Reforger ’85: Cold War Tensions and Military Exercises

United States Army, Active Duty 1984–1986. My time in the Army, and REFORGER ’85, remains one of the defining chapters in how I remember service, responsibility, and the pace of Cold War field duty.

REFORGER ’85 and Operation Central Guardian

Exercise Campaign Reforger (“REturn of FORces to GERmany”) was an annual military exercise conducted by NATO during the Cold War. The purpose was to ensure that NATO could quickly deploy forces to West Germany in the event of a conflict with the Warsaw Pact.

Blue Team Germany-based units included USAREUR units such as the 8th Infantry Division, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, and 3rd Armored Division. Orange Team U.S.-based units included the 4th Infantry Division (Mech), 5th Infantry Division (Mech), and 197th Infantry Brigade.

The Diary of a Soldier — January 15, 1985

January and February 1985 were tense Cold War days

U.S.–Soviet relations were frozen from 1979, when the Russians invaded Afghanistan, until March 1985, when Mikhail Gorbachev took power. This period is sometimes referred to as the “Second Cold War,” after the thaw in the 1970s.

In just 28 short months, from November 1982 to March 1985, the Soviets went through four leaders: Brezhnev, Andropov, Chernenko, and finally Gorbachev. During that same period, the United States was led by President Ronald Reagan.

I’m the gunner and my friend David is my chauffeur.

During the last two weeks of January and the first week of February, things were moving at such a fast pace that I really had no time for my notebook.

Thursday, February 7

The last group of 4/61 ADA left for the Netherlands and their return trip home. Only two of us from 4/61 remained: SFC Sawyers and myself. Four other soldiers from Carson remained with us, for a total of six security escorts with our equipment.

I had a hot shower, only my third since January 9. Reading that entry from my notebook brings back memories.

About Greg Cook

Greg Cook served in the United States Army from February 28, 1984, through February 28, 1986. His MOS was 76Y, Unit Armorer, and this REFORGER series records memories from that period of service.