Jackal Stone 2012 media opportunity day
“This exercise is an example of how multinational forces may very well work in a very delicate situations, because we are talking about elite troops. I think we can all be very happy.
Our partners are satisfied and all praised the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces for the organization of this great exercise”, President and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Ivo Josipović said today, 17 September 2012 in Udbina where the Jackal Stone 2012 exercise, the largest this year’s international special forces exercise in Europe has been held. The exercise media opportunity day was also attended by the Minister of Defence Ante Kotromanović, Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Drago Lovrić, Exercise Commander Major Geneneral Michael Repass, representatives of the participating countries as well as other military and civilian officials.
The exercise has shown only a small part of the skills and capabilities that posses highly trained members of the special forces such as the lowering from helicopter using the “fast rope” technique, actions of the team for the rapid neutralization of attacks, securing the area for paratroopers.
Minister Kotromanović pointed out that this was a great exercise in which 11 countries train togehter, and noted that he expected even more such exercises in Croatia. “We will use this area for training up to its maximum”, Minister Kotromanović said.
“We all learn from each other and all the troops that have been in the exercise are extremely professional, of high quality and trained to perform special tasks”, General Lovrić said.
Exercise Commander U.S. Major General Michael Repass thanked Croatia for hosting this exercise that was in preparation and planning for almost a year. He commended the Croatian efforts in contributing to international missions and operations, especially in Afghanistan.
Josipovic and his colleagues visited the weapons display where participating countries have presented equipment and weapons used by their special forces.
One of the important dimensions of Jackal Stone exercise is the civil-military cooperation under which the water pipelines have been completed, Command Building in Josip Jović Barracks built and kindergarten in Udbina renovated and expanded. All three investments are worth about 700 thousand U.S. dollars.
During a tour of the kindergarten, President Josipović said that this was an excellent example of the interaction between military and civilian structures and how such collaboration raised the standard of living of local community. Exercises Commander General Repass said this was a humble way to thank Croatia for hosting the exercise.
Jackal Stone exercise, whose organizer was SOCEUR (U.S. Special Forces Command Europe), has been held at several locations in Croatia till 26 September. Along with Croatia and the United States, special forces from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania and Slovakia actively participate in the exercise. Croatia as the host country, besides its special forces, have members of all services of the Armed Forces included in the exercise. The goal of the exercise is to increase cooperation and interoperability between the armed forces of participating countries, with the aim of strengthening regional security and stability and training procedures and raising capacity for planning and implementation of activities under the jurisdiction of the Special Operations forces. The Republic of Croatia is hosting Jackal Stone exercise for the second time.
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