Today marks the 16th anniversary of the XVI Canary Brigade (Brican XVI). Despite its youth, the units have a long-standing history in the Army, with both current and retired members participating in significant missions abroad. From the Sahara to Bosnia, as well as Kosovo, Kazakhstan, Mali, Lebanon, and Iraq, the brigade has demonstrated its deployment capacity beyond the eight islands of the Archipelago. This morning, during the anniversary event at the parade ground of the General Alemán Ramírez Base in Gran Canaria’s capital, this accomplishment was emphasized.
The military parade was led by the brigade’s head and military commander of Las Palmas, General Esteban Cabrejos. In his address, he highlighted the rapid credit and recognition earned by the island units throughout the country, particularly for their overseas operations. He pointed out that the troops have completed five tours in Afghanistan, with 149 soldiers from the 50th Canary Islands Regiment currently stationed in Iraq. Additionally, he mentioned plans to deploy another 100 troops to Mali and Central Asia this year.
However, the Brican Canarias XVI’s contributions are not limited to operations outside the country. In 2020, amid the pandemic, they provided support to the State Security and Corps by engaging in decontamination efforts, as well as assisting health workers in tracing Covid-19 cases. A year later, when the Tajogaite volcano erupted, 800 troops were dispatched to La Palma, where they established camps for the affected, facilitated evacuations, and cleared ash from rooftops to prevent structural damage.
The BRICAN XVI was established on February 1, 2008, making it the “youngest” brigade unit in the Army. Its personnel are stationed in various locations in Tenerife, Fuerteventura, and Gran Canaria, where its General Headquarters is situated.
