The Marine Corps conducts high-altitude training exercises in the Carpathian Mountains.

•  Marines deployed in Romania test their readiness and operational capabilities in two multinational exercises conducted in forested areas and high-altitude terrain.

The Spanish Marine Corps detachment, part of NATO's Multinational Battlegroup in Romania (MN BG ROU), has participated in two multinational manoeuvres in a high mountain environment to test the force's combat readiness and operational capability in wooded areas and high altitude terrain.

The first of these exercises, called FTx Scorpion, took place in the town of Ranca, north of Novaci. This town is located in the heart of the Southern Carpathians, a mountain range that is home to some of the most imposing peaks in Eastern Europe. There, on the slopes of Papusa Peak, a Spanish section reinforced with a reconnaissance platoon and an unmanned aerial systems team trained alongside a Portuguese reconnaissance section from the Multinational Brigade South-East (MNB-SE), a Belgian section from the Forward Land Forces Battle Group and a reconnaissance section from the Romanian 283rd Mountain Battalion.

During three days of multinational training, infiltration and exfiltration exercises were carried out in high mountain observatories, patrols and a final joint assault on a target in the vicinity of Papusa. In this context, interoperability was key to the success of the manoeuvre.

For the Spanish military, this exercise was an excellent opportunity to reinforce operational effectiveness, as First Corporal Naranjo points out: “The possibility of sharing procedures and training with other units in an area like this is essential for the fulfilment of our mission here.”

The second manoeuvre, called Eagle Eye, took place in Soveja, a town located in the Vrancea Mountains, on the eastern slope of the Carpathians, near the border with Moldova. Spanish, Belgian, Portuguese and Romanian sections participated, on this occasion from the 282nd Mountain Battalion.

During the first three days, a static display of each contingent's equipment was held, and cross-training sessions were conducted, which allowed participants to learn and compare their procedures for movement, ambushes and occupation of observation posts.

The training activity culminated with a 48-hour Force on Force tactical exercise, in which Spanish and Portuguese units faced off against Belgian and Romanian units in a simulated scenario. Ambushes, assaults, and various tactical actions were carried out to increase multinational cohesion and the units' ability to react in a complex environment.

At the end of the exercise, Lieutenant Munilla, head of the Spanish section in “Eagle Eye”, emphasised that “the flat terrain surrounding the Bay of Cadiz, our home base in Spain, does not allow to exercise our unit in high mountain combat techniques. In spite of this limitation, we have adapted very well to the Carpathians”.

Deployment of Land Forces on the Eastern Flank—Romania

The Multinational Battlegroup in Romania is one of eight counterparts deployed along the eastern flank of the Atlantic Alliance to contribute to the deterrence and defence of this area. The conducted activities are similar to those already being performed by the Spanish Armed Forces deployed in Latvia and Slovakia. These include training exercises, integrated into the multinational battlegroup led by France, as well as those carried out in cooperation with the Romanian Armed Forces.

Until September 2024, Spain's contribution of forces to these multinational units will take the form of the MN BG Latvia and the MN BDE TF Slovakia, the latter led by Spain. From then on, Spain's effort will be complemented by the contribution of a Marine Corps Tactical Subgroup —now in its second rotation— to the MN BG Romania.