Exercise OAK RESOLVE: Ready and Resilient

As a test to measure the lethality of the Canadian led NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia (MNB-LVA), thousands of troops took part in Exercise OAK RESOLVE. CDR asked UK Correspondent, Joe Campion, to report on this important exercise.

Between the dates of February 21-28, more than 2,000 soldiers from 14 NATO member countries took part in Exercise OAK RESOLVE at Camp Adazi Military base in Latvia. The training exercise was the first major capability evaluation since the unit expanded from a battlegroup capacity to a brigade. It was also the first Battle Group training final validation exercise for Canadian soldiers outside of Canada’s borders since its mission in Afghanistan. Ex OAK RESOLVE is designed to ensure that the Multinational Battlegroup Latvia (MN BG-LVA), a smaller combat-ready unit that is part of the larger NATO Multinational Brigade Latvia (MNB-LVA), is up to Canadian training standards and NATO Combat Readiness Evaluation (CREVAL) standards.

This exercise highlights the importance of maintaining high levels of combat readiness to effectively deter potential adversaries throughout all stages, from planning to execution of missions. It tests those serving the MN BG-LVA in a realistic, multinational training environment and serves as a test to the whole Brigade’s lethality.

READ: CDR EMBEDDED – Multinational Brigade – Latvia

The MNB-LVA is made of troops and equipment from the countries of Albania, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. Ex OAK RESOLVE was also the first exercise that Sweden participated in after officially integrating its battalion into the MNB-LVA at Camp Valdemar, Latvia, in early February. At the time of the integration, Colonel Cédric Aspirault, Commander of the NATO Multinational Brigade Latvia said, “Their Swedish battalion is a valued addition to our combat-ready force, enhancing our collective defence efforts and strengthening regional security, it’s truly inspiring to witness all nations collaborating towards our shared mission.”

As reported earlier in January by CDR, the main mission of the MNB-LVA is to demonstrate solidarity within Latvia and its neighbouring nations as part of NATO’s commitments to safeguard member nations on its Eastern flank since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Strategic deployment of Canadian personnel followed the annexation of Crimea back in 2014. The first deployment of enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battlegroup-Latvia commenced in 2017. As well as Canadian troops, equipment and weapons, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Slovenian and Albanian troops and assets were deployed to Latvia. In 2018, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Montenegro joined the battlegroup. In 2020, Iceland joined and North Macedonia in 2022. The penultimate nation to join was Denmark in 2024 before the aforementioned Sweden. In July 2024, the battlegroup was officially established into a NATO Multinational Brigade and is led by a Canadian Commander.

DELIVERED BY CANADIANS

Ex OAK RESOLVE was designed and delivered by the The Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre (CMTC), which is the Canadian Army’s Centre of Excellence for collective training. For over 20 years it has designed and delivered training exercises that provide a framework for units to demonstrate their readiness and effectiveness, both domestically and internationally. Ex OAK RESOLVE was designed to facilitate a NATO Combat Readiness Evaluation and the Canadian Army’s readiness validation for the Multinational Battle Group within the Brigade.

The CMTC delivered the exercise with over 100 Observer Controller Trainers (OCT) and approximately 150 other supporters including an effects team, exercise control, and a special purpose force.

An OCT is a subject matter expert employed by CMTC to support exercises. During Ex OAK RESOLVE, OCTs acted as advisors and umpires for the Battle Group, observing forces in battle and providing feedback to enhance operational effectiveness to the soldiers in training.

The OCT team provided unbiased, independent, and experienced feedback to the Brigade and Battle Group throughout Exercise OAK RESOLVE. This feedback enhanced the training experience and ensured adherence to doctrine for validation. Once the exercise was completed, CMTC facilitated an Action After Review for the Battle Group leadership; the resulting lessons learned will be used to improve training for future Battle Groups.

Maj Guay, NATO Evaluation Team Lead from CMTC said in an interview during the exercise, “We’re here to exchange with our counterparts in the multinational element to ensure that our practices are best practice, and their best practices are captured and integrated into one proper process.”

A member of the Brigade added “Integrating and working within a multinational context is the best part of service in the military. Learning how other nations conduct operations is interesting and exciting. We learn the best tactics and procedures from learning from one another, and although we have our differences in how we operate, we learn that the service and sacrifices we make for our countries is very similar.”

THE MISSION

The scenario was based on the fictional actors found in the Decisive Action Training Environment (DATE). The Battle Group part of NATO integrated response had been deployed to stop the advance from an adversary into Latvia and destroy the enemy forces. The DATE scenarios provide relevant and realistic conditions to adaptive adversaries to enable training for all levels in all military functions.

Combat elements including infantry combat engineers, artillery and armour engaged with a near-peer enemy in a contested battle space. Medical, logistics, and combat service support elements aided those combat elements in the scenario, just as they would in a prolonged conflict.

To achieve the task, the Battle group conducted a series of coordinated defensive tactics. This included screening and reconnaissance which aided the tracking of the enemy’s movements before they reached the MNB-LVAs main defenses. Once engaged, MN BG-LVA worked to shape their own advance via blocking and turning then to the centre of MNB-LVAs area of responsibility. They directed the enemy into pre-panned kill zones, then the MN BG forces concentrated artillery, anti-tank weapons, and firepower to inflict maximum damage within those kill zones to the enemy forces. This way the MN BG-LVA is not just holding the line but destroying the enemy and disrupting its offensive capabilities.

After achieving the above, the mission then turned towards enabling operations (forward passage of lines) for follow on forces such as, Multinational Division- North (MND-N). This is to ultimately prevent any future enemy gains, shaping the battlefield to favour the MNB-LVA forces and setting the stage for the offensive operations to be conducted by the Danish 1 DNK brigade.

An example of integration of the nations within the MNB-LVA is that during the defensive battle, the MN BG-LVA utilised a combination of Polish tanks and Italian mechanized platoons to maintain flank security in addition to support from the multinational Anti-Armour Recce Platoon composed of Slovenians, Montenegrins, and North Macedonian soldiers. This allowed the MN BG to stop the enemy penetrating the Western Flank.  

Although this exercise aims to evaluate the Multinational Battlegroup Combat Readiness, it was important for the Brigade to deploy all it’s elements and make it as realistic as possible for the participating troops. It also allowed units to test their procedures on the terrain instead of simulating them. For example, the Tactical Aviation Detachment (TAD) embedded in the Brigade operated Royal Canadian Air Force CH-146 Griffon utility helicopters, providing replenishment services to the scenario. The TAD is deployed at Riga International airport with four Griffon helicopters.

As a requirement of the CREVAL, the Multinational Battle Group Latvia was required to conduct all Battle Task Standards during the exercise. This includes offensive operations, defensive operations, and enabling operations. The intent is for the Battle Group to exercise a full range of operations to demonstrate their ability to function as a cohesive and lethal unit.

Most of the Canadian units and assets that are deployed in Latvia were seen during Ex OAK RESOLVE, working alongside allied nation assets. Canada has a tank company deployed with multiple Leopard 2 tanks, as does Poland and Spain. Canada provides infantry via the Canadian Light Infantry Battalion (LIB). A Canadian Brigade Reconnaissance Squadron, which employs troops close to the enemy and provides crucial information to the brigade, could be seen operating Light Armoured Vehicles (LAV 6.0) and Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicles (TAPV). Combat Support Elements come via the Multinational Artillery Battalion Group (MN Arty Bn Gp) where Canada provides a towed Artillery Battery utilising the 155mm M777 Howitzer, one air defence platoon and an Electronic Warfare platoon. As mentioned, Canada also has four Bell CH-146 Griffon Helicopters deployed to Latvia which can provide, utility, reconnaissance and firepower.

Other combat Support Elements are the Canadian Signals Squadron made up of four troops. The Signal Squadron is responsible for integral communications and access to the NATO secret wide area network. The Canadian Military Police Company are also deployed to carry out general support and close support tasks depending on the scenario. They utilise the TAPV and G-Wagon Light Utility Vehicle Wheeled.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Brigade never stops training. After Exercise OAK RESOLVE the MNB-LVA conducted Exercise VERBOOM. It’s the key engineer exercise for the Brigade held bi-annually. It involved engineers from Allied countries demonstrating and sharing capabilities through a series of different training scenarios. The exercise included participants from Albania, Canada, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom and United States.

In the next few months, The Brigade will also participate in major exercises such as Exercise CRYSTAL ARROW, a Latvian Land Forces Mechanized Infantry Brigade-led exercise in which NATO MNB-LVA participates. The exercise will demonstrate NATO’s ability to enhance cooperation, integrate combat support, and maintain readiness for operations in strategically important regions across Latvia.

The Brigade will also be participating in IRON SPEAR, a competition that will allow participants to display teamwork and cooperation with NATO Allies by demonstrating mobility, force projection and collective capabilities. This exercise will take place from April 29 to May 4 this year.

Joe Campion is CDR’s UK Correspondent