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Exercise Trojan Footprint 22 to enhance special operations forces interoperability

By Pfc. Kirsti BrooksbyMay 10, 2022

Trojan Footprint 21
Romanian, Ukrainian and U.S. Army Green Berets repel down a tower during exercise Trojan Footprint 21 in Romania on May 5, 2021. Trojan Footprint is Special Operations Command Europe's annual exercise to demonstrate proficiencies, assess the readiness and lethality of our respective forces, and to continue improving interoperability with allies and partners. (Courtesy photo by Romanian captain Roxana Davidovits) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Monique ONeill) VIEW ORIGINAL

STUTTGART, Germany – Trojan Footprint 22, or TFP-22, began May 2 and is set to conclude May 13, with U.S. Special Operations Forces, or SOF, proactively working and training together with NATO allies and European partners across Southeastern Europe, the Baltics and the Black Sea Region to demonstrate their collective military readiness to deploy and respond to any crisis that may arise.

This year’s TFP includes more than 3,300 participants from 30 nations, doubling in size from the previous year and making it the largest SOCEUR exercise to date. Land, air and sea operations for Trojan Footprint 22 will occur across Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

U.S. Army Maj. Edwin Choi, a physician in the 92nd Civil Affairs Battalion, instructs a Croatian military member in the use of ultrasound equipment as part of a multinational joint forces medical training during Exercise Trojan Footprint 22 near Udbina, Croatia, May 3, 2022. Trojan Footprint is the premier Special Operations Forces (SOF) exercise in Europe that focuses on improving the ability of SOF to counter myriad threats, increases integration with conventional forces and enhances interoperability with our NATO allies and European partners.
U.S. Army Maj. Edwin Choi, a physician in the 92nd Civil Affairs Battalion, instructs a Croatian military member in the use of ultrasound equipment as part of a multinational joint forces medical training during Exercise Trojan Footprint 22 near Udbina, Croatia, May 3, 2022. Trojan Footprint is the premier Special Operations Forces (SOF) exercise in Europe that focuses on improving the ability of SOF to counter myriad threats, increases integration with conventional forces and enhances interoperability with our NATO allies and European partners. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Hannah Hawkins) VIEW ORIGINAL

“One of our priorities is building resilience against adversary efforts to undermine democratic processes and values,” said Maj. Gen. David H. Tabor, Commander of Special Operations Command Europe. “This joint, combined training in Europe will continue to build and strengthen those relationships with our allies and partners, establishing a common sight-picture for combat and peacekeeping missions abroad.”

Trojan Footprint 22 is the premier exercise of U.S. Special Operations Command Europe and the primary SOF certification event to assess the readiness and ability of SOF to counter threats. It continues to demonstrate transatlantic solidarity and the security commitments of the participating nations to defense along NATO’s eastern flank.

U.S. Army Maj. Katherine Fodor, a veterinarian in the 92nd Civil Affairs Battalion, explains canine casualty care to Croatian military working dog handlers using a simulated canine dummy as part of a multinational joint forces medical training during Exercise Trojan Footprint 22 near Udbina, Croatia, May 3, 2022. Trojan Footprint is the premier Special Operations Forces (SOF) exercise in Europe that focuses on improving the ability of SOF to counter myriad threats, increases integration with conventional forces and enhances interoperability with our NATO allies and European partners.
U.S. Army Maj. Katherine Fodor, a veterinarian in the 92nd Civil Affairs Battalion, explains canine casualty care to Croatian military working dog handlers using a simulated canine dummy as part of a multinational joint forces medical training during Exercise Trojan Footprint 22 near Udbina, Croatia, May 3, 2022. Trojan Footprint is the premier Special Operations Forces (SOF) exercise in Europe that focuses on improving the ability of SOF to counter myriad threats, increases integration with conventional forces and enhances interoperability with our NATO allies and European partners. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Hannah Hawkins) VIEW ORIGINAL

The two-week exercise also increases integration with conventional forces and will highlight the professional skillsets of land, air, and sea units to respond to hybrid threats through discreet theatre entry and exit. As an exercise in coalition building, TFP-22 is focused on cultivating trust and developing lasting relationships that will promote peace and stability throughout Europe.

“Special Operations Forces remain a pillar of international defense, and close coordination between SOF and conventional forces acts as a force multiplier, leveraging the discreet capabilities of SOF to enhance lethality and dominance on the battlefield,” Tabor said. “SOF elements add capabilities, technology, and strength to conventional forces throughout Europe.”

Media access to the exercise may be limited. For full resolution photos and videos, please visit:

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