We don't have permanent scenarios, we don't presume in advance who wins. Sometimes the students win, sometimes the opponent – says the colonel. Piotr Lewandowski from the Training Centre for Territorial Defence Forces, where territorialists from all over Poland spent 3 weeks on a combat course in the city. During the training they used, among others, a laser shooting simulator.
In Toruń, the second edition of the fighting course in the city was completed, which was organised for the territorialists Territorial Defence Military Training Centre. The training was attended by commanders of the lowest tactical levels, from section to platoon, from various territorial defence brigades throughout the country.
Theory and Laser
The first 2 weeks of training were devoted to the explanation class. Soldiers learned how to plan actions, learned the procedures of tactical command and medical and logistical security. Then it was time for applicable classes. any of these exercises could be observed by journalists. And so about 90 students and instructors took part in the action with the usage of field visuals. They utilized laser shooting simulator, which consists of a strategy of weapon overlays, sensors that soldiers wear, and antennas utilized to transmit signals. erstwhile the trainer pulls the trigger, it activates the laser beam emitting mechanism. If it reaches the enemy, the transmitter will choice it up and the strategy will evidence the hit. A hit soldier signals the elimination of combat by raising his hand.
– The laser combat strategy allows us to measure the losses that the military bears. The opponent is real. It has an advantage, due to the fact that the instructors of tactics stand in front of the students, so for participants of the course the fight against them is simply a crucial challenge – explains the colonel. Piotr Lewandowski from the center of Toruń. The officer besides stresses that the course organizers wanted students to learn to measure the situation and respond adequately to the rapidly changing conditions in the field of combat. – The aim of the course is to teach the commanders the lowest level of tactical organizing and conducting fighting in urban conditions, mainly with a defensive attitude. But it's expected to be an active defense,” adds the instructor.
Implementation: Jacek Szustakowski, Marcin Łobaczewski
Faster reactions, more precise reports
Part of the applicable course was completed by an episode during which the students had to defend themselves against attacking the opponent. The soldiers were already tired, but the instructors mobilized them to do their final task as best as possible. You're 30 hours without sleep, without food, without drinking, but you haven't been betting on mobility. Put it down now! I know you're tired, but I know you can do it! – says 1 of the officers.
In the opinion of Colonel Lewandowski, the ability to learn from mistakes was an crucial component of the course. After completing each of the stages of the applicable part, the instructors from Toruń waited for the trainers themselves to indicate what mistakes they had made. Then they gave their insights. The coursers were affected, among others, by inaccurate reporting, which made it hard for the commanders to make the right decisions.
The task of Section 3 commander was, for example, to keep the main trenches. "Unfortunately, we failed entirely due to artillery fire. My left flank was incapable of fighting. I had 3 wounded and 2 dead at the end of the action," the section commander admits. Colonel Lewandowski, assessing another effort to defend the facility, stated that the students did not draw all the conclusions from what had happened earlier. – Half the assault squad has breached your positions. You're not the only ones training, they're getting better too," the officer taught.
The organizers are trying to guarantee that the training in Toruń reflects the reality of the battlefield as much as possible. We don't have permanent scenarios, we don't presume who's gonna win. Sometimes the students win, sometimes the opponent – says Colonel Lewandowski.
For the first time a combat course in the city of the Territorial Defence Military Training Center organised last year. The training took place in Grudziądz and Toruń.
