SWIFT RESPONSE

Swift Response
 
 
 
Swift Response 25 demonstrates multinational power projection and the expansion of critical capabilities on the battlefield in the High North and Baltics through airborne jumps and integration of technology in support of the Army Modernization Strategy and DoD Arctic Strategy. Swift Response 25 involves five near-simultaneous airborne insertions, HIRAIN training, a field hospital exercise and live fires conducted with NATO networks in Norway, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden and Finland from May 11 – 31, 2025.
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Video by Courtesy
#WeAreNATO - North Macedonia’s “Wolves” (IT)
Natochannel
Sept. 8, 2021 | 0:59
Synopsis

Meet the men and women who work every day for NATO. From
soldiers to scientists, cyber experts to civil emergency
responders, NATO members are committed to supporting and
protecting each other.

North Macedonia’s Special Operations Battalion call themselves “The Wolves”. Like the lupine predator commonly seen in their home country, The Wolves are strong and capable of acting independently or in a group. They take on the most sensitive missions.

Footage includes shots of operators on patrol and training with US Army helicopters during the US-led Exercise Combined Resolve XV and Exercise Trojan Footprint 21. For security reasons, the interviewee cannot be identified by name.

All recent filming was conducted in line with COVID-19 safety measures.
Transcript

—SOUNDBITE—(English) Major, Special Operations Battalion, North Macedonia
“Our unit, we’re called The Wolves.
We are members of the Special Forces Battalion, North Macedonia.
Our unit must be independent, must be strong. It’s unique like the wolf.”

TEXT ON SCREEN
MAJOR, SPECIAL FORCES, NORTH MACEDONIA

—SOUNDBITE—(English) Major, Special Operations Battalion, North Macedonia
“You must be strong mentally, you must be strong physically.”

TEXT ON SCREEN
NORTH MACEDONIA IS NATO’S NEWEST MEMBER

Various shots: The Wolves during Exercise Trojan Footprint 21

AND THE WOLVES ARE THEIR ELITE SPECIAL FORCES UNIT

THEY TAKE ON THE MOST SENSITIVE MISSIONS

We integrate with the other NATO members.

We exchange each other’s tactics, techniques and procedures.

—SOUNDBITE—(English) Major, Special Operations Battalion, North Macedonia
“For our country, it’s proud to be member of NATO Alliance.”
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Tags

special operationsexerciseWEARENATONorth MacedoniaThe Wolves
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What is happening where?

  • Italy
    ItalyParatroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade will depart from Italy to conduct an airborne drop into Lithuania.
  • Finland

    FinlandThe Finnish Army will conduct a live fire exercise with the Polish Armed Forces and U.S. Forces will fire HIMARS also known as HIRAIN training.

    Polish paratroopers will conduct an airborne jump into Finland, where they will join the Finnish Army to conduct force on force training.

  • Latvia

    Latvia

    In Latvia, paratroopers from Spanish Airborne Brigade and 173rd Airborne Brigade will conduct an airborne jump into Latvia and a live-fire exercises will follow .
    Also, the Latvian national exercise, Crystal Arrow, will be conducted simultaneously with Swift Response 25.  
  • Lithuania

    Lithuania

    In Lithuania, there will be a Field hospital exercise and medical operations. A U.S.-based blood support detachment will deploy to Europe, where they will be issued Army Prepositioned Stock and join the 512th Field Hospital in Lithuania. The exercise will demonstrate theater medical support operations while working under chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear conditions. The field hospital exercise will also include a simulated blood draw and resupply to forward positioned medical teams using drones.
    Paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade will conduct an airborne assault into Lithuania alongside NATO Allies from France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands.
    The Lithuanian national exercise Iron Wolf will be linked with Swift Response 25 events with participants from the Netherlands, Lithuania and Germany.
  • Norway
    NorwayAs part of Swift Response 25, paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division will deploy from the U.S. and conduct
    a direct airborne jump into Norway in the first major event commencing DEFENDER 25. This event is one of five,
    near-simultaneous airborne operations that will be taking place in Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden.
     

    Also U.S. and Host Nation will conduct Live-fires in Norway.

  • Slovenia

    SloveniaSlovenia is providing a strategic aerial port of disembarkation (APODs) in Cerklje Air Base.

  • Sweden

    Sweden

    NATO Allies will conduct an airborne jump into Gotland Island, setting the stage for U.S. Marines to conduct a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System Rapid Insertion (HIRAIN) training on the island.

  • United Kingdom

    United KingdomTroops moving from United Kingdom to Norway and Sweden.