Soldiers approach the enemy's base, break fire contact, then evacuate the wounded. Later, they will have a water crossing in full gutter and carrying out an attack with combat ammunition. This is only part of the "Tigers" leadership course for junior lieutenants from the 1st Lęborian Mechanized Battalion.
“Tigers” is an initiative of soldiers of the 1st Lęborski Mechanized Battalion, who felt that junior officers should make their command and tactical skills,” said Lt. Krzysztof Korzypik, commander of the mechanized company. The program of the course includes both theoretical classes in the lecture area and exhaustive field activities that place young soldiers as commanders and subordinates. The ‘Tiger’ is to be held monthly from April to October. “We are going to train all the officers,” says Lieutenant Corps.
The first edition is over. What was the course scenario? Lt. Corps doesn't want to betray much so the soldiers of the next edition won't know about the tasks before the time. It is certain that all the activities were carried out on foot, and all the equipment needed was carried by students in backpacks (including make-up and combat measures). They spent the night in the woods, setting up temporary camps. Although the “Tiger” takes place in Kashubians associated with lowlands and lakes, the heights in the forests close Lębork can exhaust anyone.
Training facilities were available to the local unit and adjacent training facilities. First, for 2 days, they perfected in the field of action planning, trained in task analysis, and issued combat orders. The theoretical part was held in the lecture room, where the officers developed specialist knowledge, among others from the basics of tactics, which will be needed in the applicable part, from tactical signs, from the principles of drawing up a draft of the action. After specified training, they had a fewer days off.
Then it's time for the applicable part, which is 3 days of practice on the garrison. It starts with investigating and building a team. Soldiers must execute tasks in the physical fitness centre. There is not only fitness, but besides squad skills. This is how the squad is formed – says Lieutenant Corpsik. He adds: "Then begins tactical tasks included in the combat order.
At this stage, students had to show advanced physical fitness and endurance. The course organizers did everything to make everyone tired and sleepless after the first day. They wanted to see how they were doing in utmost conditions while doing very hard tasks. Then the instructors could best measure the method of command by officers and their opposition to stress.
During tactical tasks, students had to make a march, occupy a transitional base, conduct a reconnaissance of the object, attack the opponent, break fire contact, evacuate the wounded, cross the swimming water in full uniform or carry out an attack with the full squad utilizing combat ammunition.
The course was designed so that soldiers would execute tasks as both commander and subordinate. This allows them to measure the issue from different perspectives. “When they prove it, we require a combat order, measure their situational awareness, and direct soldiers in combat. On the another hand, erstwhile they become subordinates, we measure their tactical behaviour, equipment preparation and engagement in the execution of commands – says Lieutenant Krzysztof Korzypik.
A large group of pretenders took part in the Tiger, e.g. drone operators and diversion groups with which students are fighting. Significantly, the opponent varies according to the task – erstwhile he may be little experienced and make mistakes, and in another situation he will be better organized and attack erstwhile he senses the weakness of the commanding officer.
At the end of the course, the instructors and the instructors presented the assessment officers. They took into account, among others, the degree from the theoretical test, performance of task analysis and action sketch, squad leadership. In the first edition of the Tiger, 8 soldiers were trained, who yet received a certificate confirming successful completion of the course.
The commanders stress that during the course they want to prepare the officers to plan actions on the squad and command soldiers in combat, as well as to depart from the pattern of action. “We want to show them that in the field of combat there is flexibility, commitment, adaptability to a rapidly changing situation and creativity, and the success is decided by manoeuvre and initiative. We want the course to show the officers that they can walk distant from rigid, worn out schemes and show their creativity," emphasizes the commander of the mechanized company.
In the Lviv Battalion they already have an thought to organize the course in the advanced version. - Then we'll teach the platoon commanders. However, these are distant plans for now – says Lieutenant Corpsik.
