WATCH: Latvians make allied soldiers take a cold dip
The American and Canadian soldiers, currently stationed in Latvia, jumped into freezing water as part of their training by Latvian allies, as the Latvian Defense Minister Raimonds Vējonis looked on.
The soldiers from the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment and 3rd Battalion from the US, and the Royal Canadian Regiment, were trained in water immersion tactics at freezing temperatures at Camp Ādaži in Latvia.
The water immersion training was part of a week-long winter survival training that finishes at Ādaži today. The US, Canadian and Latvian soldiers also practiced skills relating to topography, equipment and arms, and medical aid, the Baltic New Network reported.
Part of the training was attended by the Latvian Minister of Defense Raimonds Vējonis, who said that such exercises improve the interoperability between different national armored forces. "We need to train, we need exercises, and such exercises give very good experience about our geographical and climatic situation. The soldiers will be more ready for such situations if we will need some assistance to fight against possible aggressor,” he added.
Camp Ādaži is located near Latvian capital Riga, and is also regularly used as a training ground for the Estonia forces.
Editor: M. Oll