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Exercise Jackal Stone

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Jackal Stone is coordinated by the United States through Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR) and is primarily a partnership building exercise.  Its objective is to provide special operations forces the opportunity to train together and build mutual respect amongst each other while sharing doctrinal concepts, training concepts and various tactics, techniques and procedures.

Shamrock Key 2006 may be considered as the beginning of Jackal Stone. That year, five countries: Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Norway participated in the exercise, which was hosted in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. The Shamrock Key exercise was renamed Jackal Stone in 2007 and has become an annual SOF capability sharing tradition.

Jackal Stone Host Nations and participants

2008:
Host Countries – Hungary, Romania, Ukraine
Participants – Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Sweden, the United States and Ukraine 

2009:
Host Country – Croatia
Participants – Albania, Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, the United States, Sweden and Ukraine

2010:
Host Countries – Poland and Lithuania
Participants – Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, the United States and Ukraine

2011:
Host Countries – Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine
Participants – Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania, Norway, Poland and the United States

2012:
Host Country – Croatia
Participants – Croatia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and the United States. (Observers from Finland and France)

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  • October 6, 2010

    Special Operations Media Engagement…the future of investing

    I believe most people think that special operations forces never interact with the media.  That is, of course, until something bad happens, forcing someone to explain the      situation in an ambiguous manner.
  • October 21, 2009

    Is European Command still relevant?

    I thought I'd throw this topic out for some conversation and I'd like to see what others think:
  • September 29, 2009

    Unexpected Twists Are Normal Business at SOCEUR

    The Jackal Stone Special Operations Training Exercise is now officially finished with the successful completion of the closing ceremony Saturday afternoon, Sept. 26.  And as with all military operations (especially special operations in my experience), flexibility remained key.  You see, we set up for the ceremony on a concrete “parade field” area on Zemunik Air Base near Zadar, Croatia (beautiful area by the way).  Of course, we had already briefed the boss, we’d conducted a rehearsal, and we had set up all of the props – chairs, podium, speakers, etc.  Those scheduled to be given awards were seated and awaiting the beginning of the ceremony.   The plan was in place.
  • September 22, 2009

    SOCEUR and Exercise Jackal Stone -- ‘Speed, Strength and Efficiency: Rising to Challenges Together’

    Two weeks ago, I jumped on a flight headed for Croatia to participate in special operations forces (SOF) Exercise Jackal Stone 2009. Although the name sounds strange (you’ve got to love how the military often throws two completely unrelated words together to name training exercises), the purpose of the exercise is quite ambitious: to promote cooperation and interoperability between the 11 participating nations.  Significant is the fact that the Croatian government is hosting its first major military exercise since accession as a NATO member nation earlier this year, and that they chose to host a special operations exercise.  To me, it shows the importance that the Croatians place on special operations and the value they place on increasing international military partnerships.    

Videos RSS

  • September 18, 2012

    Jackal Stone 12 Training Demonstration

    President Ivo Josipovic of Croatia and SOCEUR commander visit Udbina Airbase during Jackal Stone 12 to view the joint special operations training demonstration.
  • September 21, 2011

    Sgt. Jenie Fisher meets a team of maintainers whose mission is the backbone of the exercise.

    Jackal Stone 2011, a multi-national special operations exercise continues in Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine. While this is an opportunity for special operations forces to work together with partner nations, it’s also an opportunity to highlight the vital support making missions in theater a success. Sgt. Jenie Fisher meets a team of maintainers whose mission is the backbone of the exercise.
  • September 19, 2011

    V-I-P who says the exercise helps partner nations solidify relationships and rise to meet new challenges.

    As Jackal Stone 2011, A multi-national special operations exercise, continues in Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine the U.S. troops working in Romania get a visit from their leadership. Sgt Jenie Fisher catches up with the V-I-P who says the exercise helps partner nations solidify relationships and rise to meet new challenges.
  • September 23, 2009

    Exercise Jackal Stone 2009

    CROATIA -- The scenario: a terrorist organization abducts two international diplomats as they're vacationing in Croatia. The terrorists then demand a 1 million Euro ransom to get the diplomats back unharmed. This may just be a training exercise, but as SSG James Allen shows us, soldiers have to be ready for any and every type of situation.