Rapid Reaction Force Deployed to Poland

Paratroopers from 16 Air Assault Brigade have been fostering ties with their Polish counterparts, as they train together on a NATO exercise in the country to practice capturing bridges.

Exercise Anakonda has seen A Company, 3rd Battalion The Parachute regiment (A Coy, 3 PARA) work with the Polish 16th Airborne Battalion, 16 Batalion Powietrznodsantowy.

The troops have planned and carried out missions side-by-side to improve their understanding of their similarities and differences, so they are better prepared to operate together.

The fortnight-long training at Drawsko Pomorski in north-west Poland is part of a programme of joint exercises and immediate assurance measures designed to reassure NATO allies in Eastern Europe.

The exercise culminated in a joint parachute assault, with troops jumping from an RAF Hercules and Polish CASA C-295 to capture bridges on the training area.

Major Ben Harrop, Officer Commanding A Coy, said:

"This type of mission is what airborne forces were designed for - to parachute in and capture key strategic objectives by surprise within a wider operation. It is fitting that we have practiced capturing bridges so soon after the 80th anniversary of Operation Market Garden, which saw British and Polish paratroopers fight together on exactly the same type of operation during the Second World War."