site.btaJoint Exercises of Bulgarian and Italian Military Personnel Held in Bulgaria

A joint exercise of a mechanized platoon part of the 38th Mechanized Battalion of the 2nd Tundzha Mechanized Brigade of the Land Forces and a mechanized platoon from the Armed Forces of the Italian Republic, part of the NATO Multinational Battlegroup deployed in Bulgaria, was held from May 20 to 22 at the Lyulyak Training Centre near Stara Zagora, the press centre of the Defence Ministry said Friday.

During the training, a tactical live-fire exercise Platoon Defence Action was performed. The military personnel demonstrated a high degree of coordination, tactical training and interoperability in performing defence tasks in a mixed format.

The capabilities of performing medical evacuation using a Bulgarian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter were also increased during the training. The scenario foresaw the provision of first aid to a wounded serviceman in the field and his subsequent evacuation by air to a medical facility.

From May 19 to 23, tactical live-fire exercises were held at the Nikolaevo Training Centre with mechanized units of the 4th Mechanized Battalion of the 5th Brigade command in Pleven and mechanized units of Italy. The tactics, techniques and procedures of the two armies were exercised, and the servicemen showed excellent training, the statement said.