Media invitation to Swift Response

The U.S. Army Europe & Africa exercise Swift Response (SR 24) will be conducted in the southern parts of Sweden during April and May. The Swedish Armed Forces invites media to cover the exercise on the 7th and 8th May.

Swift Response shows Allied Airborne forces’ ability to quickly and effectively respond to crisis situations. The exercise includes six near-simultaneous Joint Forcible Entries (JFEs), or airborne operations, into Estonia, Moldova, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania and Sweden. Activities in Sweden are led by the U.S. Army's 11th Airborne Division and will involve forces from Hungary, Italy, United States, Spain as well as the host nation Sweden.

- We are great partners with the Nordic countries because of our common homes in the Arctic, and Sweden is no exception. We're proud to lead Swift Response 24, the first airborne exercise in Sweden since they became a member of the NATO alliance, says U.S. Army Major General Brian Eifler, commanding general of the U.S. Army's 11th Airborne Division.

- Exercises like Swift Response help us build and maintain strong partnerships with key allies in this strategically important region of the world, says Major General Brian Eifler.

Swift Response has its focal point in the southern parts of Sweden in the provinces of Östergötland and Småland and the Swedish Armed Forces will contribute with Host Nation Support to the international participants. Swift Response is part of the largest collective NATO exercise in decades - Steadfast Defender.

The main areas of operation are Skillingaryd and Kvarns excercise fields as well as Hagshult Wartime Air Base, and Jönköpings airport. The Swedish Army, Air Force and Southern Military region will support international units, facilitate combat readiness and show our interoperability with NATO Allies. In addition to the airborne operations, multinational forces will conduct air assaults, live-fires and multinational training.

Media events

Media is welcome to participate at Hagshult, Skillingaryd and Kvarn on the 7th and 8th May. The media event at Hagshult Wartime Air Base will demonstrate a Joint Forcible Entry Operation with U.S., Italian, Spanish and Hungarian units, using air transport and air drop of approximately 800 personnel and heavy equipment. The event will include a press conference with senior leaders, photo opportunities and interviews with international and Swedish spokespersons.

The media event at Skillingaryd will display Joint ventures with U.S. ground operations. At The Kvarn exercise area international units will conduct Air assault with U.S. Helicopter units and showcase military operations in urban terrain.

More information about upcoming media events will be provided after registration.

Facts about Swift Response in Sweden

U.S. participation in Swift Response activities in Sweden include over 1,300 servicemembers from the 11th Airborne Division from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska; 173d Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) from Vicenza, Italy; 244th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade from Fort Knox, Kentucky; 62nd Airlift Wing from Joint Base Lewis-Mcchord, Washington and special operations forces from U.S. Special Operations Command Europe. In total around 2000 personnel from Hungary, Italy, United States, Spain and Sweden.

Aircraft involved in the exercise includes seven U.S. C-17 Globemaster III, one Italian C-130 Hercules, 13 U.S. UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, and three U.S. CH-47 Chinook helicopters.

Media registration: Deadline for international media is the 22^nd of April

NOTE! International media (non-Swedish citizens) that want to visit the media event at the Swedish Armed Forces facility Hagshult Wartime Air Base need to apply for a “Request For Visit”. To apply email your full name, date of birth, passport number, nationality and media company to lss-komm@mil.se. Deadline for Swedish journalist is 2nd May, submit full name, social security number and media company to lss-komm@mil.se.

Deadline for Skillingaryd and Kvarn is the 2nd May for international and Swedish media. A second press release with additional information will be posted in the beginning of May.

Point of contact

U.S. Army Europe & Africa Public Affairs
Mail: media@army.mil, Phone: +49 (0)611-143 537 0005

Swedish participation in Swift Response:
Joakim Elovsson, Public Affairs, Swedish Army Staff
Mail: ast-komm@mil.se, Phone: +46 (0)72-694 06 81

Media event at Hagshult & media tour:
Therese Aakerstedt, Head of Communication & Public Affairs, Air Warfare Centre,
Mail: lss-komm@mil.se, Phone: +46 (0)72-367 75 08.