Bulgaria increases number of military exercises in 2015: report
Xinhua, February 17, 2016 Adjust font size:
Bulgarian Armed Forces have participated in more national and international military exercises in 2015 compared to 2014, the country's Defense Ministry said in a report Wednesday.
In 2015, the Bulgarian Armed Forces conducted 264 national and 25 international exercises, the report said. In addition, military units of the Bulgarian army participated in 82 joint trainings and drills with the U.S. Army, it said.
The figures corresponding in 2014 were 236, 13 and 57 respectively.
At the same time, a total of 293 military personnel participated last year in missions abroad in locations such as Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Georgia and Mali, while in 2014 the number was 1,043, the Ministry of Defense said.
Furthermore, in fulfilling the mission "contributing to national security in peacetime," 1,256 troops and civilian employees with 340 pieces of equipment have helped the population, government structures and public organizations in 182 events in 2015, the report said.
In 2014, which was one of the worst in the country in respect of the strength and scale of natural disasters, the numbers were 1,771, 443 and 167 respectively. Endit