Draper — More than 200 soldiers and airmen came together in Utah for Exercise Hydra, an annual, large-scale joint training exercise designed to prepare military units and people for real and evolving threats in a dynamic and ever-changing combat environment.
Public Affairs Officer Chris H. Kroeber said service members from the Utah Air and Army National Guard joined with Active and Reserve Air Force units from several locations across the country to participate in the innovative and engaging exercise combining and challenging the capabilities of both Army and Air Force units. The exercise took place primarily on the Utah Test and Training Range and Dugway Proving Grounds among several other smaller locations throughout the state, and focused on developing innovative processes and procedures and building cohesive teams.
The name of the exercise refers to the mythical multi-headed serpent the Greek Hero Hercules defeated. In his initial encounters with the beast as soon as he cut off one head two grew back in its place.
Kroeber said, today’s military enterprise faces a fast-moving and complex set of threats coming from multiple directions across all battlespaces. Like the Hydra of myth, challenges in the defense community continue to evolve. Overcoming evolving threats demands smart thinking, adaptability, and the determination to stay ahead of competitors.