U.S. Army Soldiers from the 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, conduct mounted maneuver operations during the NATO Winter Camp exercise near Tapa, Estonia, Jan. 31, 2026.
According to the site Defence Blogthe training took place at the Tapa Training Area and involved US forces operating alongside French and British units.
U.S. soldiers performed maneuver tasks in armored vehicles, designed to test unit coordination, command and control, as well as tactical movement in cold weather conditions.
According to the U.S. Army, the 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment served as the adversary force during the exercise, providing a realistic training environment for allied units participating in the Winter Camp.
The scenario required U.S., French, and British forces to coordinate movements, communications, and engagement procedures across national borders.
Winter Camp is a recurring NATO training event, focused on improving cold weather operational readiness and interoperability among Allied forces deployed in Northern Europe.
The exercise places an emphasis on operations in snow, ice and sub-zero temperatures, conditions that place additional stresses on personnel, vehicles and logistics support systems.
Estonia has become a central location for NATO training activities due to its proximity to the Alliance’s eastern border.
The Tapa Training Area hosts rotating forces from several NATO countries and serves as a center for large-scale, unit-level exercises throughout the year.
The participation of the United States in the Winter Camp is part of the operational framework of V Corpswhich maintains a forward headquarters in Europe, and emphasizes the continued U.S. military commitment to NATO’s collective defense.
Photo: Ariana Smith. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial staff.
