Part 3: Behind the Scenes of EU MODEX – End of exercise and reflection

👉 With the pressure building through the earlier days, it was time to bring the exercise to a close.

In this final part of Stacey Vickers ’ diary, the EU MODEX exercise reaches its end. Teams reflect on their efforts, lessons are shared, and the closing ceremony marks the end of a successful operation.

Missed the earlier parts? You can find them at the bottom of this page.

Day 4, Thursday 30 January: End of mission, handover to local authorities

There was a definite feeling of the end of the exercise this morning, with the teams we visited in the process of dismantling tents and facilities. At LEMA, they were clearing up operations and taking down maps and Post-it notes. They prepared to officially hand back over to local authorities later that morning.

I spent the rest of the day attending debrief meetings. It was clear to see that the cohesive atmosphere we saw at the beginning of the exercise was even stronger now. Experts took turns to praise each other’s contributions over the mission, and one trainer noted that they now 'see blue and white vests sitting together'—a very positive sign of how integrated they had become!

One thing that impressed me during the mission was the fact that feedback was so encouraged; it was solicited at every EXCON meeting, as well as through an online 'Mentimeter', which ensured the exercise was transparent and reactive. This feedback was crucial, as lessons learned would be put to use shortly afterwards in the next exercise in Poland.

Day 5, Friday 31 January: Closing ceremony, homeward bound

The EU MODEX exercise finished with a closing ceremony at the Quinta da Arreinela in Almada, where participants gathered with hundreds of colleagues from the Autoridade Nacional de Emergência e Proteção Civil , National Medical Emergencies Institute ( INEM ) and the GNR - Guarda Nacional Republicana .

Seeing hundreds of people standing for the EU Anthem, Ode to Joy, served as a moving reminder of what the UCPM is all about. As Exercise Project Manager Mario Di Gennaro commented, the EU MODEX was:

A great example of European Solidarity and Member States acting together.

Inspiring volunteers, mission spirit

I was hugely impressed by the bravery, resilience, and stamina of the teams I observed over the past few days. The men and women who took part in these missions were often volunteers who did this in their own time, sometimes on top of another full-time job.

I felt like I’d had a chance to witness the famous Civil Protection mission 'spirit' that I’d often heard colleagues speak of. Despite the long days and often stressful, even potentially dangerous work, spirits remained high throughout, and it was easy to see how the strong friendships we witnessed quickly developed in this environment.

Andreas Fernando, Regional Commander of the National Civil Protection Authority, summed up the ethos of the exercise perfectly:

We train together so that when a disaster happens, we can contribute together.

As the exercise wraps up, it highlights the importance of these simulations: where teams train together, strengthen coordination, and refine their skills. This collaboration ensures they’re better prepared to respond when real disasters strike, making a real difference when it matters most.