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Largest-ever exercise under way in Bohemia
A NATO military head is one of a host of international guests expected to observe the largest training exercise in the history of the Czech military, currently under way in south and west Bohemia. Operation "Strong Campaigner," a 12-day training exercise involving both air and ground troops, is designed to prepare a 3,000-person 4th Brigade peacekeeping unit that would be ready for potential deployment by the end of the year, military spokesman Major Zdeněk Kroutil said.Canadian General Raymond Henault, head of NATO's Military Committee, is scheduled to evaluate the campaign, said Blanka Majkusová, a press official with the Defense Ministry. This arm of NATO is responsible for advising the organization on its defense policies and recommending any military action. Prague-based diplomats from NATO members are also expected to attend "Strong Campaigner," making for a total of about 60 observers, she said. Since Oct. 9, more than 4,300 Czech soldiers have been engaged in simulated peacekeeping initiatives in a fictional state dubbed During the two-week exercise, ground, gun, search, anti-missile and anti-mine units will patrol Orangeland, searching for weapons and insurgent groups, said Kroutil. The Czech peacekeeping unit is not yet scheduled for specific involvement in any NATO-led missions, but needs to be at the ready should the necessity arise, Kroutil said. "The Army must be able to provide for its political and military ambitions." "We want to show our guests that the 4th Brigade has fulfilled the reform of military forces," Majkusová said. Posted by: mrp 2006-10-21 |
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