More than 2,600 paratroopers from 11 nations completed a series of three airborne forcible entry operations during the largest U.S. and NATO annual exercise in Europe in recent days.

The Swift Response 2021 exercise involved three brigade jumps with U.S. paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and the 173rd Airborne Brigade out of Vicenza, Italy.

Paratroopers from the United Kingdom, Poland, Germany, Romania and other NATO allies also participated.

U.S. Paratroopers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division and British Paratroopers assigned to the 2nd Parachute Regiment conduct sustained airborne training (SAT) at Green Ramp, North Carolina May 6, 2021. (Spc. Jillian Hix/Army)

A total of 7,000 paratroopers supported the exercise both in the United States and Europe as part of the preparations and follow on missions.

Range time for the soldiers, including live fires and other training missions, continued in Europe this week.

U.S. Paratroopers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division and British Paratroopers assigned to the 2nd Parachute Regiment conduct sustained airborne training (SAT) at Green Ramp, North Carolina May 6, 2021. (Spc. Jillian Hix/Army)

Swift Response 21 is part of the larger umbrella exercise called Defender Europe 2021.

Defender Europe involves more than 28,000 troops from 26 nations. The soldiers are conducting operations in 30 training areas across a dozen countries.

Paratroopers of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division and the British 16th Air Assault Brigade board a C-17 Globe Master on Fort Bragg, North Carolina to conduct a Joint Forcible Entry exercise in Estonia. (Spc. Garrett Ty Whitfield/Army)

The exercise’s limits span from Estonia to Morocco — all part of U.S. Army Europe and Africa Command’s area of operations.

The airborne portions this week were the opening salvo after months of preparation that included equipment shipments, pre-staging of supplies and various unit rehearsals.

U.S. Air Force aircraft conduct an in-flight refuel operation while en route to Estonia during Exercise Swift Response, May 7, 2021.

Previous exercises included logistics over the shore, movements in Albania and rocket live fires in Estonia.

An 82nd Airborne Division Jumpmaster inspects a Paratrooper onboard a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft bound for Estonia during Swift Response 21, May 7, 2021. (Army)

Follow-on exercises will include live fires in Bosnia and Herzegovina under Immediate Response 21.

The same exercise will include light infantry battalion maneuvers in North Macedonia.

Paratroopers assigned to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division wait to exit C-17 Globemaster III bound for Estonia during Exercise Swift Response 21, May 7, 2021. Swift Response 21 is a joint, multinational Airborne exercise involving more than 7,000 Paratroopers from 10 NATO nations.

Missile defense live fires are scheduled for next week.

BOBOC AIR BASE, Romania—Paratroopers with the 82nd Airborne Division, Polish 6th Airborne Brigade, Dutch 11th Air Assault Brigade, and 495th Parachute Battalion execute a jump during Swift Response 21 here May 10. (Spc. Jabari Clyburn/Army)

More exercises are planned later in May and early June in Romania and Bulgaria.

A bilateral exercise with security partners in Morocco is the final event of Defender Europe and is scheduled for mid-June.

Swift Response 21 joint, multinational airborne operation at Boboc Air Base, Romania, May 10, 2021. (Sgt. Catessa Palone/Army)

Todd South has written about crime, courts, government and the military for multiple publications since 2004 and was named a 2014 Pulitzer finalist for a co-written project on witness intimidation. Todd is a Marine veteran of the Iraq War.

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