The 11th ‘Extremadura’ Brigade takes command of the European Union Military Assistance Mission to Ukraine

The handover ceremony took place at the Diego Porcelos barracks, where the 1st ‘Aragón’ Brigade handed over the baton after completing its mission

The 11th ‘Extremadura’ Brigade takes command of the European Union Military Assistance Mission to Ukraine (EUMAM UA) for the next six months. The ‘Diego Porcelos’ barracks in Burgos — headquarters of the Toledo Training Coordination Centre (TTCC) — hosted the ceremony in which the ‘Aragón’ I Brigade handed over to the new contingent after completing its mission.

The handover between contingents VII and VIII was presided over by the Deputy Chief of Operations, Brigadier General Javier Betolaza Méndez.

During the ceremony, Brigadier General Francisco Javier Calero Perea, head of the outgoing contingent, handed over the mission brief to the head of the incoming contingent, Brigadier General Álvaro Díaz Fernández, thereby symbolically marking the handover of command after six months of intense work.

After expressing his gratitude, General Díaz Fernández noted that, due to his previous post as Colonel and Director of the Infantry Academy — where the basic combat module was delivered until May of this year — he had been able to closely follow the progress of this mission, highlighting the flexibility, adaptability and high level of commitment it requires.

To conclude his address, the general conveyed the commitment of the entire contingent: “Our mission reaffirms Spain’s role as a loyal and steadfast ally. We will continue to offer all necessary support to Ukraine,” he concluded.

Over the last six months, the TTCC headquarters of the EUMAM VII contingent, provided by the ‘Aragón’ I Brigade, has contributed to the mission by training some 600 Ukrainian military personnel out of the more than 9,000 trained since the mission began. To this end, some 30 training modules covering various specialities have been delivered. In addition, during this rotation, modules on small arms maintenance, military police and advanced military surveying were delivered for the first time.

Now, the TTCC headquarters of the eighth contingent will undertake a similar task, repeating some of the training modules already delivered by previous rotations and coordinating others that provide new capabilities in line with the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

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 Ukrainian Armed Forces’ capacity 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 territory. To date, 24 EU Member States — notably including Spain — have provided training modules and personnel to the Ukrainian military

In Spain, training activities are led 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 Álvaro Díaz Fernández, commander of the 11th ‘Extremadura’ Brigade—to which the Combat Training Unit (UFC) in Girona (a permanent unit that provides both basic training and various specific courses) and the Training Modules (TM) report; the latter are activated to provide instruction in the specialisms requested. These courses are held at facilities maintained by the Ministry of Defence, the Army, the Navy and the Guardia Civil in various locations throughout Spain.

The Spanish Armed Forces have extensive experience in training missions. To date, within the framework of this EUMAM UA mission, Spain has trained more than 9,000 Ukrainian military personnel, and work is underway to continue doing so in the future.