Novo Selo, Bulgaria. (February 4, 2023): In this photo by Pfc. Kyler Hembree, U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to the 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade leap from a Chinook helicopter during training with America’s ally Bulgaria.

The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army's Contingency Response Force in Europe to provide rapidly deployable forces to the United States European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility. Forward deployed across Italy and Germany, the brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build partnerships and strengthen the alliance.

The 173rd, nicknamed the “sky soldiers”, is an airborne infantry brigade combat team based in Vicenza, Italy and is responsible for conventional airborne strategic response for Europe. Activated in 1915, the unit saw service in WWII but is best known for its actions in the Vietnam War and the Battle of Dak To. The battle was one of the deadliest encounters with the North Vietnamese Army resulting in heavy casualties. Brigade members received over 7,700 decorations including more than 6,000 purple hearts.

America’s military alignment with Bulgaria dates to 1962 and has played a vital role for NATO ever since. In 2006, the U.S. and Bulgaria signed an agreement to allow a continuous rotation of up to 2500 troops to train with local and neighboring forces on tank warfare, reconnaissance, and how to defend against chemical and biological weapons.

The U.S. government has invested more than $80 million in upgrades and improvements at the Novo Selo site and, given the tensions with Moscow, plans to expand these facilities are likely to continue.