Immediate Response 25’ exercise concludes: MAM and Guadarrama XII Brigade units demonstrate effective integration and cooperation in multinational structures

• This exercise, held in Greece, is the second of the ‘Defender Europe 25’ exercises and has contributed to international training, led by the United States, to increase protection of NATO's eastern flank

Units of the Manoeuvre Support Command (MAM) and the ‘Guadarrama’ Brigade XII - deployed to Greece - have completed the ‘Immediate Response 25’ (IR25) training activity, the second phase of Exercise Defender Europe 25 (DE25), which is designed to test the speed and effectiveness of the deployment of US troops, together with NATO allies and partners, on the Eastern flank.

Following the completion of the personnel and materiel projection - known as RSOM - on 27 May, Exercise IR25 progressed towards the progressive implementation of the planned tactical themes. During this phase, participating units were effectively integrated into their international top structures, demonstrating a high degree of operability and coordination in various operational activities.

The Mechanised Tactical Subgroup, belonging to the ‘Guadarrama’ XII Brigade, carried out tactical themes in the vicinity of the Petrochori manoeuvre field, such as the crossing of a water course in the Nestos River or the live fire exhibition, which was part of the exercise's Distinguished Visitors Day (DVD). For Captain Carlos Herrero Gaya, head of this infantry unit, participating - for the first time - in this type of international exercise ‘has been a major challenge, but we have demonstrated our capacity to deploy to support the allied forces in any situation and wherever we are required

For its part, the EOD Section, which belongs to MAM, conducted its tactical themes in two scenarios: on the Petrochori and Alexandropolis manoeuvre fields. In the latter, it participated in joint exercises with special operations and NBC teams, where they integrated new materials for experimentation in different operational activities. Ignacio de las Heras Gonzalez points, ‘Without a doubt, it has been a great opportunity to work with an army like the United States, to be able to compare capabilities and acquire lessons identified for future similar deployments’.

 The NBC Section, which belongs to the MAM, also carried out specific tactical themes where it was able to make the most of the possibilities of the manoeuvre field to improve its training. ‘On this occasion, we were able to share our resources and work methodology, which increases our experience in international exercises,’ said Brigadier Óscar José Dasi Molero, assigned to the MAM's NBC Defence Regiment No. 1 “Valencia”.

In terms of maintenance, this ‘Immediate Response 25’ exercise has improved the logistical support capabilities of the MAM Logistics Brigade's Transport Grouping No. 1 (AGTP 1), including embarkation and disembarkation operations, road support and international escorts. ‘It has also allowed professional development for the unit's military personnel who are less frequently deployed in exercises of these characteristics, which increases their experience in a different environment to the one they are used to working in,’ said Sergeant Jonathan Pazmiño, of the AGTP 1.

And as an element of command and control, the MAM Headquarters team (CGMAM) has been responsible for coordinating the participation of the Spanish units taking part in the exercise, as well as guaranteeing logistical, operational and functional support to all of them: ‘Our mission,’ says Commander Manuel Tomás López, in command of this team, ‘has been to attend to the daily needs of the units on the ground, manage the withdrawal to national territory and coordinate with Greek civilian and military personnel on all the details of the exercise, among other activities. All in all, the exercise has ended with a high level of performance and we have achieved our main objectives, thus consolidating the joint operational capability of the participating forces.

Spanish military units participating in exercise IR 25

More than 12,000 military personnel from 19 allied and partner countries participated in Exercise Inmediate Response 25. On the Spanish side, 240 military personnel and 55 vehicles from the following units were deployed in Greece:

-      A Mechanised Tactical Subgroup of the XII ‘Guadarrama’ Brigade, attached to a Greek Brigade.

-       A MAM Logistics Brigade Logistics Unit (BRILOG), integrated with the US XVI Logistics Brigade. 

-       An EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) Section of MAM's Engineer Command (MING), which has worked with the 184th EOD Battalion of the US Army.

-      A Nuclear Biological and Chemical Nuclear Reconnaissance Team (NBC) from the NBC Defence Regiment ‘Valencia’ No. 1 of the MAM, which has been integrated into the French NBC Battalion (‘Dragons’).