Saber Guardian 25': opportunity to train NATO capabilities, under US leadership, to ensure protection of the eastern flank of allied territory

•  The units of the Legion Brigade ‘Rey Alfonso XIII’ II of the Legion, Cavalry Regiment 11 ‘España’ and Transmissions Regiment 1 have participated in this international training activity, which is part of the exercise “Defender Europe 25”

As part of the “Saber Guardian 25” exercise, more than 450 military personnel and 130 vehicles - from the units of the Legion's Brigade ‘Rey Alfonso XIII’ II of the Legion (Ronda and Viator), as well as units of the Cavalry Regiment 11 ‘España’ (Zaragoza) and Transmissions Regiment 1 (Valencia) - are training at the Camp Croft facility in Veszprém (Hungary), along with other units from Hungary and the USA.

After the projection from the port of Malaga and Valencia to the port of Zadar (Croatia), the Spanish units began their deployment and preparation for this international exercise, led by the US, which is now developing its central part: the tactical exercise. Saber Guardian 25' has been divided into several phases, adapted to the different areas of instruction and training. Phase I, known as STX (Standing Trainign Exercise), the unification and integration of all participating units to share and standardise Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTP) prior to the conduct of dual-action exercises, both in urban environments and in conventional terrain were carried out.

This phase ended with a Distinguished Visitors Day (DVD), attended by Hungarian civilian and military authorities, led by Minister of Defence Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky and his Chief of Staff, General Gábor Böröndi, as well as US military authorities, including Lieutenant General Charles David Costanza, head of V Corps, and General Andrew Stone, head of the National Guard in Ohio. After a welcoming ceremony, a LIVEX-type exercise took place, where air capabilities of both aircraft and attack helicopters, armoured and light protected ground vehicles, and Hungarian, American and Spanish fire support units participated. Finally, there was a static display of vehicles, weapons and equipment for all visitors. In addition, seventeen accredited civilian media were present along with the military communications departments of the different participating countries to witness the exercise.

In the second phase, the units conducted a series of unit cohesion and training exercises at Battalion and Group level, with the aim of taking advantage of the capabilities offered by the different Camp Croft scenarios, both for conventional combat and in urban areas, as well as for large deployments with heavy and light vehicles.

Finally, the third phase, scheduled to begin on 20 June, will begin with the critical trial, as a preliminary step to the withdrawal of all the material and personnel to national territory, which will be carried out from Hungary to southern Croatia, where the material will be shipped back to Spain, while the participating military personnel will return in different waves of flights.

Exercise “Saber Guardian 25”: Spain's participation

The “Saber Guardian” exercise is part of the triad -together with “Swift Response” and “Immediate Response”- that make up this year's “Defender Europe 25” exercise, organised by the United States European Command (USEUCOM). In this context, “Saber Guardian” is a training activity that consists of carrying out different exercises with US units deployed in Europe, in a multinational and cooperative environment.

The participating Spanish units, which are part of the 1st Hungarian Infantry Division under the command of General Szloszjár Balázs, have formed different tactical groups, both at the tactical command post level and tactical groups, made up of the ‘Rey Alfonso XIII’ II Brigade of the Legion, as well as the Tactical Group with squadrons from the ‘España’ 11 Cavalry Regiment and the 1st Transmissions Regiment. All in all, this exercise was a unique opportunity to combine and train the different capabilities of the participating NATO countries, under US leadership, to guarantee the protection of the eastern flank of allied territory.