V Corps represents the U.S. Army’s unwavering commitment to warfighting excellence, strategic enablement and modernization. As the only forward-deployed U.S. Army corps headquarters, V Corps plays a pivotal role in the defense of NATO’s eastern flank, blending its legacy of leading multinational operations with a forward-looking approach to modern warfare. By fostering interoperability, strengthening partnerships within NATO and integrating cutting-edge technologies, V Corps remains at the forefront of collective defense and readiness.
A storied command that led offensives at St. Mihiel, France, and Meuse-Argonne on the Western Front during World War I; stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, in World War II; and played a pivotal role during 21st-century conflicts, V Corps has always answered the call to duty. When others asked if it could be done, V Corps embodied the command’s motto, “It Will Be Done.” By demonstrating commitment to its mission, V Corps evolved to meet the demands of each new conflict by strengthening partnerships and building a legacy of honor and pride.

Building Partnerships
From the ashes of World War II, NATO was born, an alliance built on the principles of collective defense and cooperation. As V Corps currently leads the defense of NATO’s eastern flank, these enduring partnerships are vital to the corps’ mission.
During the early stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, V Corps was instrumental in forging critical partnerships with coalition forces and coordinating closely with U.S. Central Command. The corps’ efforts at the operational level established the groundwork for coalition operations, and its partnerships synchronized ground operations by integrating disparate military units to meet the coalition’s demand for combined arms.
The history of V Corps is a testament to its ability to adapt and excel in the face of evolving challenges. From the fields of France to the deserts of Iraq, V Corps has consistently demonstrated its ability to lead, fight and win.

New Challenges
V Corps is adapting to the modern challenges of warfare, especially in the context of a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape. The corps’ ability to evolve while maintaining its commitment to strengthening partnerships is what sets it apart as a premier military force.
Today, the corps is at a critical time as it navigates the challenges posed by Russian aggression in Eastern Europe and its invasion of Ukraine, said Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, V Corps commanding general. “V Corps soldiers built this corps from the ground up,” he said in July. “Now it’s time to transform it into a force we can fight with.”
Reactivated in 2020 after casing its colors seven years earlier, V Corps, which is headquartered at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and also has a forward-deployed headquarters at Camp Kosciuszko, Poland, continues to strengthen its capabilities as a warfighting headquarters while directly contributing to the Army’s lethality.
The Army’s transformation in contact initiative, part of the service’s broader continuous transformation efforts, focuses on real-time adaptation of new warfighting capabilities during operational and training center rotations.
Col. Kevin Jackson, V Corps’ chief of staff, underscored the corps’ dual mission of enhancing readiness within Europe while also preparing U.S. Army units for global deployment. “We’re conducting operations in-theater that build readiness, not only for Europe and V Corps, but also for our nation,” he said in August. “We’re sending divisions and brigades back to the [United] States that are trained and ready to serve anywhere.”
Units such as the 3rd Light Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, which deployed to Europe and was rotationally allocated to V Corps, are receiving advanced systems, such as short- and medium-range reconnaissance drones. Meanwhile, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, a permanently assigned, Europe-based V Corps unit, was identified in October as a Stryker brigade participating in “transformation in contact 2.0,” an expansion of the initial transformation in contact effort to include divisions, armored brigades and other types of formations across the force.
Through transformation in contact, V Corps ensures it is ready to contribute combat-credible forces that are properly equipped to stand with America’s allies to defend sovereign NATO territory.

Working With Allies
Exercises like Defender, Avenger Triad and Saber Strike, to name a few, provide multinational forces with an opportunity to work together in scenarios ranging from tabletop exercises to maneuvering combined arms capabilities.
U.S. Army rotational forces are essential to V Corps’ efforts to synchronize combined arms tactics and communication protocols with NATO forces at scale. By continuing to command rotational forces in Europe, V Corps strengthens the Army’s warfighting readiness as a service while answering the nation’s call to deter aggression and reassure NATO allies of U.S. commitment to the region.
Through these exercises, U.S. Army and NATO forces refine their communication, operational tactics, and command and control techniques to foster unity of effort. These training opportunities ensure that despite language and cultural differences, forces from multiple nations can align around a common operational goal. Exercises like Saber Strike in the Baltic States provide a real-world environment in which nations can work together in complex scenarios, ensuring that V Corps is always ready to lead as a member of a multinational force.

Technical Abilities
This focus on interoperability extends beyond human communication to technical solutions like the Artillery Systems Cooperation Activities, a software program that V Corps employed alongside multinational partners during Exercise Dynamic Front 25 in November 2024.
Artillery Systems Cooperation Activities provide a common digital language for NATO’s fire control systems, said Dana Hatcher, with Fire Support Command and Control, Project Manager Mission Command under Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications, and Network. While militaries have used the system for nearly four decades, Hatcher said she saw V Corps use it during Dynamic Front 25 as a tool to strengthen technological interoperability and professional relationships among allies and partners.
“They actually have a friendship that they grow and a trust that they have with each other,” Hatcher said. “So that when they’re out where it is needed, they have a trust factor.”
The Artillery Systems Cooperation Activities network enables multinational systems to pass targeting information and fire missions to each member of the community, which in turn allows artillery systems to communicate even though the service members speak different languages.

Fortifying NATO
V Corps also has been instrumental in fortifying NATO’s eastern flank through the deployment and integration of critical military equipment. Through the Warfighting Symposium series, the Abrams Initiative, the European High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) Initiative and the Polish Apache Initiative, V Corps has significantly strengthened the combat capabilities and capacity of NATO forces in the region.
The Abrams Initiative is one of the most impactful contributions to NATO’s armored warfare capabilities. By facilitating the deployment of Abrams tanks to Poland, V Corps has equipped NATO with cutting-edge firepower, mobility and protection. These deployed tanks not only enhance the armored capabilities of NATO forces, but they also serve as a powerful deterrent against aggression, signaling to potential adversaries that NATO is fully prepared to defend its territory with overwhelming force.
Another key effort in modernizing NATO’s defense posture is the European HIMARS Initiative. Developed in close collaboration with the 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Field Artillery Brigade, the initiative has become a cornerstone of NATO’s long-range precision fires capability. HIMARS provides NATO forces with the ability to execute deep-strike, all-weather precision fires to serve as an additional deterrent.
Maj. Brian Bierwirth, operations officer of the 41st Field Artillery Brigade, emphasized the flexibility and precision HIMARS offers to NATO. The system plays a pivotal role in supporting the alliance’s broader strategic objectives in Europe, while the initiative served as a key venue for NATO’s leaders to exchange critical lessons. “[The European HIMARS Initiative] has provided a venue for NATO Allies to come together to discuss challenges that all nations face in synchronizing long-range fires in large-scale combat operations,” Bierwirth said in September via email.


Aerial Strategy
Complementing these ground and artillery advancements is the Polish Apache Initiative. The Polish Air Force is in the process of being equipped with 96 AH-64E Apache helicopters. Apache precision strike capabilities and close air support are critical assets in defending NATO territory. By integrating these helicopters into the region’s defense strategy, V Corps enhances Poland’s aerial capabilities to ensure that allied forces are prepared to meet modern warfare challenges with both strength and precision.
Additionally, V Corps’ War-fighting Symposiums serve as a platform to exchange knowledge on warfighting functions, particularly within the realm of large-scale combat operations. The symposiums focus on vital warfighting functions like intelligence, maneuver, sustainment and fires. “We help NATO divisions understand our approach to operations and, in turn, we learn from their methodologies,” Chief Warrant Officer 4 David Zamora, a targeting officer assigned to V Corps, said in September. “The key is developing a common baseline.”
The symposiums are crucial for bridging gaps between U.S. and NATO doctrine, fostering deeper interoperability with NATO allies, Zamora said. This collaborative approach allows NATO partners to drive the conversation, making the symposiums more relevant to the specific needs of each nation. While some of the outcomes are still evolving, the relationships formed during these engagements have led to enhanced coordination and open lines of communication. “Our coordination with Multinational Corps South-East helped prepare us for an upcoming exercise where we’ll assist with targeting operations,” Zamora said. “It’s a direct result of what we shared and learned during [an April 2024 Warfighting] Symposium.” Multinational Corps South-East is a NATO unit that V Corps is integrated with and conducts joint planning with.
Together, these initiatives—Abrams, HIMARS, Apache and Warfighting Symposiums—represent a comprehensive enhancement of NATO’s warfighting capability. V Corps’ leadership in deploying and integrating these initiatives demonstrates its commitment to strengthening warfighting capabilities along NATO’s eastern flank.
As V Corps continues to evolve, its commitment to interoperability and partnership with NATO allies will remain at the forefront of its mission. The corps’ ability to integrate new technologies and capabilities into a cohesive defense strategy is a testament to its adaptability and resilience. In an increasingly complex and unpredictable security environment, V Corps stands ready to lead, defend and win.
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Sgt. Tyler Brock is a mass communication specialist with V Corps, Fort Knox, Kentucky. Previously, he served as a unit public affairs representative and content collector with the 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.