Spc. Angelo Presa (center) with the 1st platoon of U.S. Army Europe's 541st Engineer Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade, speaks with Spanish engineer soldiers in their native tongue on the first day of exercise Interdict 2012 in Spain, Oct. 27. (Photo by Lt. Col. Wayne Marotto)
Spanish engineer soldiers take up fighting positions near their counterparts with the 1st platoon of U.S. Army Europe's 541st Engineer Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade, during exercise Interdict 12, in Spain, Oct. 29. The exercise hosted by the Spanish engineers was designed to foster and enhance interoperability and skills among engineer units practicing counter-improvised explosive device operations using a scenario that mirrored combat in Afghanistan. (Photo by Lt. Col. Wayne Marotto)
2nd Lt. Chris Wagner with the 1st platoon of U.S. Army Europe's 541st Engineer Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade, gives orders to his Soldiers during a route clearance mission that was part of exercise Interdict 2012 in Spain, Oct. 31. The exercise hosted by the Spanish engineers was designed to foster and enhance interoperability and skills among engineer units practicing counter-improvised explosive device operations using a scenario that mirrored combat in Afghanistan. (Photo by Lt. Col. Wayne Marotto)
Spanish engineers and Soldiers of the 1st platoon of U.S. Army Europe's 541st Engineer Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade, head out on a route clearance mission during exercise Interdict 2012 in Spain, Oct. 31. The exercise hosted by the Spanish engineers was designed to foster and enhance interoperability and skills among engineer units practicing counter-improvised explosive device operations based on several IED events during a route clearance scenario. (Photo by Lt. Col. Wayne Marotto)
A Spanish engineer soldier (left) and Sgt. Chino Thompkins with the 1st platoon of U.S. Army Europe's 541st Engineer Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade, check a suspected explosive device during exercise Interdict 2012 in Spain, Oct. 31. The exercise hosted by the Spanish engineers was designed to foster and enhance interoperability and skills among engineer units practicing counter-improvised explosive device operations using a scenario that mirrored combat in Afghanistan. (Photo by Lt. Col. Wayne Marotto)
Soldiers with the 1st platoon of U.S. Army Europe's 541st Engineer Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade, conducts a route clearance mission during exercise Interdict 2012 in Spain, Oct. 31. The exercise hosted by the Spanish engineers was designed to foster and enhance interoperability and skills among engineer units practicing counter-improvised explosive device operations using a scenario that mirrored combat in Afghanistan. (Photo by Lt. Col. Wayne Marotto)
Sgt. Chino Thompkins with the 1st platoon of U.S. Army Europe's 541st Engineer Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade, probes for a simulated explosive device during exercise Interdict 2012 in Spain, Oct. 29. The exercise hosted by the Spanish engineers was designed to foster and enhance interoperability and skills among engineer units practicing counter-improvised explosive device operations using a scenario that mirrored combat in Afghanistan. (Photo by Lt. Col. Wayne Marotto)
Soldiers with the 1st platoon of U.S. Army Europe's 541st Engineer Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade, conduct a route clearance mission during exercise Interdict 2012 in Spain, Oct. 31. The exercise hosted by the Spanish engineers was designed to foster and enhance interoperability and skills among engineer units practicing counter-improvised explosive device operations using a scenario that mirrored combat in Afghanistan. (Photo by Lt. Col. Wayne Marotto)
A Spanish engineer (in tan camouflage) looks for simulated explosives with Soldiers of the 1st platoon of U.S. Army Europe's 541st Engineer Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade, during exercise Interdict 2012 in Spain, Oct. 29. The exercise hosted by the Spanish engineers was designed to foster and enhance interoperability and skills among engineer units practicing counter-improvised explosive device operations based on several IED events during a route clearance scenario. (Photo by Lt. Col. Wayne Marotto)
Sgt. Chino Thompkins (left) with the 1st platoon of U.S. Army Europe's 541st Engineer Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade, conducts a tactical foot patrol with a Spanish engineer soldier during exercise Interdict 2012 in Spain, Oct. 29. The exercise hosted by the Spanish engineers was designed to foster and enhance interoperability and skills among engineer units practicing counter-improvised explosive device operations using a scenario that mirrored combat in Afghanistan. (Photo by Lt. Col. Wayne Marotto)
Spanish troops (in tan camouflage at left) set up a security position with Soldiers of the 1st platoon of U.S. Army Europe's 541st Engineer Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade, during exercise Interdict 2012 in Spain, Oct. 29. The exercise hosted by the Spanish engineers was designed to foster and enhance interoperability and skills among engineer units practicing counter-improvised explosive device operations based on several IED events during a route clearance scenario. (Photo by Lt. Col. Wayne Marotto)
[QUOTESpc. Cody McCoy with the 1st platoon of U.S. Army Europe's 541st Engineer Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade, keeps an eye on security during a route clearance training mission with Spanish engineer soldiers during exercise Interdict 2012 in Spain, Oct. 29. The exercise hosted by the Spanish engineers was designed to foster and enhance interoperability and skills among engineer units practicing counter-improvised explosive device operations using a scenario that mirrored combat in Afghanistan. (Photo by Lt. Col. Wayne Marotto)
Pfc. Brandon Jackson with the 1st platoon of U.S. Army Europe's 541st Engineer Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade, watches for enemy troops during a route clearance mission that was part of exercise Interdict 2012 in Spain, Oct. 31. The exercise hosted by the Spanish engineers was designed to foster and enhance interoperability and skills among engineer units practicing counter-improvised explosive device operations using a scenario that mirrored combat in Afghanistan. (Photo by Lt. Col. Wayne Marotto)
Spc. Scott Hein with the 1st platoon of U.S. Army Europe's 541st Engineer Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade, watches for enemy troops during a route clearance mission that was part of exercise Interdict 2012 in Spain, Oct. 31. The exercise hosted by the Spanish engineers was designed to foster and enhance interoperability and skills among engineer units practicing counter-improvised explosive device operations using a scenario that mirrored combat in Afghanistan. (Photo by Lt. Col. Wayne Marotto)
A Spanish engineer (in tan camouflage) looks for simulated explosives with Soldiers of the 1st platoon of U.S. Army Europe's 541st Engineer Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade, during exercise Interdict 2012 in Spain, Oct. 29. The exercise hosted by the Spanish engineers was designed to foster and enhance interoperability and skills among engineer units practicing counter-improvised explosive device operations based on several IED events during a route clearance scenario. (Photo by Lt. Col. Wayne Marotto)