For the past number of years, the EU has been conducting an annual military exercise called MILEX. Growing in scope from desktop exercises to full field deployments, MILEX is designed to test the effectiveness of EU military command structures and procedures during a crisis management situation.

Through this annual exercise, EU member states are practicing working together to promote international peace and security. MILEX is a sign that the EU is becoming a stronger global security and defence actor.

Flagship military exercise

The corridors of the European Union Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) headquarters in Brussels buzz with activity. Officers move swiftly between briefing rooms, faces set with determination. MILEX 25, the European Union’s flagship military exercise, is officially underway with what’s known as a ‘headquarters’ or ‘command-post’ exercise.

Taking place in the first week of March, it’s the first running of the so-called ALERTEX element of the exercise. To ensure a swift reaction to a crisis, procedures from the political level all the way down to the tactical level are put to the test.

European Union

Rapid deployment

Central to this exercise is the Rapid Deployment Capacity (RDC). It is a body of up to 5 000 troops formed by contributions from several EU member states. The RDC has the ability to respond in a robust and flexible way to a crisis.

While directed by the MPCC in Brussels, in the field the RDC is commanded by EUROCORPS as the Force Headquarters (FHQ). The exercise ensures the EU’s rapid response procedures are put through their paces, before any boots touch foreign soil.

ALERTEX HQ updates

Inside the command center, screens flicker with status updates as military staff monitor the crisis simulation. Orders flow from the ALERTEX HQ in Brussels to military units stationed all across Europe. Each force scrambles to respond in real-time. Can the EU's troops be mobilised as expected? Can we make the planning more agile? ALERTEX aims to answer exactly these kinds of questions.

In a real-world situation, the EU-troops would first deploy during the alert phase. However, to make the most of the opportunity to learn presented by this complex exercise, there is a ‘pause’ built in where senior commanders gather for a thorough evaluation. This is the chance to identify any miscommunications or opportunities for future reference.

European Union

Field exercises

For the next phase, the MILEX exercise will transition to the live aspect (LIVEX) and will move out from the MPCC and into the field. Troops will deploy to the field in Hungary from 25 March to10 April, where the tactical training in a simulated conflict zone takes place. In this operation, the EU will strategically deploy troops and project force without support from other organisations.

MILEX 25 is intended to prove that Europe's combined forces can act decisively in a crisis beyond its borders. To that extent, MILEX 25 is more than an exercise, because it marks a significant step towards strategic autonomy.