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NATO Allies, Partner Nations and Marines complete Platinum Lion 15

By Lance Cpl. Ryan Young | Marine Corps Forces Europe | January 30, 2015

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Lance Cpl. Ognjen Samolovac, a sniper with the Serbian Army, provides security as Marines breach a doorway at the military operations on urbanized terrain course. Serbians conducted MOUT training with Marines at Novo Selo training area in Bulgaria, Jan. 17, 2015, as part of Exercise Platinum Lion.
Serbian soldiers and U.S. Forces unite in urban warfare training
Lance Cpl. Ognjen Samolovac, a sniper with the Serbian Army, provides security as Marines breach a doorway at the military operations on urbanized terrain course. Serbians conducted MOUT training with Marines at Novo Selo training area in Bulgaria, Jan. 17, 2015, as part of Exercise Platinum Lion.
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Lance Cpl. Michael Taylor grins for the camera as he plays the part of a casualty being dragged to safety by Cpl. Trivunovic Milan (left) and Master Sgt. Ivan Tucic (right). Serbians conducted MOUT training with Marines at Novo Selo training area in Bulgaria, Jan. 17, 2015 as part of Exercise Platinum Lion.
Serbian soldiers and U.S. Forces unite in urban warfare training
Lance Cpl. Michael Taylor grins for the camera as he plays the part of a casualty being dragged to safety by Cpl. Trivunovic Milan (left) and Master Sgt. Ivan Tucic (right). Serbians conducted MOUT training with Marines at Novo Selo training area in Bulgaria, Jan. 17, 2015 as part of Exercise Platinum Lion.
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Cpl. Jordan Holly offers a period of instruction to Serbian soldiers in a military operations on urbanized terrain scenario. Serbians conducted MOUT training with Marines at Novo Selo training area in Bulgaria, Jan. 17, 2015, as part of Exercise Platinum Lion.
Serbian soldiers and U.S. Forces unite in urban warfare training
Cpl. Jordan Holly offers a period of instruction to Serbian soldiers in a military operations on urbanized terrain scenario. Serbians conducted MOUT training with Marines at Novo Selo training area in Bulgaria, Jan. 17, 2015, as part of Exercise Platinum Lion.
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Master Sgt. Ivan Tucic, a Serbian soldier, peaks around a wall at the military operations on urbanized terrain course. Serbians conducted MOUT training with Marines at Novo Selo training area in Bulgaria, Jan. 17, 2015, as part of Exercise Platinum Lion.
Serbian soldiers and U.S. Forces unite in urban warfare training
Master Sgt. Ivan Tucic, a Serbian soldier, peaks around a wall at the military operations on urbanized terrain course. Serbians conducted MOUT training with Marines at Novo Selo training area in Bulgaria, Jan. 17, 2015, as part of Exercise Platinum Lion.
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Lance Cpl. Ognjen Samolovac, a sniper with the Serbian Army, helps translate a review of the squad’s performance at the conclusion of a scenario in military operations on urbanized terrain. Serbians conducted MOUT training with Marines at Novo Selo training area in Bulgaria, Jan. 17, 2015, as part of Exercise Platinum Lion.
Serbian soldiers and U.S. Forces unite in urban warfare training
Lance Cpl. Ognjen Samolovac, a sniper with the Serbian Army, helps translate a review of the squad’s performance at the conclusion of a scenario in military operations on urbanized terrain. Serbians conducted MOUT training with Marines at Novo Selo training area in Bulgaria, Jan. 17, 2015, as part of Exercise Platinum Lion.
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Cpl. Damir Sokac, a Serbian soldier, cautiously approaches an entryway into a building at the military operations on urbanized terrain course. Serbians conducted MOUT training with Marines at Novo Selo training area in Bulgaria, Jan. 17, 2015, as part of Exercise Platinum Lion.
Serbian soldiers and U.S. Forces unite in urban warfare training
Cpl. Damir Sokac, a Serbian soldier, cautiously approaches an entryway into a building at the military operations on urbanized terrain course. Serbians conducted MOUT training with Marines at Novo Selo training area in Bulgaria, Jan. 17, 2015, as part of Exercise Platinum Lion.
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Lance Cpl. Dejan Stefanovic provides security as Marines breach a doorway at the military operations on urbanized terrain course. Serbians conducted MOUT training with Marines at Novo Selo training area in Bulgaria, Jan. 17, 2015, as part of Exercise Platinum Lion.
Serbian soldiers and U.S. Forces unite in urban warfare training
Lance Cpl. Dejan Stefanovic provides security as Marines breach a doorway at the military operations on urbanized terrain course. Serbians conducted MOUT training with Marines at Novo Selo training area in Bulgaria, Jan. 17, 2015, as part of Exercise Platinum Lion.
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A group of Serbian soldiers listen to a critique of their performance at the conclusion of a scenario in military operations on urbanized terrain. Serbians conducted MOUT training with Marines at Novo Selo training area in Bulgaria, Jan. 17, 2015, as part of Exercise Platinum Lion.
Serbian soldiers and U.S. Forces unite in urban warfare training
A group of Serbian soldiers listen to a critique of their performance at the conclusion of a scenario in military operations on urbanized terrain. Serbians conducted MOUT training with Marines at Novo Selo training area in Bulgaria, Jan. 17, 2015, as part of Exercise Platinum Lion.
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NOVO SELO TRAINING AREA, Bulgaria -- Marines and Sailors from the Black Sea Rotational Force spent the month of January alongside soldiers from the nations of Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania during Platinum Lion 15, a multi-nation training exercise at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria.

BSRF service members were placed in groups with their international counterparts and rotated through five stations covering a multitude of skills, to include: Combat Lifesaver Course, dismounted patrolling, pistol marksmanship, urban patrolling and mounted patrolling.

During the Combat Lifesaver Course, Navy Corpsmen taught basic-medical skills to the Marines and soldiers. The mounted-patrolling class reviewed weapons from the Combined Anti-Armor Team Platoon, as well as how to attach vehicles together for towing. Weapons-exchange ranges were also held, allowing the four-country coalition to familiarize themselves with primary weapons of each nation.

“We [paired] each of the partner force platoons with a squad of Marines,” said Capt. Matthew Deffenbaugh, Platinum Lion 15 Officer-in-Charge. “The ability for us to integrate with [allied] and partner forces is crucial.”

The international pairings lasted throughout the training evolution, which led to partnerships that went beyond the training events.

“Of all the exercises we’ve done so far, this is the one where the Marines and [other] nations have come together the quickest,” said Deffenbaugh. “It’s fascinated me how at the [small-unit] levels they have integrated so well and become true partners in such a short period of time.”

Platinum Lion ended with warrior games, an hour-long athletic event between the services to promote friendly competition. The Marines and partner nations gathered after the day’s event to celebrate at a bonfire, solidifying friendships that grew that week regardless of a language barrier.

“For everyone to train as efficiently as we have, I think that puts us one step closer to being able to execute it for real when we need to,” said Deffenbaugh.
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