The ‘General Albacete y Fuster’ Marine Corps School is delivering the 14th Tactical Planning Module for Land Operations to members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces

• To date, more than 400 Ukrainian military personnel have been trained at this school as part of Operation EUMAM UA

The 14^th Module on Tactical Operations Planning (MDMP) for officers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has concluded, as part of the European Union Military Assistance Mission to Ukraine (EUMAM UA).

Over a three-week period, the training took place at the ‘General Albacete y Fuster’ Marine Corps School (EIMGAF) and aimed to deepen understanding of the method of planning operations at the tactical level, integrate the various combat functions into planning, and improve the ability to form operational planning groups.

The module drew on the expertise and experience of the EIMGAF’s Amphibious Warfare Department and was organised on the basis of part of the Amphibious Tactics Course for Marine Corps Officers, with a particular focus on the specific subject of the ‘Operational Process and Planning Method’.

The course was delivered in two parts: a theoretical section, designed to equip officers with the necessary knowledge of the planning method; and a second, practical part, the aim of which was to apply the concepts learnt through the conduct of various offensive and defensive exercises at Tactical Group/Battalion level to facilitate the acquisition of skills related to the planning and conduct of operations, as well as the provision of advice to Command.

EUMAM UA, support for Ukraine

The EU Military Assistance Mission in Support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) was approved by a Council Decision on 17 October 2022. Its aim is to strengthen the capacity of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to defend Ukraine’s territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and to 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.

Furthermore, EUMAM is open to the participation of third states. All mission activities take place on EU soil. To date, 24 EU Member States — notably including Spain — have provided training modules and personnel to the Ukrainian military

In Spain, training activities are managed by the Toledo Training Coordination Centre (TTCC)—under the direction of the Operations Command, to which it reports—and coordinates its activities with various international structures, not only within the European Union but also under the framework of multinational agreements.

Since the start of this European mission, Spain has expanded the range of courses, which are now delivered across various units of the Spanish Armed Forces.

The TTCC comprises a Headquarters in Burgos — headed by Brigadier General Francisco Javier Calero Perea, commander of the ‘Aragón’ Brigade I — which oversees the Combat Training Unit (UFC) in Toledo (a permanent unit that provides both basic training and various specific courses) and the Training Modules (TM), which are activated to deliver instruction in the specialisms requested. These courses are held at the facilities that the Ministry of Defence, the Army, the Navy and the Guardia Civil maintain in various locations throughout Spain.

The Spanish Armed Forces have extensive experience in training missions for personnel from the armed forces and security forces of other countries, such as Iraq, Mali and Somalia, amongst others. To date, within the framework of this EUMAM UA mission, Spain has trained more than 9,000 Ukrainian military personnel, of whom more than 400 have been trained at the EIMGAF.