The British Army’s paratroopers from C (Bruneval) Company, 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (2PARA) are undergoing training in the mountainous regions of Slovenia as part of Exercise Triglav Star.
Under the guidance of expert mountain infantry from Slovenia and the US, as many as 120 paratroopers from the regiment are being trained in climbing and rope work techniques.
Go deeper with GlobalData
As part of the exercise, soldiers are taught to deal with tactical and physical challenges, including high-altitude climbs, steep cliff faces, and wooded slopes.
Under the first phase of the exercise, troopers were trained on a wide range of basic skills including navigation, fixed rope climbing, rappelling, abseiling, and rope bridges.
Apart from the physical training, subject matter experts based at the Nato Centre of Excellence for Mountain Warfare also trained the commanders on small unit tactics.
In its final phase, multinational troops will display their tactical skills in the rough terrains of the Julian Alps.
The exercise is intended to prepare paratroopers under the British Army’s global response force to establish operations in any environment.
The drills are conducted along with troops from the US, Poland, Hungary, and Slovenia, and will also enable the paratroopers to share skills and improve ties with Nato allies.
C (Bruneval) Company officer commanding major Steve White said: “The exercise gives us the ability to develop basic mountain skills and adapt our standard operating procedures in an under-trained environment.
“The fitness, initiative, and adaptability expected of airborne soldiers are combined with the experience of mountain specialist troops and experts from our allies, allowing us to gain a foundational understanding of operating in this important environment.
“It will make us more rounded soldiers, able to deploy at high readiness into challenging terrain.”
