Friday, 21 October 2022, was Distinguished Visitors Day (DV DAY) at the Petrohori Range – Proving Ground in Xanthi, within the framework of the international cooperation schemes with friendly and allied countries planned by the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, for the Medium Tank Battalion Task Force-level Field Exercise "OLYMPIC COOPERATION-22", which involved troops of the XXV Armoured Brigade "2^o SYNTAGMA IPPIKOU – EPHESOS", the 71^st Airmobile Brigade “PONTOS”, the 1^st Army Aviation Brigade “KILKIS – LAHANA”, the XXI Armoured Brigade “PINDOS”, the 29^th Motorised Brigade "POGRADETS", and the 7^th Mechanised Brigade "SARANTAPOROS", a pair of F-16 aircraft of the Hellenic Air Force and a pair of F-18 aircraft of the Royal Canadian Air Force, as well as troops of the US 101^st Airborne Division. Cyprus and Egypt participated as observers.

The exercise was conducted using live fire and included double action offensive and defensive operations tasks using tactical engagement simulation systems.

The final phase of the exercise was attended by the Commanding General of the Hellenic First Army/EU OHQ “ACHILLEAS”, Lieutenant General Angelos Houdeloudis, as representative of the Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff and the Chief of Hellenic Army General Staff, the Commanding General of D Army Corps “THRAKI”, Lieutenant General Ioannis Tsioplos, and the Mayor of Xanthi, Mr. Emmanouil Tsepelis. From the US, the exercise was attended by the Consul Isaac Hansen – Joseph as representative of the General Consul of the US in Thessaloniki, the US Military Attaché in Greece, Col Nathan Mann, and Col Ricardo Turner as representative of the Commanding General of the 101^st Airborne Division.

The exercise confirmed the high level of bilateral operational cooperation and the strengthening of the bonds between the training troops of the two countries.

#ΕλληνικόςΣτρατός, #HellenicArmy