Belgian Army trains for readiness and responds to real-world emergency during Yellow Condor

Belgian Army trains for readiness and responds to real-world emergency during Yellow Condor

The Belgian-led exercise, running Sept. 8 through Sept. 24, brings together 3 Para and supporting elements including 14 Medical Battalion, explosive ordnance disposal personnel, communications specialists, logistics personnel and military police.

For the Belgian Soldiers, training at Grafenwoehr provides access to ranges and live-fire capabilities that are difficult to replicate in Belgium.

“Once we want to move on to bigger exercises, we have to go outside of Belgium,” said Van der Spiegel Dieter, the 3 Para public affairs officer. “Here, you have so many possibilities that we can train almost everything we have.”

Yellow Condor is divided into three phases. The first phase focuses on familiarizing newer personnel with specialized weapons systems and capabilities. The second phase develops technical and tactical proficiency at the squad or detachment level. The final phase brings those capabilities together in a company-level tactical scenario incorporating field training exercises and live-fire exercises.

The training includes weapons handling and shooting skills, heavy weapons, anti-tank c...