Testing before the combat firing in the Baltic region (20. March) The members of the 2nd Anti-Aircraft Rocket Group KUB of the Anti-Aircraft Rocket Brigade based in Nitra completed the centralized training in Lešť. This training represented the final preparation for the combat action, which will take place in Ustka, Poland, in May. However, the operating personnel of the self-propelled Anti-Aircraft Missile complex 2K12 KUB STRELA II must, in addition to their tasks, coordinate certain newly introduced changes as to real combat activities in the air. The members of the group also practiced tasks related to versatile combat support and coordination, cooperation and interoperability of the participants within the centralized training in Lešť. They also trained at breaking through a contaminated area and partial decontamination.
Determination to enhance the quality of training (24 March) The Minister of Defence aims to improve the condi ons and the quality of the training of the Armed, the Security and the Rescue Forces. Therefore, the Defence Department has ini ated mee ngs with the Slovak Armed Forces, the Police Corps and the Firefigh ng and Rescue Corps representa ves regarding the future shape of the Military Training Area Lešť. Other units, which make use of the training area, are planned to be invited to the mee ngs by the MoD. ‘We would like to create a space in collabora on with the Ministry of Interior for all the par cipants involved, so the Armed units, the Security units and the Rescue Corps define requirements to improve the training and take advantage of the capabili es offered by Lešť,’ stated the Slovak Minister of Defence Mar n Glváč. According to the Chief of the General Staff of the AF SR Peter Vojtek, the aim is to enhance the quality of the largest training facility. It is necessary to equip the facility with simulators so that they are available for all the units involved in the crisis management. ‘We also talked about including medical service and volunteers, who intervene in crisis situa ons and achieve very good results, in such exercises,’ stated Lt. Gen. Vojtek. The Chief of the Police Corps of the Slovak Republic Gen. Tibor Gašpar remarked that the police officers as well as the firemen or rescuers face dangerous situa ons. ‘There is nothing more important than a good prepara on. A high quality training is, therefore, essen al,‘ he men oned. The Firefigh ng and Rescue Corps also welcome a close coopera on with the Armed Forces. ‘The training facility will provide favorable condi ons for the joint training of the firemen, rescuers, soldiers, police officers, and other units of the integrated rescue system to rehearse a response to a large-scale emergency with the focus on elimina on of consequences. I am very pleased that reitera ve ini al training has been introduced on interdepartmental level, ‘stated Alexander Nejedlý, the Chief of the Firefigh ng and Rescue Corps. The Military Training Area Lešť is the largest training area in Slovakia. It offers a complex training for the military, police, rescue and medical professionals including the fight against terrorism and organized crime. In the premises of the training area there are several simulators.
● Preparation for the international exercise of military chemical units TOXIC VALLEX 2013, which is to be held in September and October, continued on 19 – 20 March in Čereňany on a planning conference with participation of experts from nine NATO countries. In a training, analytical and supply centre of radiological, chemical and biological protection, the Slovak and foreign experts specified areas of responsibility with regard to the performance of the exercise related tasks. The aim of the exercise will be the training and coordination of individual procedures while working with toxical and chemical substances and an appropriate protection. ● Together with nearly 80 soldiers from the Land Forces HQ, it was also Brig. Gen. Ondřej Novosad who participated in an advanced on-the-job training on 19 March. That was aimed at practicing shooting at a group target after physical strain, under time pressure and with re-charging a magazine and at shooting at a stationary target during the day. Map-reading was a part of the training as well. The participants also checked their knowledge as to medical preparation and practiced their skills of weapon handling and field movement. ● On 19 March, a commander of the battalion Lt.Col. Štefan Acsai welcomed a Defence Attaché of the Federal Republic of Germany Lt. Col. of the Gen. Staff Lars Ukerwitz at the 12th mechanized battalion in Nitra. He briefed the special guest on the history and organization structure of the battalion, on the training of the units and on the main equipment. A commander of the 3rd mechanized company Capt. Peter Melník made a presentation of the unit declared to the NATO Response Forces 2013. ● On 19 March, the professional soldiers from the Base of Stationary Communication and Information Systems (ZaSKIS) underwent an advanced on-the-job training aimed at enhancing their vital combat skills in the premises of the SNP barracks. It was aimed at the tactical, medical and engineering preparation of members of ZaSKIS in garrisons in Trenčín, Bratislava, Zvolen and Prešov. ● The members declared to the reserve unit for ALTHEA operation practiced activation into the state of readiness on 20-21 March in Nitra. The unit of immediate reserve, with the strength of 125, will be from 1 April until the end of the year ready to be deployed to operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina within 10 days from activation, in the case of a crisis situation,’ explained ChoD of the SR Lt.Gen. Peter Vojtek. By the end of the year, the unit may be deployed up to 4 times, not longer than 30 days. The training was held in the premises of the 12th mechanized battalion. The conditions of a real deployment in operation will be simulated during the OPREH exercise (Operational Rehearsal) in Bosnia and Herzegovina in September this year. ● In Prešov, members of the helicopter wing underwent the training aimed at abseiling from a helicopter and at transportation of persons in an under-slung operation. They practiced abseiling from a helicopter Mi-17 M and transportation of persons under sling of the helicopter using a carrying device UT-2000. For the purposes of transportation of casualties in a lying position, the rescue teams also use a vacuum carrying device, which is a standard part of the equipment of Mi-17 of the Air Search and Rescue Service (SAR). The training was a very demanding one, mainly due to strong winds and low temperatures. The participants abseiled from the height of 30 – 50 m at the airfield and in its vicinity. Communication between an operator and the participants carried under sling was only visual, based on signals. The crews made altogether 11 flights lasting 1hour and 50 minutes.
Awards to military sportsmen (18 March) The Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Róbert Fico, the Minister of Education, Science, Research and Sport Dušan Čaplovič and the Minister of Defence of the Slovak Republic Martin Glváč awarded the most successful athletes of the year 2012 in the Government Office of the Slovak Republic. More than 30 athletes were awarded. Marián Jung, the water motorist world champion, Klaudio Farmadín, the karate world champion and Igor Kočiš, the bodybuilding world champion, representing the Military Sport Centre Dukla Banská Bystrica, were among those awarded. ‘I am delighted that the Military Sport Centre Dukla is highly regarded thanks to their excellent athletes, who successfully represent the Slovak Republic. I will be pleased to see new athletes in the future coming out of Dukla. I will do my best to offer the athletes such excellent conditions as their excellent results are,’ said the Minister of Defence. The main characteristic feature of an athlete is his/her creativeness and a go – ahead attitude towards life, according to the Prime Minister Róbert Fico. ‘People, above all the young, whose characteristic feature is competitiveness, are eager to win. However, I know that sports give an opportunity to learn how to lose,’ the Prime Minister stated and added that learning to lose is a good lesson for an individual not to succumb to critical situations.
Helping to improve the Fire Capabilities of the ANA
www.mosr.sk/ebulletin/
Members of the 5th Kandak of the 4th Brigade of the 205th Corps of the Afghan National Army (ANA) underwent the small arms firing at the firing range Multinational Base (MNB) in Tarin Kowt, under supervision of the Slovak members of the Combat Service Support Military Advisory Team (CSS MAT).
Within 5 days, all the companies of the battalion trained at the firing range. The firing under the supervision of the CSS MAT advisors was the first one after more than half a year. After more than 2 years, the firing was held from 12,7 mm Machine-Gun DŠK, used by the 5th Kandak while performing their operational tasks. Prior to the firing itself, which was held on a firing range designated for artillery ordnance, weapons were checked by the instructors 1LT Michal Bóna and MSG Tomáš Német. The check was connected also with the briefing and instruction on usage of a particular weapon by members of the ANA, in compliance with the role and mission of CSS MAT. The 4th rotation of Military Advisory Team under the Slovak lead focuses on enhancing a level of preparedness and on achievement of a full operational sustainability of 5th Kandak of the 4th Brigade of the 205th Corps of the ANA at the MNB in Tarin Kowt in the province Uruzgan.
eBULLETIN MO SR
A Visit from Vietnam (19 March) Minister of Defence of the SR Martin Glváč met at MoD SR the Deputy Minister of Defence of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Chi Vinh at MoD SR to negotiate possibilities of mutual cooperation. ‘We continue to view the field of armaments an important one in terms of further development of bilateral cooperation,’ stated the Minister. The guest delegation was accompanied by the State Secretary of MoD Miloš Koterec. In Sliač, the delegation met with the Commander of the Air Force of the AF SR Brig. Gen. Miroslav Korba. The program involved the exhibition of MiG-29 and L-39 simulators. As a part of the visit to the Institute of Special Healthcare and Training in Lešť, the guests were shown round the premises of the training area and were given a chance to see a special forces’ dynamic demonstration.
March 18 - 24, 2013