Nato

On 28 October, on the exercise TRIDENT JUNCTURE 2015, there was an interchange of military training between Canadian and Portuguese Paratroopers from the Multinational Brigade. This joint mission involved about 300 Paratroopers from the two nationalities and five aircraft: two American, two Canadian and one Dane. The military personnel began the preparation of the mission and embark on the North Hangar of the Support Unit of the Rapid Reaction Brigade Headquarters, in Tancos military area, and they were dropped in Silveira, Alter do Chão. The main propose of the exercise was to ensure the operational proficiency of the elements of the Multinational Brigade in joint training component on air operations, adopting terminology, methodology and procedures issued by NATO. Consolidating the procedures and validating the technical and tactical procedures.

On 28 October, on the exercise TRIDENT JUNCTURE 2015, there was an interchange of military training between Canadian and Portuguese Paratroopers from the Multinational Brigade. This joint mission involved about 300 Paratroopers from the two nationalities and five aircraft: two American, two Canadian and one Dane. The military personnel began the preparation of the mission and embark on the North Hangar of the Support Unit of the Rapid Reaction Brigade Headquarters, in Tancos military area, and they were dropped in Silveira, Alter do Chão. The main propose of the exercise was to ensure the operational proficiency of the elements of the Multinational Brigade in joint training component on air operations, adopting terminology, methodology and procedures issued by NATO. Consolidating the procedures and validating the technical and tactical procedures.

A Portuguese Recce member during a patrol on Operation Allied Resolve in Santa Margarida, Portugal during JOINTEX 15 as part of NATO’s Exercise Trident Juncture 15, on October 29 2015. Photo: Corporal Alex Parenteau, Canadian Forces Combat Camera 20151029_CAN_LAP_25

Portuguese paratroopers walking back to their transport after jumping from a Canadian CC-130J aircraft on a drop zone near Tancos airfield, Portugal, during JOINTEX 15 as part of NATO exercise TRIDENT JUNCTURE 15 on October 22, 2015 Photo: Master Corporal Jonathan Barrette, Canadian Forces Combat Camera 20151022_CAN_JB_11

NATO Forces ferrying equipment and personnel across the Rio Tejo, Portugal on October 25, 2015 during Trident Juncture 15. (Rui Heleno)

A M116 gunner with the Portuguese Mechanized Infantry at Tancos, Portugal on October 29, 2015 during Trident Juncture 15.

Firing Range of the Portuguese Field Artillery at Santa Margarida Military Camp on October 26, 2015 during Trident Juncture 15.

Members of the Portuguese Army build an air defence battery passage at Tancos, Portugal on October 26, 2015 during Trident Juncture 15.

On 29 October, the NATO Land Command Commander (COM LANDCOM), Lieutenant General John Nicholson Jr., visited the Mechanized Brigade and the TRIDENT JUNCTURE 2015 exercise. The delegation was received by the Land Forces Commander, Lieutenant-General António Xavier Lobato de Faria Menezes, the Commander of the Mechanized Brigade, Major General Luís Nunes da Fonseca and the Commander of the Multinational Brigade, Colonel Michel-Henri St-Louis. During his stay in Santa Margarida, the NATO Land Command had the opportunity to visit the areas and facilities of the operational training forces integrated in the Multinational Brigade, and he had also the opportunity to contact with the forces from the several countries involved in the exercise. This visit, allowed NATO Land Command, to verify that the Mechanized Brigade, located in the Military Camp of Santa Margarida, has excellent infrastructures and areas for conducting joint and combined operational training. It could also be verified that the NATO Allied Forces involved in the TRIDENT JUNCTURE 2015 exercise, show the determination, organization and interoperability of the NATO partners. It was also evident that the units are willing and able to operate without flaws in complex multinational environments, despite the distance, different methods, doctrine and training.

A Canadian paratrooper lands in a drop zone near Tancos Airfield after jumping from a German C-160 (Transall) aircraft in Tancos, Portugal during JOINTEX 15 as part of NATO’s Exercise Trident Juncture 15 on October 27, 2015. Photo: Master-Corporal Jonathan Barrette, Canadian Forces Combat Camera 20151027_CAN_JB_5

NATO Forces ferrying equipment and personnel across the Rio Tejo, Portugal on October 25, 2015 during Trident Juncture 15. (Rui Heleno)

Members of the Italian Armed Forces exit the Tejo River onboard the Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV7 Lagunari) in Tancos, Portugal during JOINTEX 15 as part of NATO’s Exercise Trident Juncture 15, on October 25 2015. Photo: Master-Corporal Jonathan Barrette, Canadian Forces Combat Camera 20151026_CAN_JB_8

A Portuguese Mechanized Infantry M116 at Tancos, Portugal on October 29, 2015 during Trident Juncture 15.