U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to Cobra Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, ascend mountains at Srednji, Slovenia, Oct. 2, 2024 during exercise Triglav Star 24 with Soldiers from the Czech Armed Forces. Exercise Triglav Star 24 is a multinational NATO exercise focused on mountain warfare, which helps participating nations improve interoperability and proficiency in mountainous terrain.
(Photo Credit: 1st Lt. Ashby Roloff)
BOHINJSKA, Slovenia – During late September and October 2024, Soldiers from Cobra Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, took part in Exercise Triglav Star 24 in Bohinjska, Slovenia.
3rd Brigade has participated in numerous multinational exercises during their deployment in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, but TS24 brought a terrain that most of Cobra Company have never seen before.
U.S. Army Cpl. Grayson Gohlke’s eyes lit up as he spoke about the stunning mountainous terrain surrounding him. “It’s truly awesome out here,” he says, comparing it to his home station, Fort Johnson, Louisiana. As a member of the 10th Mountain Division, he appreciates the rare opportunity to train in such challenging terrain. “We don’t get to do this very often, so it’s an incredible experience that I will definitely take back with me.”
TS24 is a multinational NATO exercise focused on mountain warfare, which helps participating nations improve interoperability and proficiency in mountainous terrain. Lieutenant Colonel Scott Krasko, commander of the 2-2 Infantry “Ramrod” Battalion, highlights the key outcomes from the Alpine exercise.
Lt. Col. Scott Krasko, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment Commander, watches intently at the rigging of his rappel equipment before descending a cliff in Bohinjska, Slovenia, Oct. 1, 2024, during exercise Triglav Star 24. Exercise Triglav Star 24 is a multinational NATO exercise focused on mountain warfare, which helps participating nations improve interoperability and proficiency in mountainous terrain.
(Photo Credit: 1st Lt. Ashby Roloff)
“We learned a lot about equipping and terrain analysis from our partners. The Alpine environment is unique, and our Soldiers and leaders have an appreciation for how they equip themselves to fight and how to better understand the terrain to use to their advantage in close combat,” Krasko said.
TS24 featured a variety of mountaineering activities and challenges, including cliff rappelling, a mountain march, and a 3-day STX lane through the Slovenian Alps on the border of Austria and Northern Italy. Lt. Col. Krasko saw this as the perfect opportunity for Cobra Company to refine their tactics and strengthen relationships.
“Cobra Company Soldiers and our NATO partners shared TTPs related to doctrine, equipping, and mountaineering that strengthened our ability to work together in combat,” he said.
The location of TS24 not only provided a unique mountaineering experience for the Ramrod Soldiers but also linked them to the rich history of the 10th Mountain Division.
Soldiers of Cobra Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, enhance their skills of rappelling system safety with a Slovenian Soldier, left, assigned to the 132nd Mountain Infantry Regiment at Bohinjska, Slovenia, Oct. 1, 2024, during exercise Triglav Star 24.
(Photo Credit: 1st Lt. Ashby Roloff)
The division’s legacy began at Camp Hale, Colorado, as the first U.S. Army Mountain Division where they prepared for high-altitude combat. During World War II, they faced the Germans at altitudes over 2,000 meters in the Slovenian Alps. At the tail-end of the war, 76 Olympic skiers and athletes from the division’s ski troop conducted a race down the slopes of Mt. Mangart. This race was seen as a symbol of freedom after years of fighting the Germans in the war and is the spark that ignited the legend of 10th Mountain Division.
“It was great to be in some of the terrain that 10th Mountain was in, back in World War II,” Cpl. Gohlke states while ascending through the same terrain.
10th Mountain Division’s history is a key aspect of their public image, and 3rd Brigade takes pride in upholding this legacy. According to Lt. Col. Krasko, the exercise allowed the Ramrod Soldiers to connect with the division’s rich heritage. “It was a great experience,” he said. “Cobra Company Soldiers now have even more confidence that they can fight and win in the harshest conditions.”
The brigade’s deployment has already strengthened bonds across NATO countries, with battalions spread throughout Europe. Cpl. Gohlke looks forward to participating in more multinational exercises.
“I’m excited to go to Germany where I think our relationship with our NATO partners will grow even stronger.”
The brigade’s call to action and experience has only strengthened Lt. Col. Krasko’s understanding of their impact for future operations. He notes that TS24 demonstrated 3rd BCT’s commitment to interoperability with NATO allies and the combat credibility of their light infantry forces in an Alpine environment.
As V Corps looks forward to a transformative future, 3rd Brigade is determined to bring the Division’s history with them during Operation Atlantic Resolve. The experience of being in Europe and participating in multinational exercises has left Lt. Col. Krasko confident in where 10th Mountain Division has been and where it leads his battalion.
Krasko concluded, “Our Soldiers were able to get a feel for what it was like for our predecessors during the Second World War and the experience gives them the confidence to win in the future.”
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