SPAGT XXI

The SPAGT XXI Operative Organisation is made up of a total of 907 members.

Of these, 368 are French and 538 Spanish.

The Field Artillery Command (MACA), as the Coordination Authority and Base Unit, contributes the Force Commander and a total of 245 members (78 Commanders and 164 Enlisted),distributed among the National Support Structure to the Force (National Chain), the Hispano-French Battle Group SPFR-BG (the bulk of a Company Group and the Spanish STAFF), and a support Command to the Brigade MNHQ-SU (Multinational Chain), in this case Spanish.

This is the first time that Field Artillery makes up the bulk of an Operative Organisation.

Other artillerymen making up this Force come from the RAAA 81, who contribute a Light Infantry Platoon to the Field Artillery Company Group and various members of Battle Group STAFF.

Furthermore, members have been drawn from the NBC Battalion (2), Signals Brigade and Command (40), Area Defence Forces (27 Sappers), Army Helicopter Units (SPAHEL 19), Civil Guard (15) and Marines (120), the latter contributing the other Company Group which, together with the Field Artillery Command make up the Spanish contribution to the Battle Group.

SPAGT XXI began its Organisation Phase on its own Quarterings and Bases on 22nd September 2003,and following an Artillery Company-level Training Phase in which the aforementioned Platoon from the RAAA 81 was integrated into the Field Artillery Command Company Group, it finished its training with a Concentration Phase in which the whole Operative Task Force was united on Base "Conde Gazola".

The farewell Ceremony for SPAGT XXI took place on 13th November 2003 at the historic site of "Hostal de San Marcos", where the Mayor of León, after delivering the Task Force Colour to the Colonel Force Commander, gave an address.

The Relief Phase began on 17th November, and after four waves will finish on the 26th of the same month, the transfer of authority (TOA) with SPAGT XX having taken place on 20th November 2003.