practice? Education doesn’t end in the classroom. It continues during casual afternoon conversations. That informal exchange is vital. Socializing plays a key role. That’s why our motto is “Team, Train, Trust.” Get the team together. Train that team. And through that process, you build trust. That’s the keyword. So when they later meet in a deployment area, they already know each other — the good and the bad habits, the traditions, and the professional strengths. That makes the mission easier to execute.”
The Fire Blade 2025 exercise concluded on May 29 with a Distinguished Visitors Day, featuring a Combined Air Operation mission executed jointly by participating nations through a variety of ground and air elements. Originally, Fire Blade 2026 was scheduled to take place at Náměšť nad Oslavou Air Base in the Czech Republic. However, due to the recent introduction of the Bell AH-1Z Viper and Bell UH-1Y Venom helicopters, the exercise schedule has been revised. Fire Blade 2026 will now be hosted at Plovdiv-Krumovo Air Base in Bulgaria.