82nd Airborne's "Devils Brigade" rolls out MZRZs at Swift Response...photos by Sgt. Juan F. Jimenez

Paratroopers prepare for their next mission to escorted dozens of stryker vehicles during operation #Swiftresponse in Torun, Poland, June 8th 2016.The Paratroopers from the MRZR platoon are assigned to1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. The exercise is one of the premier military crisis response training events for multi-national airborne forces in the world. The exercise is designed to enhance the readiness of the combat core of the U.S. Global Response Force-currently the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team-to conduct rapid-response, joint-forcible entry and follow-on operations alongside Allied high-readiness forces in Europe. Swift Response 16 includes more than 5,000 Soldiers and Airmen from Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britian, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain and the United States and takes place in Poland and Germany, May 27-June 26, 2016.

I still wonder why the USMC's MEUs and SPMAGTF-CRs don't work out with Army Airborne more.  We run exercises around the world with foreign forces that will be "limited" partners at best and ignore increasing REAL capability between our two rapid response elements.

Its an oversight that has to be confronted and corrected.  As a side note I find it interesting that the MZRZs are being used as escorts for the Stryker unit.  Are they acting as scouts?  A new type of CAV providing screening and protecting flanks?  I definitely need to dig into the thinking behind this concept that they seem to be experimenting with.