Ten teams from the 3rd Fleet of Ships competed in the “Neptun Challenge”, a competition that the Navy had never seen before. Competitions required participants to have physical fitness and cognition of the soldier's profession, but they could not prepare for all tasks. The winners were representatives of the Bank Rescue Group from the Support Ship Squadron.
"Neptun Challenge" competition in 3 Fleet Ships.
The utility and combat competitions are widely organized in military units to rise the level of training, verify the combat readiness of sub-divisions or form squad cooperation. specified initiatives besides build morale and motivation and service as a selection component for more demanding tasks.
– “Neptun Challenge” was not meant to be typical utility and combat competitions in which a soldier lays down and spreads weapons on time, etc. Our tasks were based on service activities, but we wanted the competitions to force teamwork, planning and fast consequence to amazing situations," said Lt. Marcin Kołoszuk, Head of the Physical Education and athletics Section in the 3rd Fleet of Ships (3th FO), in charge of the organization "Neptun Challenge".
"Neptun Challenge" competition in 3 Fleet Ships.
The first edition of these competitions took place in October. The teams for 5 days had to score after respective different competitions. For example, in full care and with backpacks weighing 15 kg, they travelled over a three-kilometre long obstacle course, threw grenades, carried 180-kilogram weight, swam in the pool, raced a boat, reached the points indicated on the map, memorized details in a peculiar area and had to answer questions about them. – Competitions required participants to be well-being and cognition of tactics. In the rules we gave a description of tasks, but they could not prepare for everything before – says the organizer of the “Neptun Challenge”. In peculiar competitions were besides filled with further scored challenges. Getting into the boat, the helmman didn't know he'd get a set of puzzles to solve. Marching through the forest with a map, the squad did not anticipate to see what attractions await him, for which you could gain additional points or receive a time penalty.
"Neptun Challenge" competition in 3 Fleet Ships.
Regulations assumed that all five-man squad had to have a full-time commander, a physician, and at least 1 woman. 10 specified teams from 9 3 FO units competed. After 5 days of struggle, the best turned out to be representatives of the Bank Rescue Group from the Squadron of the Support Ships.
– We're all divers, so we couldn't afford to be better at water competitions. We were besides well prepared for another tasks, due to the fact that our full service is based on this – says Lieutenant Peter Bruski, commander of the Bank Rescue Group. He adds that the challenge for them was various puzzles that appeared at unexpected moments and gave additional points. At the same time, he admits that those variations that appeared on the way could not be prepared beforehand and had to be improvised.
"Neptun Challenge" competition in 3 Fleet Ships.
Commander Bruski is in charge of a 30-man division all day, so he had no problem exhibiting a team. – We know each another very well and sharing our duties is natural to us. During the competition, we did not waste time assigning roles, everyone knew what to do," says the BGR commander. He admits that competitions, as well as the thought of competition itself, are very positive. – It was a week of intense activities that allowed us to test ourselves from different angles. The competitions corresponded to the tasks that could meet us in the fight, so as a commander, I could get to know my soldiers even better," said Mr. He points out that squad reunion is not easy erstwhile stress, effort and you gotta act under pressure. “Therefore, all the more so are needed and I hope that even more teams will participate in the next edition,” says the commander of the winning team.
Kmdr. Kołoszuk does not hide that the "Neptun Challenge" was not a one-time event and is already planning a second edition, which is likely to take place in September 2026. It is possible that, after the success of the “Neptun Challenge” for the 3 FO units, akin utility and combat competitions will besides be organised for the full Polish Navy.
