Resende (RJ) – Around 4,000 military personnel gathered at the Agulhas Negras Military Academy’s Training Camp for Operation Membeca between November 10 and 18. The exercise aims to provide advanced training for the military organizations subordinate to the 1st Army Division, based in Rio de Janeiro. More than 100 vehicles were mobilized, including the Guarani, Cascavel and Lince armoured vehicles, as well as the Army Aviation Command’s HM-4 Jaguar and HM-1 Pantera helicopters.
Operation Membeca began with an operational readiness drill, which demonstrated the troops’ state of readiness to the Army Commander, General Tomás, who was accompanied by members of the High Command and more than twenty commanders and heads of delegations from the XXV Conference of American Army Commanders.
During the Operation, the 1st Army Division synergistically tested its combat capabilities in different tactical situations: occupation of assembly areas; opening and operation of command posts; marching into combat; isolation and investment in locations; coordinated attack; junction; overtaking; and replacement in position. The operation was conducted in an external defense context.
All the combat functions of the Land Military Doctrine were integrated, and modern command, control, communications and information technology (C3I), intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition (IVRA) equipment and systems were used, as well as direct and indirect fire platforms, including machine guns, cannons, howitzers and mortars, which fired 5.56mm, 7.62mm, 90mm, 105mm and 155mm caliber ammunition.
Troops deployed
Participating in Operation Membeca 2023 were the 1st Army Division Command, the 9th Motorized Infantry Brigade School Unit Group, the 4th Light Mountain Infantry Brigade, the 1st DE Division Artillery, the Paratrooper Infantry Brigade, the 5th Engineering Group, the 38th Infantry Battalion, the 11th Army Police Battalion, the 1st Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Battalion, the East Training Center, the 2nd Infantry Company and the 1st DE Command Company.
Get to know your army
On November 15, 25 civilians who took part in the Eastern Military Command’s Get to Know Your Army Program had the opportunity to visit the training camp and witness a day of action in Operation Membeca. They were able to observe part of the exercise and check out some of the military equipment used, such as the Guarani armored vehicle and the fire support simulator. On a visit to the Command Post, they watched a real artillery firing instruction.
Civic and social action
It is an Army tradition to combine military operations with support for local communities. Thus, during Operation Membeca, various civic and social actions were carried out for the benefit of the population of the towns of Quatis and Falcão (RJ). Army doctors and dentists offered free care to residents. There were also exhibitions of military materials, painting and camouflage workshops for children and performances by War Dogs and Music Bands.
*** Translated by DEFCONPress FYI Team ***