A hundred Spanish parachuters trained at the 'Orión' exercise in Portugal

Parachute jump at the "Orión 17" exercise (Photo:BRI VI)

Formation during the Portugese exercise (Photo:BRI VI)

A hundred Spanish paratroopers participated in the 'Orión' exercise in Portugal, from 7 to 17 June, together with Portuguese and American parachute units.

Spanish troops, coming mostly from the 8ª Paratroopers Company, travelled to the “Sao Jacinto” base (Portugal) to form part of the  2nd Portuguese Paratroopers Battalion for the exercise. The first phase of this consisted of a cross training with the 23ª Portuguese Paratroopers Brigade. They also completed training and an exchange of techniques, tactics and combat procedures in urban areas, physical-military training, parachute training at the Parachute School in Tancos and, finally, launch training with parachute personnel from the Portuguese Paratroopers Forces (RS2000) in the Arripiado jump zone (Tancos).

Following this, a high level launch was carried out on 12 June, which included a patrol from the Advanced Force to check the Apariça launch zone, close to the town of Beja. Likewise, on 14 June a “Rovuma” Operation began, made up of the concentration of two Portuguese paratroopers Battalions: one, with an additional Company from the 173ª US Army Brigade, and the other from the aforementioned 2nd Battalion, together with the Spanish Battle Group.

On the next day, a mass launch took place from the Assault Force of the Apariça area. Once the Battalion regrouped and established the safety of the meeting zone, contact was made between the Advanced Scale elements who had previously looked at the objectives. At daybreak the following day, the complete Battalion attacked two objectives to later consolidate and control the area.