In the municipality of Dragaš / Dragash, a territory located in the extremely southern part of Kosovo, the Italian soldiers of the Multinational Battle Group - West (MNBG-W) conducted a rapid deployment exercise using helicopters called Southern Dragon.
The purpose of the activity was to increase the level of training and interoperability between the military units of the various nations participating in the mission in Kosovo, to consolidate the ability to operate in wooded areas and at night.
The exercise involved the Italian maneuvering company, enucleated by the 8th Pasubio land artillery regiment, with the support of two Mi-8 helicopters of the Croatian contingent, of a team for the removal of explosive devices (Explosive Ordnance Disposal - EOD ) of the Moldovan contingent, of a Slovenian health team and two units of Military Police of the Carabinieri. The coordination of the units employed and the management of the operations were guaranteed by the Tactical Operations Center (TOC) at the Camp Villaggio Italia base in Peč / Pejë.
In the context of the exercise it was assumed a rapid intervention to be carried out following the reporting of the presence of probable hostile elements in a tenement located in a wooded area.
The company was activated and infiltrated in a short time, in the identified place, by using helicopters.
The rapid planning of the action took place on the spot with the technique of Rehearsal of Concept (ROC) Drill. With the ROC Drill the commander of the unit exposes to his subordinates the phases of the execution of the plan to synchronize the times and the modalities of the action. To this end, the area involved in the operation is reproduced with circumstantial means, highlighting the characteristic elements of the terrain and the obstacles.
The intervention took place during the night to enhance the capacity for action through the use of light intensification systems for night vision.
The exercise Southern Dragon is part of the joint training activities, aimed at strengthening the amalgamation and allowing interoperability between the military components of the different nations contributing to the Operation, in order to guarantee a prompt and effective response in case of need.
