Deputy Commander of the Croatian Army, Brig. Gen. Sinisa

Deputy Commander of the Croatian Army, Brig. Gen. Sinisa Jurkovic speaks during the Immediate Response 16 closing ceremony, Sept. 22, 2016, held at the Eugen Kvaternik training area in Slunj, Croatia. Immediate Response 16 is a multinational, brigade-level command post exercise utilizing computer-assisted simulations and field training exercises spanning two countries, Croatia and Slovenia. The exercises and simulations are built upon a decisive action based scenario and are designed to enhance regional stability, strengthen Allied and partner nation capacity, and improve interoperability among partner nations. The exercise included more than 1,900 Soldiers and security forces from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Immediate Response 16 supports the goal of a “Strong Europe” in that militaries and security forces are trained and ready to combine forces to ensure unified security across Allied and partner nations. Immediate Response is a preplanned exercise that has occurred annually for the past six years. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Opal Vaughn)