FOLLOWING "OPERATION BIG LIFT" COMES "EXERCISE BIG LIFT" -- THE MASSIVE NATO TRAINING FIELD EXERCISE FOR T HE 15,000 MEN OF THE 2ND U.S. ARMOURED DIVISION WHO LAST WEEK WERE FLOWN FROM TEXAS IN THE WORLD'S BIGGEST AIRLIFT.

DURING THE SEVEN-DAY EXERCISE SOME 40,000 WILL PARTICIPATE IN A MOOK BATTLE TESTING THE ABILITY OF THE U.S. BASED STRATEGIC RESERVISTS TO SWING INTO ACTION WITHIN A WEEK OF A TRANSATLANTIC AIRLIFT.

THE "HELL ON WHEELS" DIVISION IS USING EQUIPMENT STOCKPILED IS WEST GERMANY. THEY HAVE NEARLY 7,000 VEHICLES AT THEIR DISPOSAL AND MOST OF THESE ARE NOW IN ACTION, RUMBLING THROUGH THE COBBLED STREETS OF RURAL GERMANY NORTH OF FRANKFURT.

THE EXERCISE IS IN THE FORM OF A COUNTER ATTACK, SIMULATED TO RECOVER TERRITORY LOST DURING A SUDDEN ATTACK ON EUROPE.

WHEN THE SECOND PHASE OF "BIG LIFT" IS OVER THE 2ND U.S. ARMOURED DIVISION WILL RETURN HOME TO THE UNITED STATES. THEY ARE EXPECTED TO LEAVE IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS.