ZARAGOZA, Spain — For the last month, more than 30 NATO partners have trained together for Exercise Trident Juncture 2015.
On Wednesday, about 500 American paratroopers will provide an exclamation point to the training operation – the alliance's largest since 2002.
Members of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, partnered with jumpers from other nations, will parachute into a drop zone near Zaragoza, Spain. An estimated 150 distinguished guests will witness the spectacle, which will also feature fighter jets, tanks, rotary aircraft and artillery from several militaries.
Trident Juncture has involved 36,000 troops from dozens of countries – and all four U.S. military services. It has included operations in Spain, Portugal and Italy as well as on the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
The exercise is intended to improve coordination among allies, but it is also a show of force in the face of Russian aggression. The Russian annexation of Crimea, meddling in the Ukraine, and incursions of some NATO member's airspace have dominated concerns among the allied countries.
Army Times is traveling with members of the 82nd and had a chance to talk to paratroopers prior the exercise.
"Any time we get a chance to operate with our coalition partners is a huge benefit. … Every army has its own language," said Maj. Lawrence Barber, communications officer for the 2nd BCT.
While Wednesday's jump is largely a demonstration, Barber said he'd like to see increased opportunities for joint training jumps that also incorporate tactical missions. He suggested a simulated combat jump that follows through after the landing and evolves into a complete combat mission.
"We need to do one where it is fully tactical," Barber said.
The Wednesday forecast for Zaragoza does not include rain. Though located in a fairly dry mountainous area in northwestern Spain, storms pummeled the area Monday, causing delays of military personnel traveling to the area.
At least one C-17 carrying gear, a truck and some personnel diverted to a Navy airfield in Rota for the night because it couldn't land in shearing winds.
During the jump, U.S. Air Force troops will be conducting Operation Ultimate Reach, which builds on "long-reach power projection," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jammie Rae Knapp, the 2nd Brigade mobility officer. In short, it tests and demonstrates the ability of the Air Force to put a lot of boots on the ground as fast as a plane can get them there.
While mid-air, the C-17s carrying the 500 jumpers will refuel and the jumpers will rig up their parachutes for the jump.
The exercises, which started Oct. 3, will officially conclude Friday.
The integration of foreign nations has proven a key benefit for Trident Juncture, Barber said.
"My supporting artillery might be from a whole 'nother country," he said. "And my person providing the assault to the left of me is from a different country from the other two. And that is not something we do terribly often."
