Last Monday, at the naval base of La Spezia, the NATO Dynamic Move 2019 exercise started, organized by the Command of the Mine Countermeasures Forces (MARICODRAG) which sees its specialists engaged on the front line in close contact with more than 60 Marine officers from around the world, including the USA, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Greece, England, Norway, Holland, Poland, Romania, Spain, Turkey and Algeria.
Dynamic Move is classified as CAX / CPX (Computer Assisted eXercise / Command Post eXercise) and represents one of the most important exercises in the field of the War of Mines in the panorama of the Atlantic Alliance; aimed at the training of Command Staff, with the help of modern software a complex environment subject to mine threat is recreated, as well as three-dimensional, with environmental, climatological, logistic and operational implications in order to make the environment virtual as much as possible possible adhering to reality.
In addition to being a fundamental training moment, it is also preparatory to the use of international staff on board the units aggregated to the NATO standing naval groups (SNMCMG1 and SNMCMG2) and their certification to be part of the NATO Response Forces (NRF). Now in its second edition in Italy, it is divided into 2 annual events, the first of which is held at the Belgian-Dutch Mine War School (EGUERMIN) in Ostend (Belgium) and the second at MARICODRAG in La Spezia.
This year the activity involves the staff of two CTFs, two CTGs and 4 CTUs, as well as the direct participation of the SNMCMG2 CTG staff. In the time window of the exercise, the Flag Ship and the NATO group minesweepers are also offered a training module both in the field of passive defense (at the fire-fighting center of MARICODRAG), and in the operational field to be carried out both in port and in sea by MARICENDRAG.
Rear Admiral Davide Berna, commander of MARICODRAG, during the inaugural speech, addressed words of thanks for the participation and encouragement to all the staff involved in the exercise. Finally, Commander Jesus Otero, representing the NATO Maritime Commander (MARCOM), in turn underlined the importance of this moment of collective growth and amalgamation among the specialized personnel of the individual NATO Marines, hoping for a growing participation and involvement of all Mediterranean countries.
