The Joint Special Operations Command coordinates Spain’s participation in ‘Flintlock 26’

•  Spanish special operations units train alongside units from partner and allied nations in ship boarding and search operations, medical support, sniper training, and urban combat

Members of the Joint Special Operations Command (MCOE) are integrated into the command post of the ‘Flintlock 26’ exercise, from where they coordinate the activities of the Spanish special operations units participating in the exercise led by the U.S. Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAF).

In the field of education and training, the MCOE serves as the national coordinator for the participation of these units in various multinational exercises such as ‘Flintlock’. Specifically, for the 2026 edition, the MCOE coordinates special operations units from the Army and Navy—the Naval Special Warfare Force (FGNE), the Special Operations Command (MOE), and the Parachute Engineer Squadron (EZAPAC)—which reflect Spain’s comprehensive contribution to ‘Flintlock 26’ and underscore the Armed Forces’ commitment to joint and combined training, interoperability, and cooperation with allied nations and African partners.

Spanish and Portuguese military personnel have worked together to mentor their Mauritanian and Cape Verdean counterparts in Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) procedures, focused on boarding suspicious vessels.

In addition, members of the MOE have conducted sniper training exercises aimed at improving observation, identification, and target acquisition skills. Meanwhile, personnel from the FGNE and EZAPAC have carried out joint close-quarters combat (CQB) drills, focusing on entry procedures, movement, clearing rooms, and coordination between pairs and teams.

These activities reinforce integration among Spanish special operations units from different fields and improve their ability to act jointly in complex scenarios alongside partners and allies.

Likewise, the MOE has provided operational medical support during training activities through a medical team (Stabilization Cell) that has been integrated into the exercise’s ROLE 2. This participation helps to maintain medical coverage, reinforce support and stabilization procedures, and facilitate the evacuation of personnel in a tactical environment.

Spain in the ‘Flintlock 2026’ Exercise

‘Flintlock,’ organized by the U.S. Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAF), is the main annual special operations training exercise on the African continent and brings together units from Europe, Africa, and North America.

In this multinational exercise, special operations forces from several countries strengthen their interoperability and cooperation in a demanding combined environment. Spain’s participation integrates special operations capabilities from the Army, Navy, and Guardia Civil.