Interview with a member of the EADA

Sand it hurts but it passes, if you are a whiner this is not your place, it is a demanding unit...

First of all, we remind you that you can participate in these interviews by accessing our Discord channel. That said, we leave you with a brief introduction of the EADA colleague we had the pleasure of interviewing, we hope you like it and we look forward to reading your comments.

Good morning, I hope to answer your questions as best as possible. My military career after leaving the ETESDA, which is the Air Force school where you first undergo general military training before going to your destination, I went directly to the EADA (air deployment support squadron). That said, my arrival at the unit in 2010 was tough, like that of any recruit newly arrived at an operational unit, but it has been an honor to serve and learn alongside the people I have encountered. I have learned from everyone, fellow members of my own unit, members of other units or armies, etc. I have completed 4 deployments in Afghanistan, as a Raven (UAV) operator assistant to CCT (COMBAT CONTROL TEAM) the job of this is an air controller but on the ground, without a tower, equipped and with a radio, to be able to give way to aircraft such as helicopters or planes for their landing on unprepared runways. My next deployment was with AMPT (AIR MOBILE PROTECTION TEAM) they are in charge of the security of Spanish aircraft when they land in unsafe areas and my last deployment in Afghanistan was with CPT (VIP ESCORTS) in this case for the Colonel chief of the air detachment force.

My following deployments have been in Africa several times in Libreville and several times in Senegal, both as AMPT, the next is March 12 and in this case we are going to instruct the Senegalese special forces as CPT and so on until today.

Tema cursos hay muchos, el de paracaidismo básico es obligatorio ya que ocupas plaza paracaidista y por eso se Cobra un complemento, es decir… si esto te da miedo, este no es tu sitio, después tienes el curso paracaidista de apertura manual, ya conoceréis las diferencias. Curso HALO/HAHO curso de escolta… y muchos mas como cursos de guía canino tanto de explosivos como de combate.  

We will now begin with the questions proposed by the members of the Discord channel.

1- Why did you choose EADA?

I chose EADA for its proximity, and because like many of you, I have the vocation to be part of an operational unit, to reach my limit, etc. Murcia, for example, is very far for me and in some way I wanted to continue with my life as much as possible.

2-What is the initial instruction of the EADA?

I'm not going to go into this much, it's tough, you go hungry, thirsty, and cold, you suffer and learn many things that any self-respecting soldier must know.

Whoever comes to the unit will discover it.

3-What motivates you the most every day being part of EADA?

Well, the military career, the courses I have, some of them I can only take at EADA, motivates me to be a good soldier, to see the young recruits and be able to teach them what we know, so that tomorrow we have competent people in the unit.

I want to clarify something regarding courses, the only one you have guaranteed is the automatic parachutists, then depending on your destination within the squadron you will have preference in one or the other.

4- Is it common to go out for maneuvers?

Yes, constantly, some sections more than others. If your specialty is PFA, yes, it comes out a lot, in addition to that it is skipped in the afternoon or at night depending on the needs of the aircraft that are launched to fulfill their PAB.

5- Is it a good destination for climbing?

That does not depend on the destination, it depends on you, for the specific troop, if it is a good destination, because a year in the EADA scores more than in other destinations (as long as you are promoted within the same scale, for example from soldier to corporal), courses and other things.

If you want to be promoted to non-commissioned officer, it's up to you... I have colleagues who have achieved it while being with me in the section because they really wanted it.

6- What is a typical day like in the Unit?

Let's see, here I'm going to talk about my specific section, although almost the entire squad works the same way.

Early morning sports (no excuses) if you are a whiner go somewhere else, then we have theoretical or practical sessions, some days there is shooting and if not, parachuting (the latter takes precedence over everything).

7- What is the perfect physical shape for the EADA?

This question... the physical condition for the EADA is like that of any soldier worth their salt, healthy and athletic, who can run, who can train, and who can carry their equipment.

8- Once you have completed the academy at ETESDA, what physical and mental requirements are there to obtain the beret?

The demand is very high, but nothing is impossible, plus this is relative.
Not everyone finds it equally difficult.

9- Does the EADA go on missions often?

It is the air force unit that goes on mission the most, Right now we have personnel deployed in Lithuania, Bulgaria, Senegal, Mali in addition to training in Tunisia, Senegal, Cape Verde, although the latter is not considered a mission and usually lasts 4 weeks, missions in the EADA last 3-4 months.

10- If I want to be promoted to non-commissioned officer, do I have to leave the EADA and then re-enter after going through the training again?

That's right, if you return you must go through the training period again as a non-commissioned officer, and it is absolutely different; among other things, you are required to have leadership skills.

11- Does the EADA have JTAC members or other specialties?

The EADA has two JTACs, JTAC is not a specialty, it is a training. 

12- Have you conducted joint maneuvers with SEADA and EZAPAC? How would you rate the level? They say that in EZAPAC, being accessible from the street, there is not as much professionalism.

This question, with all my respect, is nonsense, EZAPAC is a unit that deserves the respect it merits, when you arrive new obviously just like in any other unit you are a rookie who doesn't understand anything. But EZAPAC requires you to go through its training period based on its work and missions, don't forget that they are green berets.
I have not worked with the SEADA.

13- In the missions you have been on, which one would you say has been the most dangerous? What does it feel like mentally and physically in a situation that could end in the worst way?

Well, I'm going to answer this question briefly. There are complicated missions, such as landing on an unprepared runway in Africa and having the plane break down; the repair can take days, and in that case, you become an easy target. The work of AMPT is like that...

14- What did you feel during your first parachute jump?How often do you jump, does it still impress you?

Well, I personally was not very aware, in automatic you realize little, in manual opening it is a marvel, but you enjoy it from the 3rd or 4th jump when you are aware of what you are doing, the feeling is personally unbeatable, every time I see a plane I get on to jump.

Well, we jump almost weekly, but it's true that many jumps are canceled due to bad weather in Zaragoza; the cierzo is unforgiving. You get used to jumping, but it still impresses you.

15-What different sections does the EADA have?

Uf many... I will surely leave some out:

Security Section, NBQR, protection systems (these are the UAV operators), EOD, K9 Section, Mistral Section (anti-aircraft artillery also against UAS) they have a mechanics section, Sword Section (long-range anti-aircraft artillery) this is linked with an aerial radar section to detect the threat, vehicle section, armories, communications, folding room (for automatic parachutes, manual opening the jumper folds them) health section, Loads (they prepare the loads that will be loaded onto a plane or if they will be dropped, they prepare the load with its parachutes to be dropped from a plane. SMD Section, these are the ones who set up the deployment tents wherever we go...

16-What do you like the most and the least about EADA?

Well, personally, jumping or being in a precision shooting team, which is also a unit that keeps improving and learning, the NEO missions which is the rescue of personnel as you saw in Kabul, we also did it in Libya and some other places.

What least, sometimes the excess of work but, it is what it is.

17- Do you think that to be a CCT Operator or any operational section of the EADA, one must dedicate all their time to it, leaving personal/social life aside if necessary?

No, it is sacrificed but not to the point of putting your life aside

18- How would you describe/qualify your experience at EADA?

This is a personal opinion, for me unbeatable, I have a good military career there are people who may not think the same.

19- Would you say that the EADA's equipment is outdated/obsolete compared to current military equipment?

The material of the EADA is the best we have in the army without a doubt... when you do joint maneuvers, you realize it.

20- What is learned in the shooter course, is it easy to access?

In the Air Force, there is no such course; there is an international one or the section that is responsible for that offers a course, where you learn what is necessary to make an accurate shot... 


As I said, it is not a course and falling into the shooters section, no, it is not easy, first you have to be assigned to the security section and then over time, shoot well, good physical condition...

21- What advice would you give to those who want to enter EADA?

Get ready mentally and physically, it’s tough but it passes, if you are a weakling this is not your place, it is a demanding unit where everyone must complete training periods 1 and 2, the 2 is given in the destination sections, they teach you to use the various equipment, the 2 is purely technical and only those who have passed the 1 do it, as mentioned, to enter the unit what is needed is guts.

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