Spanish paratroopers participate in "Swift Response" of the North American Army in Europe

 

Coordination before the exercise (Photo:BRI VI)

Logistical Action at Swift Response (Photo:BRI VI)

Paratroopers from 6th Brigade "Almogáraves" have participated in the "Swift Response" exercise of the North American Army in Europe, from the 2nd to the 20th of October, at the base Caserna del Din, close to Vicenza (Italty), and at the instruction field of Hohensels (Germany). These manoeuvres are framed inside of the exercise "Strong Resolve", a joint-combined macro-exercise conducted in phases, mainly in territories from the Eastern European countries.

In the phase previously mentioned, the Spanish paratrooper tactical subgroup was integrated into an air-assault operation leaded by the 173rd Airborne Brigade, and formed by part of the 16th Assault Brigade of the British Army, the 2nd Regiment de Extrangeres Parachutistes from the 11eme Brigade Parachutiste of the French Army, apart from a T-10 of the Air Forces, together with other units from allied countries such as Bosnia-Herzegovina, Germany, The Netherlands, or Poland.

The tactical subgroup of the 6th Brigade was formed by a company of the Bandera "Roger de Flor" I/4, a section from the Paratroopers Military Engineers Battalion and, observation elements from the Artillery Group of the Paratrooper Field Artillery Group. Furthermore, in this exercise participated two patrols from the Advanced Reconnaissance Company of the Battalion of the Brigade's Staff, a team of jumping-chiefs of the Lauch Unit of the Logistic group, and 30 elements that were distributed through the staff, battalions' headquarters and elements of logistical support of the multinational unit organized for this occassion.

The exercise consisted on two parts. The first part was conducted, firstly, in Italy, where different joint instruction sessions were performed in order to coordinate the operation of air-assault developed later. The second phase consisted on the Projection of the Force by Launch Paratroppers over the previously mentioned German Instruction field. Later, the units carried out an exercise consisting on controlling the zones and the evacuation of civil people.