"Winter Resolve" ended yesterday, the first of the three exercise events that make up "Volpe Bianca", the system of annual exercises dedicated to "Mountain Warfare" in a winter environment, organized by the Army's Alpine troops. This first exercise phase saw a tactical group of the 2nd Alpine Regiment training in mountain combat, in a context characterized by challenging environmental and meteorological conditions, in the area of the upper Val di Susa and the upper Val Chisone, in preparation for the international exercise “Nordic Response”, which will take place in Norway, and will involve more than 20.000 soldiers from air, land and naval forces from various NATO countries.
White Fox will continue in the next few days with two other important sub-exercises: the "Ice Patrol", which will see the participation of a patrol of eight soldiers from each regiment of the Alpine troops in a reconnaissance mission along an itinerary of approximately 20 kilometers - covered in over three days and two nights – and the “Ice Challenge”, a sort of military biathlon that combines a ski mountaineering competition with a shooting competition.
The exercise, as a whole, will involve over 2 Alpine soldiers from the Alpine brigades over the course of approximately 1.000 months. Julia e Taurinense, as well as from the Alpine training center to which are added units of the Romanian and French Army and numerous observers from various Armies of NATO countries.
The key concepts that will be developed can be traced back to "verticality", i.e. the ability to dominate the altitude and operate in the mountains, to "arcticity", i.e. the ability to operate for a long time in extreme climatic conditions and to "internationality" , i.e. interoperability with allied and partner armies.
There are also several collateral events planned, including some concerts by the brass bands of the Alpine brigades Julia e Taurinense in the exercise locations. The closing ceremony is scheduled for Sunday 25 February at the Magistrato square in San Candido and will be a joint event with the closing ceremony of the "Winter Alpiniades" ofNational Alpine Association.
