Brasília (DF) – Operation CORE 24, carried out in partnership between the Brazilian Army and the US Army, marked another chapter in military cooperation between the two nations. Since the start of the operation in August, Brazilian troops have demonstrated their ability to integrate and interoperate with American forces, reinforcing their readiness and effectiveness on the international stage.
The Land Operations Commander, Army General André Luis Novaes Miranda, accompanied part of the activity and reinforced the historical bond between the two institutions, mentioning the partnerships between the armies during the Second World War and in other conflicts.
Another aspect raised by the Land Operations Commander was the gains for the Brazilian Army’s readiness. “The entire preparation system and the Army’s Operational Readiness System is gaining from CORE, because we are comparing, learning and sharing problems with an army that has a doctrine very similar to ours,” explained General Novaes.
Preparation
The 23rd Jungle Infantry Brigade (23rd Bda Inf Sl), based in Marabá (PA), conducted the Munduruku exercises with the aim of raising the level of training of its troops and preparing them for participation in CORE 23 and 24. Operation Munduruku I, which took place from March 6 to 10, 2023, marked the beginning of this series of intensive training exercises. Another five exercises took place before CORE 23. In 2024, another three exercises were held in preparation for CORE 24.
The Munduruku exercises, in addition to preparing the subunit that took part in CORE 24 in the United States, had a positive impact on the entire 23rd Bda Inf Sl. For the Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Eduardo da Veiga Cabral, the approximately one and a half year preparation provided the troops with a continuous and gradual progression of operational skills, from the group to the integration of all the combat functions of the company already integrated into the battalion.
“We saw a great deal of progress in planning, study and situational awareness, in the integration of all the combat functions and, above all, in command and control, fire support and integration, interoperability with the other US troops,” said General Veiga.
The Operation
The initial phase of the operation, known as RSOI (Reception, Staging, Onward Movement, and Integration – a US Army acronym that can be translated as Reception, Preparation, Continuous Movement and Integration), was part of the adaptation and preparation of the Brazilian troops, who occupied an Aerial Port of Debarkation (APOD) and received operational vehicles for the subsequent maneuvers. Operation CORE 24 took place at Fort Johnson/Louisiana, at the US Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC). The exercise involved a series of activities, including airmobile assaults and tactical maneuvers with AH-64 Apache, UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook aircraft.
One of the highlights of CORE 24 was the participation of 15 Brazilian observers and controllers, who underwent specific training at the Observer Coach and Trainer Academy. These soldiers played a key role in certifying the readiness of the troops, contributing to the improvement of the Brazilian Land Military Doctrine. In addition, the Army’s Physical Training Center (CCFEx) carried out detailed assessments of the military’s body composition and hydration status, guaranteeing the maintenance of combat power in adverse conditions.
History and future
Operation CORE 24 reaffirms the Brazilian Army’s ability to operate in conjunction with foreign forces, demonstrating high competence and adaptability. The operations are part of a cooperation program signed in 2021, which provides for annual bilateral exercises until 2028. The origin of this agreement lies in Operation Culminating, held in 2021 in the United States. From then on, the editions of CORE began, alternating between Brazil and the United States.
General Novaes, Commander of Land Operations, stressed that the gains for Brazilian troops can already be seen. “This training is on an eight-year cycle. The aim is to gain greater levels of interoperability and we are already getting close to the level we envisioned for the eight years.”
The continuity of these exercises strengthens ties between the two armies and provides continuous gains in terms of doctrine and operational capacity. In 2025, CORE will be held in the Brazilian Caatinga.
