governor to an individual who distinguishes himself/herself through:

(1) The performance of an uncommon act of personal heroism involving the
voluntary risk of his/her own life. The act must be distinctly beyond what
might be reasonably expected under the circumstances and of such a nature
that if the act had not been attempted, criticism of the individual would
not be justified.

(2) A self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to be distinctly above and beyond
the call of duty. Provided that the individual was placed in personal
jeopardy by his/her voluntary action, this includes situations in which the
individual's extraordinary performance has indisputably contributed to the
alleviation or avoidance of a public tragedy, to the safeguard of public
safety or to the preservation of public property.

(U.S. Air National Guard Video by Tech. Sgt. Andrew L. Jackson)

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.
Slovenia
Slovenia is providing a strategic aerial port of disembarkation (APODs) in Cerklje Air Base.
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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