Special Forces Take Part in Turkish International Exercise for the First Time

EFES 24 is one of Türkiye’s largest international military exercises, with 49 countries and around 11,000 participants this year. Hungarian special forces participated in the exercise for the first time, at the invitation of the Turkish side, Honvedelem.hu reports.

The first phase was a practice of professional leadership of the deployed forces and capabilities, during which a core of multinational soldiers led the units and sub-units. In the second phase, execution took center stage, both at combat and operational levels. Special operations were also part of the multinational effort, with soldiers of the 1st Special Operations Brigade of the Hungarian Defense Forces also competing.

Sniper shooting, building warfare, and time-sensitive operations involving a variety of extraction methods, as well as interceptions and casualty extractions were on the agenda.

During these operations, the soldiers used the Airborne Tactical Extraction Platform (AirTEP) as an important and effective tool to quickly and safely exit the area.

During the training, there was a strong emphasis on coordinating procedures from different nations, or in technical terms, strengthening interoperability. Thanks to continuous practice, the participants deepened their existing skills, but the real challenge was the differences in language and professional procedures.

Each nation brings different experiences, approaches a task differently, and solutions often differ. Added to this, different military organizations have different equipment, but consistency is essential when carrying out a complex task.

The main aim of the first part of the exercise was therefore to learn about each other’s military equipment, apply it, and exchange operational experience.

The event concluded with a large-scale complex live-fire combat exercise, proving that several nations, working in perfect cooperation, can destroy a simulated enemy. The program was attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Yaşar Güler, Turkish Minister of Defense, as well as senior military and government officials from participating countries.

Via Honvedelem.hu, Featured image: Honvedelem.hu