missions
Lieutenant Colonel Emilio Hermoso, head of the Spanish contingent in Latvia
“The impact of the health
crisis on the mission is
THIS is the seventh international mission
for Lieutenant Colonel Emilio Hermoso,
who leads the current Spanish troop
rotation in Latvia, comprising about 350
soldiers, mostly from the 10th Brigade
Guzman el Bueno. They arrived in January
and are scheduled to return in mid-July.
—The pandemic has caught the contin-
gent far from Spain. How is this situation
affecting all of you?
—We are living with certain
concern for our families, but at
the same time feeling proud of the
behaviour of the Spanish people
and of the service provided by our
colleagues. The situation in Latvia
is good. The impact of the health
crisis on the mission is minimal.
Some exercises have been
cancelled, but similar activities
have been scheduled instead at
the Adazi training ground or other
Latvian facilities.
—You have participated in se-veral
international operations.
Were any of them similar to this
one?
—Every operation is different. This
is my first deterrence mission. It is necessary
to expand activities and achieve a cognitive
impact on a potential adversary. Although we
need to show exemplary behaviour in every
operation, it is even more important in this
one, because any mistake can be used to
discredit NATO.
—Latvia appears to be a stable and secure
country. Why does it need the presence of
an allied land force?
minimal”
—Because its government has requested it.
NATO’s permanent presence in the Baltic is a
longstanding demand, in particular, since the
Crimean crisis. Like any nation, Latvia has
areas for development, one of them being
security and defence. Spain’s commitment
is to contribute to Latvia’s defence while it
develops its own capabilities.
-—Is it very difficult to integrate units from
different countries?
—It is not complicated, but it takes time. It
previously requires unifying procedures and
means. You also have to work in the human
domain. It is a matter of living together over
time and facing common challenges to unite
wills and bring the battle group together.
—What is life like at Adazi military base?
—Every day is different. There is no
established routine. Readiness exercises
are always ongoing. Units must pass a
progressive and rigorous activity program. At
least two nations participate in each activity.
Exercises are always dual action, which is a
continuous challenge. Having the entire unit
permanently ready allows us to progress
more quickly.
—How are Spanish vehicles and tanks
responding?
—Their performance is excellent. Tracked
vehicles are best suited for humid and sandy
terrain. The Latvian Armed Forces
have also opted for this kind of
means. As for firepower, Spanish
means offer excellent features.
Their performance in shooting
exercises is enviable. Crews are
very well trained because there is
a lot of preparatory work behind
each of them.
—Has the harsh weather con-
ditioned the mission?
—Yes, and not only because of the
cold weather, but also because of
the humidity and lack of light during
the winter. Much is being learned
in this respect and living with
nations that are used to operating
in extreme cold also helps.
—Spanish is taught to other members of
the tactical group. What is the purpose of
this activity?
—Spain has a very strong culture and
Spanish is the second most used language
in the world and the fastest growing one.
Why not offer it to other nations? What we
want is to extend our culture, and what
students want is to learn a language they
can use in half of the world.
36 Revista Española de Defensa August 2020