US special operations chief visits Spanish Special Operations Command

The general addresses the Spanish soldiers (Photo: Spanish SOC)

The US general signs the Visitors’ Book (Photo: Spanish SOC)

The chief of the US Special Operations Command, Army General Josep L. Votel, witnessed a hostage rescue and an exhibition of integrated capacities to learn about the training and operation of Spanish special operations soldiers.

The activities were part of the American general’s visit to the headquarters of the Spanish Special Operations Command in Rabasa (Alicante) on 24 June. They also included an exhibition of specific materiel and a tour of the “Alférez Rojas Navarrete” cantonment.

In addition, the general was updated on the deployment of the Spanish SOC in conflict zones such as Afghanistan, Lebanon, Iraq, Mali and the Central African Republic, as well as on its leadership of NATO’s Rapid Response Force – it has twice led the Special Operations Component Command. The Spanish SOC was the third to be accredited as such, after those of the US and the UK.