US troops and combat vehicles arrive in Belgium to be deployed in Eastern Europe.

U.S. main battle tanks, armored, trucks and mobile artillery rolled off the first of three ships to arrive at the port of Anvers in Belgium, May 20, 2018 as a new U.S. Army armored brigade took up the mission to provide a continuous presence in Eastern Europe to support of Atlantic Resolve. About 2,500 pieces of equipment will come through the port including 87 M1A2 Abrams tanks, Bradley M2A3 IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicles, 18 M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzers, and more than a thousand other military vehicles.

A U.S. Army Soldier guides an M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank from 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, off the ramp of the ARC vessel Endurance May 20 at the Port of Antwerp, Belgium. (Picture source U.S. MoD)

Troops and equipment from 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, out of Fort Hood, Texas, will replace 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, out of Fort Riley, Kansas, which has been in Europe for nine months in support of Atlantic Resolve.

This is the third iteration of continuing “heel-to-toe” rotations to maintain a U.S. armored brigade in Europe. While the unit will be stationed primarily in Poland, Romania and other Eastern European countries, the equipment arrived through Antwerp to exercise the ability to move equipment across Europe quickly and efficiently using multiple methods of transportation. Antwerp hasn’t been used for a major U.S. military movement of this nature for the last 10 to 20 years.

Operation Atlantic Resolve are ongoing efforts in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine, mainly the War in Donbass. It is funded under the European Reassurance Initiative. All U.S. efforts in support of NATO fall under the umbrella of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

pB-ROLL Package of 1st Armored Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division from Ft. Hood Texas equipment arrives in Europe for a nine month, heel-to-toe rotation as part of the Regionally Allocated Forces supporting Atlantic Resolve. (Source picture U.S. MoD)

Operation Atlantic Resolve aims to ensure peace and stability in the Eastern European NATO countries. Since April 2014, U.S. Army Europe has led land forces efforts on behalf of the U.S. military, by conducting continuous, enhanced multinational training and security cooperation activities with allies and partners in Eastern Europe. The multinational training and security cooperation activities are taking place in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary. The training events improve interoperability, strengthen relationships and trust among allied armies, contribute to regional stability, and demonstrate U.S. commitment to NATO.

As part of Host Nation Support, the German Armed Forces is providing assistance to Operation Atlantic Resolve through the Joint Service Support Command (JSCC). They coordinate assistance to allied and partner armed forces during their stay in Germany. The JSCC provided infrastructure and capabilities include: storage areas and facilities, supplies, food and lodging, repair, transport, and handling.