Belém (BA) – It took three tireless days in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, learning survival techniques. That’s how around 150 American soldiers earned their jungle brevê at the 2nd Jungle Infantry Battalion. The Jungle Adaptation and Life Internship marked the first stage of CORE23 (Combined Operation and Rotation Exercise), a bilateral exercise between the armies of Brazil and the United States of America.
The commander of the 2nd BIS, Colonel Rodrigo Ribeiro, highlighted some of the characteristics of the internship with the foreign soldiers. “We had a lot of instructions mainly related to survival in the jungle, building shelters, how to get food, water and fire, but also those related to orientation and river techniques.”
During the instruction, the trainees were baptized by Belém’s frequent rains. Military specialist Vozzela commented that, despite the fatigue, it was a unique experience. “We’re wet 24 hours a day. So it adds a bit more weight, but it’s good. It keeps you fit. Overall, I loved the experience,” she concluded.
Private Casey pointed out that the Internship was her first opportunity to get to know the Amazon region. “I certainly didn’t like the insects, but it was very impressive to get to know the fauna. The exercises were a lot of fun, I’ve never done anything like this before, so it’s definitely something to remember.”
The next phases of CORE23 will take place between November 6 and 16, in Macapá, Ferreira Gomes, Oiapoque and Clevelândia do Norte, in the state of Amapá.
The Note-American soldiers received their jungle brevets during the closing ceremony of the internship. At the ceremony, the head of the Northern Military Command’s Operations Coordination Center, Lieutenant General André Laranja Sá Correa, highlighted the trainees’ resistance to the challenges of the jungle. He also praised the training team that conducted the activities. “We think the result was very good. Perhaps the biggest difficulty for them was acclimatizing to our operational environment.
All in all, I believe we managed to achieve our main objective, which is integration between the forces.”
Fonte: Comando Militar do Norte *** Translated by DEFCONPress FYI Team ***