Latvia: Urban Reaper exercise completed

(To Greater Defense)
30/10/19

The Italian contingent deployed as part of the mission in Latvia ended the exercise in Estonia Urban Reaper consisting of combat training in an urbanized environment in collaboration with theenhanced Forward PresenceeFP Estonia in order to train the unit by improving its operational and cooperation capacities with other countries of the Atlantic Alliance. 

The deployment of the heavy infantry company took place on 18 last October at the training area of ​​Nursipalu in the municipality of Somerpalu (Estonia) at about 230 km north-east of Ādaži (Latvia).

An intense activity with high training realism was conducted in the area for a period of five days, exploiting both the simulation systems and the opportunities offered by the exercise area that replicates a small urban complex. The activity developed by carrying out the encircling of the town, the entry and neutralization of hostile elements present, the reclamation, fortification and defense of the building.

The exercise was conducted in cooperation with Canadian and Spanish peer units through the use of individual weapons using "Simunition" type ammunition.

In this context, the company trained in the identification of any explosive traps and EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), which was followed by the request for intervention to the Spanish SAPPER units that carried out the removal of the obstacles (breaching).

The activity made it possible to train and amalgamate the personnel, perfecting the technical-tactical procedures for using the equipment supplied, to implement the command and control capacity of the unit, raising the level of integration and interoperability with the units of equal level.

The Italian contingent deployed in Latvia as part of the operation Baltic Guardian, identified by the bersaglieri brigade Garibaldi, is constituted on a basis of the 1st Bersaglieri regiment stationed in Cosenza integrated by a platoon level operational unit and staff of the 4th tank regiment stationed in Persano and by other Army units.

The eFP is a defensive measure, fully in line with NATO's international commitment. In this sense, it represents a concrete effort to preserve peace, since it constitutes a strengthening of the Alliance's principle of deterrence.