U.S. Marine Maj. Luke Pernotto, operations officer for Black Sea Rotational Force, explains the Marines’ role during the field exercise portion of Exercise Summer Shield, March 29, 2015. The Marines were tasked to provide defense, mass fires and conduct a counter-attack alongside Latvian soldiers in the three-day field exercise. The brigade order was followed by battalion-level orders given by the participating forces. Exercise Summer Shield is a multi-lateral, joint command and control live-fire and maneuver event designed to maintain enduring partnerships and improve our collective defense.