Special Operations Command Europe participates in a joint exercise with the Swedish Armed Forces and Home Guard. This training includes Special Operations Forces from both partner nations using land, air, and sea components who are working together to increase interoperability and relationships for future collaborative events.
“The U.S. forces are incredibly honored that our Swedish Special Operations Command partners invited us to stage and exercise with them here in Sweden. Our partners are highly capable professional operators, and we look forward to our continued collaboration throughout the Baltic Sea region,” said Joint Special Operations Task Force deputy commander of the exercise, Lt. Col. Houston Hodgkinson.
Special Tactics Operators assigned to the 352d Special Operations Wing radio to a Swedish MC-130H during controlled landings and take-takeoffs in Sweden, 9 November 2020, to support a bilateral exercise of air, land, and sea capabilities in the Baltic Sea region. This exercise demonstrates the ability of the U.S. special operations forces, alongside our Swedish partner, to deploy and respond to a crisis in the region. (U.S Army photo by Sgt. Patrik Orcutt)
This bilateral exercise includes U.S. CV22-B Ospreys, MC-130J Commando IIs, F-15E Strike Eagles, Polaris MRZR-D, Combatant Craft Mediums, along with Swedish HSwMS Trosso, Saab JAS-39 Gripen, Visby-class corvettes, Combat Boat 90, Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats, and C-130H Hercules’ to further the ability of Swedish and U.S. special operations forces with conventional forces, to deploy and respond to a crisis in this area of responsibility.
“This exercise provides the opportunity to train with SOF partners as well as U.S. and Swedish conventional forces across all warfighting functions and domains. This allows us to train how we will fight, while also highlighting the credibility and capability of our combined forces,” said JSOTF commander of the exercise, Col. Nathan Owendoff. “The additive benefit is the critical value of building trust and strengthening relationships between commanders, element leaders, and special operations forces across multiple echelons.”
A Saab JAS 39 Gripen lands at Såtenäs Air Wing, Sweden, on 9 November 2020, to support a bilateral exercise of air, land, and sea capabilities in the Baltic Sea region. This exercise demonstrates the ability of the U.S. special operations forces, alongside our Swedish partner, to deploy and respond to a crisis in the region. (U.S Army photo by Sgt. Patrik Orcutt)
Swedish Armed Forces conduct qualified exercises together with partners to strengthen defense capabilities across multiple domains. These exercises integrate both partner nations’ SOF capabilities with conventional force missions to improve upon overall collaborative initiatives.
“The strength of Swedish and U.S. special operations forces together enable conventional armed forces to defend the region. We remain committed to cooperative security around the Baltic Sea,” said the Swedish exercise director, from SWESOCOM.