The Marine Corps Brigade wraps up a Field Training exercise in Viator (Almería)

Between November 22nd and December 4th the ‘Tercio de Armada’ Marine Corps Brigade, has carried out the exercise ‘Field Training’ (FTX ARD-20) in the ‘Álvarez de Sotomayor’ firing range of Viator (Almería – SE Spain).

In the exercise the following elements have participated: a reinforced Landing Battalion (based on the First Landing Battalion), an Artillery Group, a Logistic Support Unit, the Reconnaissance Company, the Experimental Company (based on the 7th Company of the Second Battalion) and a Logistic Support Unit engendered by the Combat Services Support Group (CSSG).

The overall Force, around nine hundred Marines and one hundred and twenty vehicles, reached the level of a reinforced Landing Group, on this occasion under command of Colonel Ignacio Del Cuvillo Rivero, Assistant Commandant of the ‘Tercio de Armada’.

During two weeks, several tactical exercises were carried out, ranging from platoon level drills to a reinforced landing battalion operation. Likewise, fire and movement exercises, individual and collective weapons shooting, firing of ‘Spike’ anti-tank missiles, 60 and 81 mm mortar fire, handling of explosives and demolitions were also conducted. For its part, the Landing Artillery Group carried out firing exercises with its 105 and 155 mm howitzers.

This exercise has been a logistic challenge for the ‘Tercio de Armada’, since it involved projecting as far as Viator, located more than four hundred kilometers from the San Carlos Barracks-Marine Corps Battalion, nearly nine hundred Marines and one hundred and twenty vehicles of different types, all without relevant incidents, thanks to the application of strict health and logistic control measures derived from the anti-COVID measures. The capabilities of the ‘Alvarez de Sotomayor’ facilities, pioneers among the ranges of the different National Training Centers, and Firing and Maneuvers ranges of the Armed Forces, have permitted to achieve the training objectives set for the exercise.