Formal opening of the exercise was held today (16.10. 2011) at the Training centre (TC) “Pepelishte”, where the Director of the exercise, Colonel Mitre Stojanov gave speech. He stated that the exercise “Macedonian Flash-08” represents a continuation of the previous successfully carried out exercises for self-evaluation and NATO evaluation of the declared units of the ARM, in accordance with the Concept for operative capability which is applied in the Alliance.
The exercise was preceded by a few-month individual and joint preparations, in order to carry out the training and drill of various scenarios, envisaged with the NATO Task List (NTL 3.0) – defined during the carrying out of the Peace support operations (PSO).
Over 550 members of the Macedonian Army will participate in “Macedonian Flash-08” and 36 members of the Armed Forces (AF) of Republic of Serbia. In the commanding structure of the exercise, from the ARM, are included the Joint Operational Command (JOC), Command for Logistic Support, 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade and the Signals Battalion, which are expected, through application of the experiences and lessons learned in the previous exercises and participation in missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, to successfully fulfill the tasks set in the exercise.
The exercise “Macedonian Flash-08” is carried out as live exercise in the field, (FTX/ LIVEX) based on a scenario for PSO, led by NATO and EU, and under the mandate of the UN, which should display the readiness and full interoperability of the declared units of the ARM with the armies of NATO member states.
During “Macedonian Flash-08” will be executed – Level 2 Evaluation – CREVAL (Combat readiness evaluation) of the declared Middle Infantry Company, which is part of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, which are projected in the structure of the battalion group of the EU (54 BG II/2012), as well as NBC section of the NBC company from JOC. Self-evaluation Level 1 will be executed with one mechanized infantry company of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion, of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, which will include one platoon from the Armed Forces of Republic of Serbia.
The evaluation will be executed by the national team comprised of ARM members.
According to the scenario, the exercise will be carried out in 6 phases and will end on 21, October with the primary briefing of the results achieved in the evaluation.