Spanish military personnel train Ukrainian personnel in tactical combat medicine

•  This medical course, which includes first aid for injuries, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, monitoring, and treatment techniques

Military instructors from Health Group No. 1 have trained Ukrainian personnel in the 16th Combat Medic Course (Tactical Combat Medicine), which was held at the Toledo Infantry Academy as part of the European Union Military Assistance Mission in Support of Ukraine (EUMAM UA).

The six weeks of training included instruction on Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC), additional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) practice, and monitoring and treatment techniques in a degraded NBC environment, among others. These skills were applied in exercises that simulated a large number of casualties in both daytime and night-time scenarios.

All activities in this medical module have a significant impact on the training of Ukrainian military personnel and are also beneficial to the Spanish contingent. In fact, the exchange of experiences allows Spanish troops to enrich their knowledge in this area, which improves the planning and design of courses based on actual combat needs.

The Health Group No. 1 responsible for this training is part of the Combat Training Unit (UFC) of EUMAM UA VI, which is based on the ‘Reyes Católicos’ II Cavalry Group of the Ronda Legion.

EUMAM UA, support for Ukraine

The EU Military Assistance Mission in Support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) was approved by Council Decision on 17 October 2022. Its objective is to strengthen the capacity of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to defend Ukraine's territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, deter and respond to possible future military offensives by Russia and other potential aggressors. EUMAM works closely with all other like-minded international partners to provide training support to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

EUMAM is also open to participation by third countries. All mission activities are carried out on EU soil. To date, 24 EU Member States, including Spain, have offered training modules and personnel to Ukrainian military personnel.

In Spain, training activities are led by the Toledo Training Coordination Centre (TTCC), under the direction of the Operations Command, who depends on, and coordinates its activities with different international structures, not only within the European Union, but also within the framework of multinational agreements. Since the beginning of this European mission, Spain has expanded the range of courses, which are now taught in different units of the Spanish Armed Forces.

The TTCC consists of a headquarters in Burgos, headed by Brigadier General José Agustín Carreras Postigo, commander of the Legion's “Rey Alfonso XII” II Brigade, which oversees the Combat Training Unit (UFC) in Toledo and the Training Modules (TM), which are activated to provide training in the specialities requested. These courses are held at Army and Navy facilities in various locations throughout Spain.

The Spanish Armed Forces have extensive experience in training missions personnel from the armed forces and security forces of other countries, such as Iraq, Mali and Somalia, among others. To date, Spain has trained more than 8,000 Ukrainian military personnel as part of this EUMAM AU mission.