2/2020

Czech Armed Forces 2019 David Jirka: I do not expect words of praise, I am happy among my comrades-in-arms, I still proudly represent From a rower to the rifleman

Rower David Jirka, a silver medallist at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and at the 2003 World Championships in Milano, ended his active sports career at ASC Dukla. In 2017, he joined another team and wears an "outfit" of the Honour Guard of the of the .

David Jirka started his career in the year 2001, during his compulsory basic military factsheet service in Prague’s sports club Dukla, where Nickname: Olí he subsequently continued as a professional Main discipline: quadruple sculls athlete-civilian. The opportunity to put on his Original team: Rowing Club Vajgar Jindřichův Hradec uniform opened up to him in 2005, right after Greatest achievements: Military Sports Centre Dukla Praha he won a silver medal in rowing, quadruple sculls, at the 2004 Athens Olympics. "In the Dukla team, everyone had to earn his place, namely with the sporting success he his main task was to learn everything that activities require a great deal of self-discipline, achieved. The length of the work contract every of the Honour Guard must patience, accuracy, mutual respect, but also depended mainly on the man’s ability to train master for the execution of protocol acts. even relaxation.” hard, as training hours lasted five to six hours Three months of intensive and hard training, a day," recalls David Jirka. He also participated which each member goes through, prepared Return among the Olympians in the following Beijing Olympics in 2008 and him for an exemplary representation in public With his balanced nature and modest qualified himself for the 2009 World Rowing and at the same time identified him with behaviour, David Jirka spreads a positive Championships. military behaviour and performance. For atmosphere even among his comrades-in- After many successes in the international David Jirka, these three months represented arms in the . Now he is starting to arena, the management of ASC Dukla offered a high psychological burden and change in all train more and more intensively on a single him a job to train young people under 23 respects." skiff and again he would like to become years of age. "The coach can usually only Jirka adds: "I was used to stress and actively involved in top sports. "In September be a civilian, so my decision to accept this tension before the races, but there you get rid of this year, I would like to participate in the offer, to become a coach, meant to 'take off' of it during physical activity. With the Honour Prague Mayor’s Shield Regatta. If I succeed, a military uniform, and that was difficult for Guard, I had to adapt a lot and learn to get the in 2021 I will try to run the so-called control me, as I wanted to continue serving in the stress under control even more." races with the best possible result. Only military. That is why I immediately nodded at The units of Honour Guard of the Czech Armed here my new chances for nomination for the the offer of the Prague Garrison Command forces provide protocol activities throughout Olympics may open again, as well as a chance and since 2017 I have been serving with the the Czech Republic and abroad, as well as the to return to the Olympic family," concludes his Honour Guard of the Czech Armed Forces as ceremonial welcome of various state foreign story, with a wide smile, corporal David Jirka, a senior rifleman in the rank of corporal,” Jirka delegations, ceremonial military musters, Olympian, honest sportsman and supposedly remembers his decision. and pleasant exhibition performances, and an ordinary boy from Jindřichův Hradec. in this way they represent the Army of the Three months of hard training Czech Republic in public. David Jirka further By MAJ Eva Cajthamlová, Miroslav Leška, explains: “In fact, I continue to represent our photos: archives of CPL David Jirka of the Honour Guard of the ACR, country, now no longer in sports suits, but in recalls Jirka’s beginnings very well: "Initially, a ceremonial uniform. My past and present Czech Armed Forces 2019 2 The "Forty-one", live deployment 15 Weapons of the poor 18 It must be seen 22 Rescuing isolated warriors 25 Investment in the future of the country 28 The mission always ends with the return of the 31 Ready to pass on new skills 34

On the wings of MiG-21 and JAS-39 Gripen 37 Responding to unexpected situations 38 Engagement sim 40 Stress under control 42 Fast Rope 44 A reservist MEP 46 Death came in the midst of the Storm 48

Published by MoD Czech Republic Communication and Promotion Department Tychonova 1, 160 01 Praha 6, Czech Republic www.army.cz

Identification number: 60162694

Address: Rooseveltova 23, 161 05 Praha 6, Czech Republic David Jirka as a member of the quadruples Phone: +420 973 215 648, +420 973 215 786 sculls during the Olympic race Editor­‑in­‑chief: Vladimír Marek Layout: Milan Syrový

Translation: Jaroslav Furmánek, Jan Jindra

Cover photo: MAJ Ladislav Kabát

Distributed by MHI Prague, Production Section Rooseveltova 23, 161 05 Praha 6, Czech Republic Ol'ga Endlová, tel. +420 973 215 563

Printed by: Czech Print Center, a. s.

ISSN 1804-9672 Registration number: MK ČR E 18227

Published in November 2020 Czech Armed Forces

Actual number of MoD personnel in 2005–2020

At Military Defence Civil servants Total 2019 professionals civilians strength 1 Jan 2005 22,272 17,858 40,130 PERSONNEL 1 Jan 2006 23,092 15,992 39,084 1 Jan 2007 24,245 14,400 38,645 In 2019, a total of 1,464 new military 1 Jan 2008 24,355 11,773 36,128 professionals enlisted in the line of 1 Jan 2009 24,103 10,575 34,678 recruitment plus 428 were enlisted as 1 Jan 2010 23,136 9,017 32,153 students of the University of Defence and 1 Jan 2011 22,261 8,303 30,564 the Military Department of the Faculty of 1 Jan 2012 21,751 8,248 29,999 Physical Education and Sport of the Charles 1 Jan 2013 21,733 8,288 30,021 University. 1 Jan 2014 21,011 7,530 28,541 The total number of outgoing personnel in 1 Jan 2015 20,864 7,487 28,351 2019 comprised 1,186 military professionals, 1 Jan 2016 21,970 6,411 1,131 29,512 554 defence civilians and 85 civil servants. 1 Jan 2017 23,184 6,515 1,148 30,847 In 2019, a total of 673 servicemembers 1 Jan 2018 24,251 6,691 1,178 32,120 were newly assigned to the Active Reserve 1 Jan 2019 25,105 6,796 1,183 33,084 Component. 1 Jan 2020 25,899 6,896 1,163 33,958 Actual strength of the Czech Armed Forces Active Reserve Component

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

1,098 1,093 1,128 1,214 1,237 1,259 1,488 2,194 2,788 3,190

Performance on the Czech Armed Forces’ 2019 recruitment target

Year 2019 Recruitment target Applicants Enlisted %

*Mil. Department 750 1,143 428 57.1

Recruitment 1,450 5,701 1,464 101.0 *Military Department of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport of the Charles University Performance on the recruitment target for the Active Reserve Component of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic

Year Recruitment Applicants Enlisted % target

2018 700 1,581 811 115.9

2019 700 1,463 673 96.1

Active Reserve Component in 2019

December 2018 December 2019 Growth Growth in %

Active reserve 2,788 3,190 402 14.4

Performance on recruitment targets

Mil Mil Mil % ARC ARC ARC % recruitment actually recruitment actual target enlisted target recruitment

2016 2,000 2,148 107.4 - - - 2017 2,000 2,174 108.7 700 886 126.5 2018 2,000 1,977 98.9 700 811 115.9 2019 2,200 1,892 86 700 673 96.1 INTERNATIONAL MILITARY STRUCTURES

Czech Servicemembers in International Military Structures in 2019

In 2019, a total of 201 Czech Armed Forces servicemembers were assigned to the NATO and EU international military staffs, NATO and EU agencies, Czech Armed Forces national representations in international military staffs, who were posted to NATO assignments in the territory of fifteen NATO nations and . OTAN Czech Armed Forces representatives also served in the capacity of Director J7 ACO/SHAPE Mons, , Deputy Chief of Joint Force Command (JFC) Brunssum, the , Chief of Staff Joint Force Training Centre (JFTC) Bydgoszcz, , and Deputy Commander Multinational Northeast (MND NE) Elblag, Poland.

Assignments to international staffs Number and workplaces abroad Permanent mission in Mons: 158 Belgium, , , , , , the Netherlands, , Poland, , , Spain, , and Ukraine Permanent mission in Brussels: 35 Belgium

Permanent mission in Norfolk: 8 USA TOTAL 201

READINESS FORCES, INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS AND OBSERVER MISSIONS

NATO and EU Readinnes Forces

NATO Response Force (NRF) Units with total strength of 1,200 personnel were assigned to NRF in 2019. A Czech Armed Forces Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) battery comprising 200 servicemembers was assigned to the NATO Very High Readiness Joint Task Force German-led on standby to deploy within days. A mechanised battalion complemented with combat support forces and combat support service units with total strength of 1,000 personnel was assigned to the Polish led NATO Response Force brigade at 45 days’ notice to move. The units were on standby in the territory of the Czech Republic.

European Union Battle Groups (EU BG) The international preparation was completed for the Visegrad Four European Union Battle in the first half of 2019, built through a joint effort of the V4 countries. Led by Poland, the V4 EU BG was on standby in the second semester of 2019. The Czech Republic was the lead nation in the domain of logistics, medical support and air support with the total contribution of 550 personnel. At the same time, national and international preparation was ongoing for the German­‑led EU BG, which will be on standby in the second semester of 2020. The Czech Republic has contributed to the German­‑led EU BG a mechanised company and specialist teams comprising 250 personnel. INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS AND MISSIONS unmanned aerial systems. The Guard Company performed missions relative to security measures in the assigned area of responsibility with In 2019, the Czech MoD and the Czech Armed Forces joined 13 the objective to eliminate the opposing forces’ activities targeting the international operations and 4 UN missions in 15 countries. The Bagram airbase. Czech Republic assigned the total of 1,617 service personnel into those operations in multiple rotations, while reducing its overall In TAAC­‑E (Logar, Wardak) and TAAC­‑W (Farah, Herat), a support and engagement in international operations from 913 servicemembers at influence unit was deployed. The unit’s command element was based the beginning of the year to 721 in December 2019. The year 2019 also at HKIA and BAF as part of TAAC­‑C. The support and influence unit saw the first member of the Active Reserve Component to deploy for comprised as many as 90 personnel, and stabilised at 60 personnel at an international operation. the end of the year. The unit detachments provided mentoring and support to Afghan special defence and security forces. NATO OPERATIONS AND MISSIONS Resolute Support Mission, In addition, twenty personnel of the Czech Military operated in The Czech Republic engaged in the Resolute Support the territory of Afghanistan. The unit’s mission was to provide security Mission in the territory of Afghanistan in 2019 in to persons and property of the Czech Embassy in Kabul including the the area of three regional Train, Advise and Assist Czech Ambassador’s residence. Commands (TAAC): TAAC­‑Capital (TAAC­‑C), TAAC­‑East (TAAC­‑E) and TAAC­‑West (TAAC­‑W). The Czech Republic KFOR Operation Joint Enterprise, deployments averaged altogether 330 personnel with Ten Czech Armed Forces specialists posted in the the total mandated strength of 390 personnel. The division across the HQ KFOR at Camp Film City in Pristina. Czech Armed was as follows: Forces servicemembers were involved in performance of operational assignment as part of the international TAAC­‑C – Kabul, Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA), hosted the staff. following Czech forces: • Czech Armed Forces Task Force Headquarters Resolute Support Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP), Lithuania with the total strength of 34 personnel, who were responsible for As part of the German led enhanced Forward Presence a comprehensive support to all Czech deployments in the territory (eFP) effort in Lithuania, the Czech Republic deployed of Afghanistan; www..int/kfor a company sized Czech Armed Forces Task Force eFP 24 KFOR CHRONICLE 12/2016 • Guardian Angels (GA) comprising 21 personnel, whose mission is to Lithuania comprising 235 servicemembers (till the provide force protection to mentors posted in the Kabul area; end of June 2019). That effort was followed by the • National representation in the Resolute Support Headquarters platoon-sized 30-strong Czech Armed Forces EW Task comprising 21 personnel at Kabul and the Bagram Airfield (BAF), Force eFP based in the Rukla training area, Lithuania. where they performed specialist functions; • Support units as required, such as the Deployable Communication Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP), Latvia Module (DCM), which performed duties associated with the provision In the NATO eFP under Canadian leadership (in of connectivity for command and control. Latvia), the Czech Republic was involved with the Czech Armed Forces Task Force eFP Latvia comprising In TAAC­‑E, the BAF Guard Company (GC) with mandated strength 55 servicemembers based in the Adazi training area, of 173 personnel was deployed in the Parwan province. Its order of Latvia. battle comprised support elements including the Explosive Ordnance The primary objective of the eFP is to take part in the Disposal (EOD) and Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) with multinational eFP Battle Group in common training and strengthening of NATO’s deterrence and collective defence capabilities in the area of deployment in peace, crisis and potentially in conflict. The Parliament of the Czech Republic authorised the mandate for those eFP training missions at up to 290 personnel.

Baltic Air Policing, Estonia The Czech Republic contributed the Czech Armed Forces Task Force Baltic Air Policing comprising 70 airmen stationed at Amari, Estonia. The overall mandate for this operation was up to 95 personnel with five JAS-39 Gripen aircraft. The unit’s mission was to provide air defence coverage to the airspace above the territory and territorial waters of the Baltic States: Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. The airplanes were assigned to the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence System (NATINAMDS).

EU MISSIONS AND OPERATIONS

European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM­‑M) The Czech Republic was engaged in the in the operation with the Czech Armed Forces Task Force Mali totalling 120 personnel in 2019. The Task Force comprises the representation in the EUTM-M staff, the Bamako force protection unit, Koulikoro force protection unit and two training instructors. The force protection unit performed the missions associated with security of the HQ EUTM­M and the Koulikoro Training Centre. Two instructors assisted on training the Malian Armed Forces in the Koulikoro Training Centre. In performance of those tasks, the Czech servicemembers predominantly cooperated with French, Malian, German and Spanish units. Upon the establishment of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Mali in September 2019, the mission for the Czech deployment was expanded with the task to support our Czech Embassy.

EUFOR Althea, The parliamentary mandate for the EUFOR Operation was two personnel in 2019. The Czech Republic was involved in the operation with two officers, who performed duties relative to the provision of camp security, checking and potential disposal of unexploded ordnance of munitions of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Czech Armed Forces service personnel were assigned to the Operation Headquarters at Camp Butmir Sarajevo.

EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta, Somalia, United Kingdom EU NAVFOR MED Operation Sophia, Italy The Parliamentary mandate for EU NAVFOR Somalia The Czech mandate for EU NAVFOR MED Operation Operation Atalanta was three service personnel in Sophia authorised 5 service personnel in 2019. The 2019. The primary mission is to provide antipiracy mission was established in response to the migration protection to vulnerable vessels and sea lines of crisis. The primary tasks include the elimination of communication in the maritime area of the Horn people smuggling networks, rescue of migrants in of Africa. The Czech Republic was engaged in the distress and training of the Libyan Cost Guard. The operation with two officers and one non-commissioned , Czech Republic engaged with three personnel, who performed tasks who served at the Operation Headquarters (OHQ) at Naval Station at the Operation Headquarters and one servicemember at the Force Rota, Spain. Headquarters (FHQ) based at Rome, Italy. INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS • MILITARY OPERATIONS Air Advisory Team (AAT), Iraq OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY The Czech Armed Forces Air Advisory Team comprising 35 personnel was stationed at the Balad MFO, Sinai, Arab Republic of Egypt Base and provided mentoring to the Iraqi The Czech Republic engaged in MFO with three Air Force flight and ground personnel with respect to officers assigned at HQ MFO, and an air unit with the L-159 aircraft. The team terminated air mentoring the C-295 CASA aircraft comprising altogether 15 at 31 November 2018 and focused specifically on personnel. The air unit provided airlift for personnel ground preparation. and materiel among the MFO camps, Cairo and Tel The performance of operational assignment was terminated on Aviv, transport of government and liaison officials of 31 May 2019. On 30 June 2019, the complete AAT redeployed back the parties of the Peace Treaty, and partially also Search and Rescue to the Czech Republic, including personnel and materiel from the (SAR) service and Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) as well as verification Balad Air Force Base. and observation flights. The Air Advisory Team was transformed into the ALCA Training Unit, which comprises up to 13 personnel and deploys twice a year for Operation Inherent Resolve, Iraq, Kuwait about two month’s tour. In 2019, the Czech Republic assigned the Czech Armed Forces Task Forces Iraq, which included Training Team (MPTT), Iraq service personnel posted at the OIR (Operation The Czech Military Police Training Team with 7 person- Inherent Resolve) and NMI (NATO Mission Iraq) nel was deployed in the territory of the Republic of headquarters and staffs in Baghdad, at Al Taji base, Iraq in 2019 to provide training and mentoring to the plus one servicemember in Kuwait. The Czech Armed Iraqi Police. The unit was a part of the Task Force Police Forces Task Force Iraq includes the Military Police Training Team and Iraq led by the Italian Carabinieri and was based at the the CBRN Training Team with total strength of 38 personnel. Iraqi Police School at Camp Dublin in Baghdad.

Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defence Training Team (CBRN TT), Iraq In 2019, the territory of the Republic of Iraq also hosted the CBRN defence training team comprising 12 personnel, provided advisory support and mentoring to operational training of Iraqi Armed Forces CBRN on the protection against weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The unit was based at the CBRN defence school at Al Taji base. The CBRN Training Team was temporarily reinforced with a lab specialist training unit of up to 13 personnel, who have operated autonomously and deployed twice a year for a two month’s tour. The unit operated in the internal perimeter of the Baghdad International Airport. UN MISSIONS

UNDOF, Golan Heights, Syria, While the mandate for UNDOF was up to 10 personnel in 2019, the Czech Republic was engaged with four officers serving at UNDOF Headquarters at Camp Faouar on the Syrian side (3 personnel) and in Camp Ziouani on the Israeli side (1 personnel). In the UNDOF Headquarters, the Czech personnel perfor- med specialist functions.

MINUSMA, Mali Until September 2019, the UN Military Observers Czech Republic was engaged in MINUSMA with 5 personnel, The Czech Armed Forces UN military observers served tours in 2019 in four UN peace missions who served at the MINUSMA comprising the total of 9 personnel. Headquarters in Bamako (3) and in Camp Gao, embedded in the German ISR MONUSCO (Democratic Republic of Congo) – 2 personnel team (2). From October 2019, the engagement UNMIK (Kosovo) – 2 personnel was reduced by two personnel who operated MINUSMA (Mali) – 2 personnel as part of the German contingent in Gao. MINUSCA (Republic of Central Africa) – 3 personnel

Current operational deployments of the Czech Armed Forces Estonia

Latvia

Lithuania

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Kosovo

Mediterranean Sea

Iraq Israel Afghanistan

Mali Sinai

Republic NATO UN of Central Africa

Coalition European Democratic Union Republic of Congo operations Somalia based on international agreements MODERNISATION new floating bridges with higher loadbearing capacity to replace the obsolescent PMS pontoon bridging system and for the acquisition of Mechanised forces – efforts are underway to complete the project new bridges on wheeled platform with adequate ballistic protection of replacing the primary equipment of the 7th Mechanised Brigade and a higher loadbearing capacity to overcome both water and land through procurement of a total of 210 new tracked infantry fighting obstacles. vehicles in seven variants with deliveries planned in 2022–25. In order to enhance the combat engineer support capabilities, the The military tests of 20 wheeled C2 and C3 vehicles on the Pandur public procurement case was started to acquire 5 units of ballistic platform were successfully completed with deliveries ongoing in resistant earthmoving machines (High Mobility Engineer Excavators) 2019–20. The procurement has been ongoing of forty-two C2 and for the engineer service. Specifications were developed for ordering C3 wheeled armoured vehicles on the TITUS Tatra platform. The a feasibility study for the procurement of a single medium wheeled preparations for upgrade of T-72M4 CZ tanks, planned for 2022–25, platform for the engineer service. have been recently finalised. The deliveries of MUM-14 night vision goggles and universal CBRN defence – the acquisition process is designed to progressively ballistic vests for mechanised forces were completed. For another modernise the equipment and materiel in the inventory of the Czech item of individual ballistic protection, Model 2017 ballistic helmets, Armed Forces CBRN Defence Service. The performance commenced of verification tests and subsequently military tests were commenced. the contract for the procurement of light armoured vehicles designated The new helmets are slated for introduction to the inventory in 2020. S­‑LOV­‑CBRN and LOV­‑CBRN II for sampling and identification of Repeated military tests went through successfully of the project chemical and radiological agents. The deliveries of a total of 80 named Advanced Active Protection against the effects of handheld vehicles to the CBRN defence units are scheduled for 2021-22. antitank weapons and antitank missiles. Preparations were commenced for an upgrade of the AL-3 field lab planned for 2020, which will allow for its use as part of CJ­‑CBRND­‑TF with Artillery – in the frame of the project to maintain and develop the standby starting at 1 Jan 2021. A progressive modernisation has taken Czech Armed Forces’ artillery, the preparations have continued to place of the parts of the instrumentation and equipment in the area of develop documentation for the acquisition of the following projects: detection, identification and monitoring including the development self-propelled NATO gun, artillery fire control system and the fire of decontamination capabilities. support coordination post. In the domain of science, development Specific science, research and innovation projects are designed to and research, the following projects are pursued: cover forensic sampling, detection of specific chemical warfare agents, • The project of implementation of radio sounding devices on the decontamination of sensitive and internal surface of military vehicles PODTEO wheeled platform successfully passed the military tests; and equipment including small arms and light weapons as well as • action associated with its implementation is presently taking place; projects designed to develop new individual personal protective • Calibre 60 mm SMK­‑LD shells and 60 mm ILL­‑LD shells; equipment. • DPzP maintenance vehicle; In 2019, the formation and intensive training took place of the European • Proposal of upgrade of the Czech Armed Forces’ mortars after DAAM­‑FP­‑CBRND unit, whose primary mission is to provide CBRN Union 2020 – the ROZMIN study was completed and accepted in timelines defence to a NATO operational airbase. pursuant to the contract. Airborne forces – the development started of the airborne , Engineer service – to ensure freedom of movement of own forces, which will be formed on the basis of the 43rd Airborne Battalion specifications were developed and submitted for the procurement of in Chrudim at 1 October 2020. Based on the unit development plan, drafting of mandatory documentation for the renovation of Rover Defender platforms through the introduction of the LZTOP immovable infrastructure in the Chrudim garrison is underway as well system (light medical evacuation system). The program will continue as the planning of progressive introduction of military equipment and in the years ahead until the final modernisation of this equipment is materiel for the nascent regiment. completed by 2030. Concurrently, the replacement takes place of The airborne, rescue and paradrop service section of the MoD Force obsolete ambulance cars at the Medical Services Centres with modern Development Division has taken over the responsibility for the Volkswagen ambulance vehicles. development of the sniper military occupational specialty of the Czech Armed Forces. The members of the section are involved in training in the Czech Armed Forces including military tests of equipment and materiel associated with such training.

Intelligence support – the prototype highly automated reconnaissance unmanned ground vehicle prototype designated UGV­‑Pz was successfully completed, primarily designed for land reconnaissance and land reconnaissance support, which attained new unmanned reconnaissance capabilities. Specific development projects resulted in the introduction of new electronic warfare systems – the STARKOM jammers and Deployable Passive Electronic Support Measures Trackers (DPETs) for covert information gathering from the electromagnetic spectrum, and TUAS (Tactical Unmanned Aerial System) to attain new unmanned aerial systems capabilities. Essential components and materiel were acquired to support the operation of the ScanEagle unmanned aerial system on a foreign deployment.

Military medicine – modernisation continued of the equipment of rehabilitation facilities that are an essential component for the provision of primary care in selected Medical Services Centres. Further, instrumentation was modernised for the provision of pre- hospital care, emergency medical service and renewal of equipment in the inventory of field hospitals. A contract was executed to replace the instrumentation in stationary and mobile labs of the Military Medicine Institute essential to perform hygienic and counter- epidemic support of the MoD, and modernisation of the BIOROVER and BIOSCAM superstructures. The performance of the contract was extended through the first half of 2020. The realisation started of the replacement of medical evacuation vehicles on the UAZ and Land Ground Based Air Defence – the RBS-70NG procurement program as well. The third phase was completed of the modernisation of the is designed to acquire 16 units of the RBS-70NG man-portable air KTL-159 trainer, which sought to upgrade the multimedia room and defence systems in 2020–2021 as a replacement of the 9K35M PC simulators for L-159 aircraft pilots. Preparations commenced for STRELA-10M2D/IFF (SA-13 Gopher) system. The RBS-70NG system Secure Voice systems on the JAS-39 Gripen aircraft and military tests passed the military tests prior to the introduction into the inventory of special flight equipment (helmet, oxygen mask, anti ­g suit, pilot and the first batch of 8 units is scheduled for delivery in 2020. vest and ejection seat survival kit) for tactical aircraft pilots. Mandatory The strategic project of new SHORAD system to replace the 2K12 KUB documentation is developed for contracting for an upgrade of the (SA-6 Gainful) in 2022–26 is on schedule, with the contract execution JAS-39 Gripen aircraft including the integration of IFF Mode 5 to planned by the end of 2020. improve the JAS-39 Gripen identification friend or foe capability, integration of new short and medium range missiles and GPS guided Helicopter and Transport Air Force – modernisation is underway air-to-ground ammunition, integration of the Forward Air Controller of the Mi-17 linked with the Single European Sky/Single (FAC) link to enhance the ability to perform close air support in European Sky ATM Research (SES/SESAR) project and the Mi-171Sh cooperation with JTACs. The future introduction of the new standard helicopters to keep up the ability to provide airlift in support of the land Second Generation Anti­‑Jam Tactical UHF Radio for NATO (SATURN) forces and the performance of the missions by the Special Operation radio communication system is in a preparation phase. An integrated Air Task Unit (SOATU). In 2019, documentation was developed and working team was formed at the end of the year with the tasking to contracts signed for the modernisation of the CASA C-295M define the future shape of tactical air units beyond 2027, after the lease transport aircraft in connection with the SES/SESAR project and of the JAS-39 Gripen supersonic aircraft expires. for the procurement of two new C-295MW aircraft. In addition, a contracting procedure was initiated in 2019 for the procurement of a small business jet airplane, primarily to provide air transport of top constitutional and government leaders. The Czech Republic joined the Multinational Multirole Fleet (MMF) program to gain access to the shared fleet of the Airbus A-330 MRTT multirole tanker transport aircraft.

Tactical air units – military tests were completed of the night vision goggles (NVG) for both the JAS-39 Gripen and L-159 aircraft pilots. Deliveries and preparation in progress for the integration of the Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) terminals for information transfer using LINK 16 with the military tests planned in 1Q 2020. The system will enable the transmission of tactical and operation data between the aircraft and the command and control elements and sharing of classified information on the operation of the opponent’s assets between own assets and air and land command posts. Three L-159T2 dual control aircraft were accepted and introduced into the inventory of the Czech Armed Forces in 2019 Key strategic projects

Support of Land Forces and Special Multirole helicopters Forces

Recognised air picture Mobile Air Defence Radars (MADR) – air defence

Heavy brigade Tracked Infantry Fighting Vehicles Attaining the Czech Armed Forces capabilities Forces the Czech Armed Attaining Effective fire support NATO calibre guns

Images are only illustrative

• Air Force Command (AFC) NEW CAPABILITIES The AFC achieved the initial operational capability at 1 Jan 2020, and is The development of new capabilities is a direct result of the changes planned to attain the full operational capability at 1 Jan 2022. in the requirements presently facing the Czech Armed Forces. The The capability of ensuring sovereignty, national defence capability and changes can be divided into two main areas – changes in the C2 territorial integrity of the Czech Republic and its airspace. system and the development of forces capable of dealing with new requirements and missions. The new capabilities are built in Force development accordance with the Czech Armed Forces Development Concept 2030. 1. Cyber Forces and Information Operations Command (CFIOC) Command and Control systems Formation commenced 1 Jul 2019, achieved the 1. Organisational redesign of the Staff (GS). The Support initial operational capability at 1 Jan 2020, and full Division of the Ministry of Defence (MoD SD) was abolished, and the operational capability at 1 Jan 2025, based in Brno. MoD Logistics Division, MoD Communication and Information Systems CFIOC contributes to the security and defence of Division and the MoD Military Medicine Division were formed. The the Czech Republic’s cyber space and information environment with Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare Department was reorganised the capability of protecting own parts of the cyberspace, information into the MoD Czech Armed Forces Intelligence Support Division. All operations in the cyberspace, psychological operations and civil-military newly formed components achieved the initial operational capability cooperation. at 1 January 2020. The MoD Joint Operation Centre (MoD JOC) was abolished at 31 December 2019. 2. Territorial Command (TerCom) Formation commenced 1 Jul 2019, initial operational 2. Transition from two-echelon command and control capability was achieved at 1 Jan 2020, full operational system to a three-level one (comprising strategic, capability will be achieved at 1 Jan 2025, based at Tábor. operational and tactical level). The operation level is TerCom is responsible for providing specialist policy represented by the Operations Command (OpsCom). guidance to the Regional Military Headquarters in the area of the The OpsCom achieved the initial operational ARC for calling up ARC personnel for training, military exercises and capability 1 Jan 2020 and will have achieved full operational operational assignment/deployment including the issuance of their capability at 1 Jan 2022. equipment and materiel.

3. New structure of the tactical level: 3. Airborne Regiment (subordinate to the LFC) • Land Forces Command (LFC) Formation commenced 1 Jul 2019, initial operational The LFC achieved the initial operational capability at 1 Jan 2020, capabilities will be achieved at 1 Oct 2020, full and will reach the full operational capability at 1 Jan 2021, upon its operational capability at 1 Jan 2026, based at Chrudim. relocation from the Prague garrison into the Olomouc garrison. The Airborne Regiment will have the ability The capability to form and develop land task forces for tactical missions to operate as an immediate reaction force in both inside and outside the Czech territory and for the performance of contingencies claiming a military response within as well as outside other statutory missions in the territory of the Czech Republic. the territory of the Czech Republic. It will have the capability to operation in NATO Task Forces and in hybrid environments with both military and non-military actors. 4. Deployable Forces Support Battalion (subordinate to the Director of the Logistics Agency) Formation commenced 1 Jan 2020, initial operational capability achieved 1 Jan 2022, full operational capability will be achieved at 1 Jan 2025, based at Rakovník. The battalion will have the capability to provide HNS, RSOM­‑SA and RSOM­‑CSC services in support of the Czech Armed Forces and NATO forces inside as well as outside the territory of the Czech Republic.

5. Medical (subordinate to Director of Military Medicine Agency). The 6th Medical Battalion: Formation commenced at 1 Jan 2020, initial operational capability will be achieved at 1 Jan 2023, full operational capability will be achieved at 1 Jan 2026, based at Hradec Králové. Capability of comprehensive medical support to a Brigade Task Force.

6. Unmanned Aerial Systems Battalion (subordinate to the 53rd Recce and Electronic Warfare Regiment) Formation commenced at 1 Jan 2020, initial operational capability will be achieved at 1 Oct 2020, full operational capability will be achieved 1 Jan 2025, based at Prostějov. The battalion will assign modular components of individual categories of unmanned aerial systems in support of task forces. KEY MISSIONS OF THE CZECH ARMED FORCES IN 2020 • Train and staffs • Train forces and the ARC to maintain capabilities to ensure the defence of the Czech Republic • Prepare, deploy and support forces and assets on operations inside and outside the Czech Republic’s territory • Develop the Czech Armed Forces’ command and control capability • Perform missions linked with the development of new components as of optimisation of the Czech Armed Forces’ structure • Sustain operational serviceability and develop immovable infrastructure in support of the Czech Armed Forces • Generate stocks for an operational deployment and for reinforcing the capability of mobilisation and build-up of the Czech Armed Forces • Realize the Czech Armed Forces’ capability development projects A two-week Griffin-I exercise took place in March in the Hradiště Military Training Area, the Doupov Mountains The "Forty-one", live deployment In the training area of Military Regional Office Hradiště, the Doupov Mountains, a two-week Griffin-I exercise took place in March, the main actors of which were soldiers of the 41st Mechanized Battalion (41 Mech Bn) from Žatec, the so-called "Forty-one". They were accompanied by their comrades-in-arms from the 42nd Mechanized Battalion Tábor and the scouts from the 13th Artillery Regiment. They form together a task force assigned to the NATO Readiness Initiative (NRI). This exercise is also a preparation for the largest exercise of the 4th Brigade in this year – Strong Eagle 2020. using all military equipment available to is then evaluated by the umpires that means the battalion – including the deployment of from the behaviour of an individual soldier, Pandur wheeled armoured vehicles. to the response of the whole unit. This "It is necessary to harmonize all aspects of evaluation is extremely important for further combat operations, from standard operational joint preparation, when we focused on procedures, through drills, tactical skills, eliminating possible imperfections,“ informs signal transmission, up to the procedural further Kočica. mechanisms of command and control," stressed the commander of the task force and Strong Eagle 2020 will test the 4th at the same time also the commander of the Rapid Deployment Brigade 41st Mechanized Battalion, The largest exercise of the 4th Rapid "The training has the character of Stanislav Kočica. Deployment Brigade, the Strong Eagle, is comprehensive full-scale field training," said His words are completed by the Senior Enlisted scheduled for May this year. It will involve the commander of the 4th Rapid Deployment Leader of the 41st Mechanized Battalion, over 1,200 soldiers from various units of the Brigade, Colonel Josef Trojánek. "In addition 1st Class František Němec. Army of the Czech Republic and another to live fire from small arms and mounted "Our goal is to train soldiers to respond in 150 soldiers will control the units through weapons, tactical preparation and driver the same way – in mutual communication, in computers. The connection of real players, training, in the activities there were also fully guidance, or in responding to incidents," and simulated participants, and equipment, in involved the staff and individual elements of adds that the culmination of the exercises one single moment and in one place, will be logistical support. But the most important are combat firing of mechanized exceptional and unique. Besides the Hradiště thing is to harmonize soldiers from different with the support of a mortar battery, which military training area, the exercise will also units, so that they could be immediately is a combination of tactics with the use of live take place at the Centre of Simulation and capable of seamless deployment, in case of ammunition. Training Technologies (CSTT) in Brno. need.” "The main actor will be the 41st Mechanized First week – tactics and live firing Battalion, which has been assigned to the The Griffin’s Task – to harmonize the "For the whole first week, the soldiers trained NRI (NATO Readiness Initiative) since January activities of units tactics and fire independently, now the this year," states Colonel Jan Štěpánek, officer Each unit has its own standard operating training culminates in the live firing of ,” conducting the Strong Eagle 2020 exercise procedures for responding to different Lieutenant Colonel Kočica continues. "In and at the same time deputy commander situations. And the purpose of the practice, they perform a thematic task with of the 4th Rapid Deployment Brigade. "In Griffin-I exercise was primarily to bring live ammunition and the unit proceeds as if addition to the "Forty-one" (41 Mech Bn together the units to act as a whole. The task it were a real action. After scheduling there Žatec), there will be also other brigade force based on the 41st Mechanized Battalion comes the issue of a combat order, followed by battalions – 42nd, 43rd and 44th, as well as is on standby for the NRI, at least until the preparation and completion of the task. In that artillerymen, logistics, engineers, paramedics, end of this year. It is formed by a total of 700 event, when combat operations are practised chemists, members of air defence, military soldiers, who are prepared, if necessary, to be at the tactical range, there is prepared reconnaissance and military police officers – deployed in NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint for soldiers an unknown target situation, all they will take part in the exercise. Task Force (VJTF). This means the readiness simulating the activity of the enemy." Forty soldiers of the German 10th Armoured to move within ten days and to be deployed At the same time, the umpires create "ad Division will also arrive in the Doupov practically anywhere in the world, within hoc" incidents, to which the soldiers must Mountains, with whom the units of the thirty days. As to assigned tasks, the unit is to react immediately. These include a vehicle 4th Brigade co-operate regularly. The perform a wide range of combat operations, breakdown, injury or artillery raid. "Everything deployment of various military equipment is expected, especially Pandur wheeled armoured vehicles and Iveco light armoured vehicles.

Networking reality with simulation "The exercise will be exceptional above all due to its unprecedented character," says the officer conducting the exercise, Colonel Jan Štěpánek. "It will be a combination of tactical and so-called distribution exercises, which in practice means a live tactical exercise with an opponent, supplemented simultaneously by digital simulations of other elements of the combat task force. Their activity will be simulated on computers in Brno and directly distributed to exercise participants positioned in the Hradiště military training area." In the training area, soldiers of the 41st Me- chanized Battalion will train moves, attacks, defence and delaying actions, while staff members will watch the situation on the battlefield live, on computers at the CSTT cen- tre in Brno. Along with the real soldiers in the field, staff members will control through the monitors other, non-existent units, which would be part of the task force in the actual deployment. a computer and he will see live all moves on of soldiers in the field, but also the abilities of However, with live ammunition, such the battlefield. The colours will show him the command staffs. The key role will be played by a simulation exercise would not be possible immediate situation – enemy movements, army logistics personnel, whose main task will Thus the soldiers will be equipped with but also injuries or eliminations from the be the complete supplying and resupplying tactical combat simulators that capture action," Colonel Štěpánek explains the matter of military units with the resources which they laser signals initiated by the firing of blank and adds that Pandur combat vehicles will be need in order to carry out their operational ammunition and the officer conducting also equipped with simulators. tasks. the exercise will monitor the accuracy and According to Colonel Štěpánek, the Strong effectiveness of the points of impact on Eagle 2020 exercise will test not only the skills Text and photos by Jana Deckerová and the 41 Mech Bn The head of the Department of Epidemiology Prof. MUDr. Roman Chlíbek, Ph.D., former dean of the Faculty of Military Health Sciences Hradec Králové, has been working in the crisis team of the Ministry of Health since the beginning of the fight against the pandemic Weapons of the poor

One of those who has participated in the fight against coronavirus alongside Roman Prymula, from the very beginning of the pandemic, is the head of the Department of Epidemiology and the former dean of the Faculty of Military Health Sciences at Hradec Králové, professor MUDr. Roman Chlíbek, Ph.D. And so he is the very man we asked for the following interview.

In 1999, you and the 6th Field Hospital me. I could apply my theoretical knowledge of Military Epidemiology. I decided to deal participated in military missions in from the academic environment, as well as with epidemiology. Then I came to the and in earthquake-stricken the practical experience of a unit medical conclusion that something beautiful can be Turkey. What is it like to replace officer and those I got in a military hospital, found in every medical field. When I started academic and scientific spheres with and then use all this to help people affected my medical career, I was on an internship an environment of military foreign by either the war crisis or a natural disaster. at the Military University Hospital (ÚVN) in operation? Prague Střešovice, and I flirted with surgery, This situation was, of course, completely Why did you start specializing in which was then a big dream for me. When the different from the academic university epidemiology and vaccination years offer from the Department of Epidemiology environment. But I am glad that I was able to ago? appeared, I thought I would try another area take part in this mission abroad. Prior to this As a medical officer at the time, I still had of medicine again. I knew that I would go in deployment, I worked as a general practitioner limited opportunities to choose a professional depth, I would find something that would be at Stará Boleslav with the PVOS (State Area focus that I should pursue. At the same attractive and interesting to me. And maybe Air Defence) headquarters. There I practiced time, I wanted to move forward from the even more attractive than the surgery. After peaceful military medicine. Later, I had the practical field medicine. My priority was a while, my idea was confirmed. It turns out opportunity to enter the military university to work simultaneously at Hradec Králové, that the epidemiology and prevention of the environment and try to work in the academic my hometown, in which I have a number of spread of diseases is something very dynamic, sphere. When the offer to work in the mission and professional ties. At that moment, changing every year, and never ending. In came, I saw it as an opportunity to combine the choice fell on the Military Medical retrospect, I am very glad that I chose this part all these experiences with practice, in certain Academy. So I applied for an audition for of medicine, which is quite dramatic anyway. crisis conditions. It was a great experience for the position of assistant at the Department So you don’t regret not being refuse to vaccinate their children. But I don’t child saying that they would like to have him a surgeon at the ÚVN? think so. It is only a phenomenon of a loud vaccinated against tetanus. No, I definitely don’t regret it. Being a surgeon minority. We may say, the fewer opponents, is very demanding, even physically and the more they write on the networks. They Why does the University of Defence mentally. There are also certain legal issues copy articles from each other, pass them on, have a Department of Epidemiology? involved. Many patients look back to see if the and outwardly they pretend to be a large Is it because current must treatment was done correctly or whether it group. But that is not true. In most cases, many anticipate and be prepared for some was not unnecessarily complicated. of those women who initially refuse to be form of biological warfare? vaccinated, changed their minds when they I don’t know if I can afford to say that, but You are a scientific secretary of the see in their neighbourhood that someone has I’m not sure if the University of Defence has Czech Vaccination Society, what does a serious infectious problem that could have a Department of Epidemiology, or rather this function cover? been prevented by vaccination. Suddenly, for the Department of Epidemiology currently In 2005, we concluded that the issue of example, they come up with a six-year-old has a University of Defence. The history of vaccination and vaccines is a broad area, with never-ending progress in the future, which deserved the establishment of an independent professional medical society. And so it happened, that at this time they were military doctors, epidemiologists, who were at the birth of the establishment of this nationwide Czech epidemiological society. To this day, it functions as an important part of the Czech medical community. The position of the scientific secretary of this society means constant monitoring of data and publications in the field of vaccination and vaccines. We must constantly maintain our knowledge in accordance with the concept of the so-called Evidence Based Medicine. This concept also includes the preparation of expert opinions and recommendations. Besides, I have to participate in the creation of documents for the vaccination strategy and vaccination programmes for the Czech Republic. I also participate in the activities of the National Immunization Commission of the Czech Republic, where I perform the function of vice-chairman. As a secretary, I also work in the field of prevention and vaccination at the Scientific Council of the Ministry of Health. The function of secretary is focused on communication with other professional societies, communication with patients and on the preparation of expert opinions and recommendations.

What do you think of young women who fight against vaccinations of all kinds? I am terribly sorry and sad that in today’s age of social networks and the internet, the public is literally overwhelmed with such misleading and pseudo-scientific information. Those are young mothers, who are confronted with this flood of unscientific and often not proved misinformation reports. They mislead on the basis of deceptive information that vaccination is dangerous and damages the health of their offspring. We even receive letters that we allegedly kill children by vaccination. The problem lies probably in the fact that only a minority of people share correct, verified information. That is why we experts try to update and expand the information, as much as possible. We bring exact evidence that vaccination is not only safe, but above all beneficial. Sometimes it may seem that there are too many women who the Department of Epidemiology at Hradec Králové has been terribly long, dating back to 1950. Already at that time, a detached department of military epidemiology was established there. Since then, we have been working in this spirit and building it further and further. The threats of infectious diseases confirm that such capacity is absolutely necessary. It is a kind of further continuation to war conflicts. Biological warfare is a phenomenon that can occur at any time, as they are the cheapest weapons of mass destruction. The production of a biological weapon is far cheaper than the production of any chemical or nuclear weapon. Therefore biological substances are referred to as weapons of the poor. Thus it is not possible to rule out the possibility that someone will abuse a biological agent and start a biological war. It is our department that should deal not only with monitoring these situations, but also with information on how to protect ourselves against these weapons. Eventually, what form of not only prevention, but also treatment to offer at the time of such an attack. This is the war part of our work. However, it turns out that the army is also involved in certain humanitarian and natural disasters. And it is our department that can help significantly in these cases.

How did you get to the Ministry of Health at the beginning of the pandemic, is it true that even the prime minister was involved in this issue? Yes it’s right. I had several phone calls about whether I would like to join the work of a group set up at the Ministry of Health to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. This How did colleagues from the civilian infected patients. The volume of knowledge request came from the part of government health sector meet you, was there any about this disease was initially minimal. and prime minister and was discussed with rivalry? Determining which patient was dangerous the minister of defence, and I was released to Definitely not, they welcomed our arrival. to its surroundings and whether there was carry out this activity. At the moment when There are not many people in our republic necessary to introduce isolation or quarantine this mutual agreement was reached, it was who are able to solve this problem. It was measures, it was relatively difficult. Another only a question of when to come to Prague seen that they were glad that the Army and difficult issue was the interpretation of and start working. the University of Defence were also involved. laboratory tests. Initially, there were not They also appreciated the fact that in the field many laboratory facilities. At the same time, What exactly were you in charge of at of crisis management, we are used to working interpretations of their results were different the Ministry of Health? under time pressure, make timely decisions around the world. The first tests were imported I still work there, in three groups. I am and organize work accordingly. I think it was from , we had to decide what forms of a member of the Covid Clinical Group. It beneficial that we set the rules of our activity, testing would be and for whom they would deals with all professional matters related meetings of expert groups, evaluation of be intended. How the testing would proceed to the infection. Further, I am a member of outputs and passing on information. At the and how its results would be interpreted. a quarantine release group that was more beginning of the epidemic, every hand was The employment of general practitioners, active at a time when we succeeded in getting good. Not to mention any head that would be especially for adults, was also a difficult point. the epidemic under control. Its activities are able to add some know-how. At the beginning of the epidemic, many of still very important. Moreover, I also attended them closed their consulting rooms and meetings of a laboratory group, where issues Which phase of your work in the crisis switched to distance medical care over the related to the diagnosis of the infection were staff was the most difficult and what phone. However, not all patients were able to discussed. The debates focused mainly on the did you have to deal with? make telephone calls. At that time, we wanted problem of which tests to use and at which One of the more difficult issues was deciding to introduce broader testing, especially of stages of the epidemic. and determining the degree of infectivity of quarantined patients in general practitioners' surgeries. It was quite difficult to agree with factsheet them on the conditions and to whom they Professor Roman Chlíbek was born on March 22, 1965, at Hradec Králové. In 1989 he graduated from would provide this type of care in their places. Military Medical Academy of Jan Evengelista Purkyně (VLA JEP) and Faculty of Medicine, Charles University It was also difficult to decide which measures (LF UK) Hradec Králové, in the field of general medicine. In 1996 and 1997 he studied preventive medicine would be released. In this case, there was and health management at the Royal Medical College in London and at the University of Utrecht in the unbelievable pressure from certain interest Netherlands. He gradually passed the attestation in general medicine and the attestation in hygiene and groups. All wanted to open their premises, as epidemiology. In 2006 he received a degree of associate professor in the field of hygiene, preventive quickly as possible, to resume their activities. medicine and epidemiology. In his academic career, he held the position of assistant professor, group So a compromise had to be found based on leader, chairman of the Academic Senate, vice-dean for external relations and development. In October the real numbers of the epidemic and the 2009, he was appointed dean of the Faculty of Military Health and Sciences, Defence University, and in disease incidence. It wasn’t easy. We had to be this position he served till 2013. As a military professional, he reached the rank of colonel and ended his careful to ensure so that the release could not military commitment on 31 December 2019. He is the author of a number of publications on vaccination, cause the increased incidence of the disease infectious epidemiology and preventive medicine in domestic and foreign journals. to return.

How did the Ministry of Health perceive the role of the army in the fight against coronavirus? All the time I met with a very positive perception. A number of colleagues jokingly indicated to us that we were introducing a kind of military spirit to the civilian institution. At the end, however, all confirmed that in these crisis situations, a degree of unanimous decision-making, fixed procedures and strong leadership, were the right things to do. They acknowledged gratefully that we had introduced some sort of crisis management into the process.

Have you already made a personal recapitulation of the last few months, what lessons did this work bring you for the future, what did it give you? The last months have confirmed to me what I experienced on foreign missions in Albania and Turkey. When there is a crisis situation, the characters of the people show up. Their real knowledge and skills will be shown. In this sense, I was pleasantly surprised by some people, in others negatively. I learned that in such crisis situations, it is manifested It’s a natural matter. This must be expected in laboratory methods and get the pandemic what kind of individuals, he or she, are. This such diseases. under control before it reaches enormous experience can be used even in the future. If proportions, when we talk about tens and I would be ordered to put together a team, The current pandemic has affected all hundreds of millions of infected people. On I already know what people to choose for it. spheres of our society, the economy the other hand, we can never rule out such Another lesson for me was that the problems of the Czech Republic is said to return a pandemic. An influenza pandemic may of crisis management are very important. to the level of 2019 in five years. Isn’t occur here, returning to a greater or lesser When you involve real experts in this activity, there a danger that the next wave of extent over a period of thirty or forty years. The it bears fruit. pandemic could completely disrupt SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus adapted from animal the world economy, our way of life and to human and was the cause of this modern At one moment, people talked about significantly reduce the standard of pandemic. This suggests that infectious the possibility of infesting a society by living of us all? diseases cannot be underestimated. I am Covid-19. Was something similar really For a long time we thought that traditional very pleased that the Czech Republic is possible? infectious diseases were time from time following the trend of constant development Infestation is a term commonly used in appearing, that new infections were coming, of infectious medicine and epidemiology. In epidemiology, although it is not perceived but we always felt that we were able to some countries, you will not find an infectious quite correctly by the general public. The detect them in time and get them under physician. Infectious diseases are treated word by itself already makes you feel you're control. In our country, we believed that the there by internists. I am pleased that, based intentionally infecting someone. That pandemic was none of our business. But with on tradition, this field is stuck here and the it’s actually an experiment on people. It is the outbreak of coronavirus, it was shown army continues to develop it. not like that. I have already mentioned that that viruses were always one step ahead of the coronavirus spreads asymptomatic in us, and a pandemic of a new disease could By Vladimír Marek, many cases. When protective measures never be ruled out. But I do not think that we photos: author and archive of COL Roman Chlíbek were released, the chances of being infected ever will experience again pandemic, as used without symptoms remained. I believe that to be plague or smallpox. That’s because we nowadays, there is still some infesting in our already know how the diseases are spreading. society. It cannot be stopped completely. We are able to diagnose them in time, refine The Czech 2nd Protection Unit of the EUTM mission is in charge of the security of the Koulikoro base in Mali It must be seen Somewhere in the back, above the Niger River, the first rays of morning sun began to shine. Fishermen, pushing their slender boats with bargepoles, went out into the water to fish their catch. The mournful voice of a singing muezzin carried through the landscape. The Koulikoro base in Mali woke up to the next day.

For many Czech soldiers of the company, 2nd Task Force, stationed at this base, this was definitely not a time to wake up. The vast majority of them take turns in the exchange regime. They are in charge of guarding the base, day and night. Their other duties include serving standing-by shifts at the base. "The difference compared to service at home, in the Czech Republic, lies mainly in the fact that here you are on duty for twenty-four hours. Anytime and anything can happen and you must be able to react immediately,“ explains staff sergeant D. B. At the base, there is an allied hospital at the level of Role 2 (advanced emergency treatment), fitness centre, library and running track. The canteen, the mess room, as well as a military shop, are run by the French. "The food here is very good, much better than I expected. We can’t complain about anything. There are also plenty of vegetables and fruits. Once a month, there is a barbecue at the base,“ says staff sergeant K. H. We're just passing a mess room. Before entering it, a member of our contingent warns a group of Spanish soldiers that they must wash and disinfect their hands first. From a medical point of view, it is said to be very important. Simply, hygienic conditions in Africa are difficult to compare them with Europe. Sometimes one or two of our people have certain intestinal problems. But this is nothing serious, our medic is always able to handle it, without any problems. The decoration of soldiers’ quarters shows the large representation of an army motorcycle club here. This is evidenced not only by various signs, flags and posters on the walls. Another essential feature of the rooms is a set of mosquito nets. Although the Niger River is not too far away, they say we have fewer mosquitoes here than in Mali’s capital Bamako. Nevertheless, due attention needs to be paid to the prevention of malaria, in several cases its underestimation did not pay off. In the passage of a quartering part, there is a table football, widely used during the free time of soldiers. Our soldiers were also inspired by the American series MASH. The place, where it is possible to sit and discuss both business and often private matters, they named “Bažina”, which is a Czech translation of the English word Mash.

The difficult task of drivers Several of our soldiers are running out of the building. This is a standing-by shift. The local heliport must be protected. A white UN helicopter is approaching the base. While a lot of dust is rising into the air, we are going with a group of our other soldiers on a regular, you could say routine , outside the base. Our boys are conducting a final inspection of A strategic Tango They also have their own MASH Iveco armoured vehicles together with small We go to the Tango observation post (OP), The Koulikoro base is located on the edge of arms check-up. This is followed by the loading together with a pair of our soldiers. We climb the town of the same name, with a population of weapons. One of the soldiers climbs to towards the vertical rocks. Along the way, we of about 40,000. On one side it is surrounded the top of the armoured vehicle and inserts pass a building built years ago, in colonial by a hilly rock formation, which we climbed a bullet belt into the machine gun. The vehicle . From the end of the nineteenth century a while ago, and on the other by the mighty is equipped with a heavy machine gun calibre until 1958, the Republic of Mali was a French flow of the Niger River. Building its security 12.7mm and by a weapons station Protector colony. We are constantly looking underfoot. is not easy. The area belongs to the Malian M151 A2, controlled remotely by a machine Sun-heated rocks are said to be popular with Armed Forces, only a small part of which is from the cabin. "It is not only a greatest snakes and scorpions. So you need to be used by EUTM units. In addition to the Czechs, firepower of our team, but at the same time, careful all the way. We are surprised most by there are stationed the French, Spaniards, thanks to the camera system, station is our the breath-taking view of the surrounding Germans, Irish and other nationalities. The eyes that protect us from potential danger," countryside. Even without binoculars, soldiers problem is that Malian soldiers are staying points out staff sergeant D. B. can still see a few kilometres beyond the here with their families. Consequently, in the We leave the base and set off on a dirt road, Niger River. It is a very place, from which they base area, a number of marketers offer their across a wide area of grassland, the steppe. can easily control any movement of people goods day after day. This is associated with Soldiers make a similar patrol across the near the base. And this move is immediately a large movement of people and materiel steppe at least once a week. They check reported to the operations officer. through individual entrances. certain points, which could serve as places for launching enemy drones, or they would be suitable for firing missiles at the base. Another purpose of these trips is to demonstrate our presence. It has not only has a deterrent effect on a potential opponent, but it also protects the local population. Along the way, we pass several locals with donkeys roasted in a cart. This is nothing extraordinary, we meet animal-drawn carriages in Mali even on the busiest roads. Even sheep transported on motorcycles and a small cow tied to a goat are not uncommon. The work of a driver belongs among those the least enviable, not only in our contingent. "Our tasks include escorting VIPs, accompanying columns and instructors. Those moves are especially demanding for drivers. There is a completely different road flow than we are used to from Europe. There are no rules. Moreover, as there is very heavy traffic in Bamako, we have to do everything to avoid ripping of the column, which is often very difficult," explains sergeant K. V. “Drivers overtake from the right, from the left, from the sidewalk, from the centre lane, without using turn signals at all. They don’t take into account that our cars have some rear-view mirrors. It is not easy to drive in such traffic, so that no traffic accident could occur," he adds.

Excited children We were able to get acquainted with the local traffic situation in evening the day before, during the trip from Bamako to the Koulikoro base. Typical for Bamako are mostly old Mercedes from the eighties of the last century. They are used by the local upper class. They still have a high price in the local market. Among other things, their transport from Europe is relatively expensive. On the other hand, motorcycles and scooters can be bought here relatively cheaply. In Czech money, it makes about ten thousand crowns. People ride them mostly without number plates and, of course, also without helmets, so do small children. The traffic police or some regulations practically do not exist here. We cross the stream, almost dried up. The radio says: Two men at one o'clock, monitor them. The weapons station on the armoured vehicle immediately rotates in that direction. But nothing suspicious happens in the next few minutes. Only a little boy drives a herd of skinny cows to pasture. The security situation in this area is much better than in the north of the country. But everything is to be the worst. If they slowly lost attention are the local children. We are very interesting relative. Recently, just a hundred miles to and reduce their caution, they could be easily for them, they always welcome us," smiles the north, unknown men-at-arms fired on struck by an unexpected raid. staff sergeant D. B. a Red Cross vehicle. That is why Czech soldiers The patrol fulfilled its purpose. We're returning The last thing we have to do is to refuel also observe the strictest security rules. Each to the base. We pass a local school. It seems vehicles at a filling station, in one of the streets time our small convoys stop, the search the that children are the same everywhere in the in Koulikoro. Or rather, at its African version, area along the road. They control the space world. They can’t miss the soldiers passing by. not very similar to European ones. under the vehicles. They immediately take up They immediately run towards our column. a combat position and determine their fire "The local population is in favour of us. Many By Vladimír Marek sectors. Such a period of false peace is said of them wave to us in greeting. But the best Servicemembers in European Union Training Mission – Mali may be exposed to situations, in which they find survival training useful

Rescuing isolated warriors

The Czech Armed Forces has engaged in the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Extraction (S.E.R.E.) training for some years. The training focuses on rescuing military professionals who have become, for various reasons, isolated in a hostile territory as a result of operational activities. The course is primarily designed for servicemembers going downrange. In this context, it did not come as a big surprise to us to encounter a S.E.R.E. training at the Koulikoro Training Camp as part of the EUTM in Mali.

‘My responsibilities at the KTC include see what such situation would look like and Using emergency means personnel recovery and S.E.R.E. training, how they should react. If the rescue unit cannot arrive for any which involves survival and self-preservation ‘Soldiers may get separated in various ways, reason, or we do not have the option to techniques, in our case primarily in the desert as a result of fire, flood or unexpected climate report an emergency involving separation, and bushland,’ Master Sergeant J. Š. explains. change. The most likely cause is nevertheless it is necessary to rely on own forces. Every a hostile activity, a military coup, attack on soldier who gets separated, has a body The avoidables the camp, terrorist attack, or forced dispersal armour, weapon, map or GPS and a kit with While all members of the Czech Armed Forces, of a smaller response team. Separation essential equipment containing basic supply as mentioned above, undergo a S.E.R.E. course may however also occur on movement as of water and food. If they use it up, they ahead of deployment, it is not always the case a result of an accident or failure of a vehicle have a mechanical filter, chemicals for water with all armed forces contributing troops or helicopter. Individuals may get separated treatment and protein bars. Only when they to Mali. So, those who have not completed individually or in a smaller group of friendly would consume all of that, or would not have the course, complement their training with soldiers,’ MSG J. Š. elaborates. ‘If someone gets it at all, they have to know what improvised S.E.R.E. That is the responsibility of Master into some kind of an emergency situation, means to use to get water and food in the first Sergeant J. Š. In addition, he is responsible first they have to try and determine their place and what you can use to orient yourself for the protection of the forces against the position, report the position to their superiors in an unknown landscape. Of course they will local, somewhat exotic, flora and fauna. He and inform the chain of what they intend to suffer during separation, use their body fats, instructs them what they may encounter in do. When the situation permits, they should but they will survive. Mali and what plants and animals they should stay close to their vehicle or in its proximity. ‘But it is necessary for them to have an idea of avoid. The training comprises an academic They should also secure sensitive materiel what they can find in the area, which plant or and a practical part. In the academic such as ammo, radios, water, food, maps and herb holds vitamins, especially vitamin C, and part, servicemembers are briefed on the GPS. From a safe and concealed hideout, indeed has some nutrition value. It should standard operating procedures in the area of they should watch the area, prepare possible also have enough saccharides and some deployment. The practical part is designed to escape routes and wait for the recovery team.’ volume of water too, if possible. And that is exactly the information they would get in our course. For example, you can find papaya, adromischus, melons and lemon trees in the nature. Fluid can be obtained from agave, plus there is a multitude of cacti here. There is naturally a big difference between those fruits in the rains and in the dry season. Of course, it is more complicated in the dry season. In such case, I would recommend to dig out peanuts for instance, because they contain a large amount of oil, so they would provide protein and energy. The key principle here is not to spend more energy on getting food than we can obtain from it,’ MSG J. Š. advises. ‘Soldiers naturally have to have a good familiarity with the plant, not just because they could get poisoned – some plants may cause diarrhoea for instance. The ensuing dehydration is very serious. In case of cacti, it is necessary to extract pulp and chew it up. Only the juice is swallowed; the fibre could cause digestion problems.’

Water over gold But first and foremost, it is essential to obtain water, which represents the very essence of survival. This is particularly hard in Mali. The soldiers have the best chance at survival if they find themselves in the Niger river area, plus the river also represents an important landmark. Water in the Niger river is nevertheless contaminated, so it has to be treated, subjected to mechanical and chemical filtration. At day, it can be solarised for those purposes. But all of that bears a certain risk. The best way of treating water is boiling it. This, however depends on whether the warrior has enough time to do that and whether they have fire. If the GPS fails, or it runs out of power, soldiers have no choice but to use the emergency navigation. At day, that mostly involves the position of the sun in combination with time. At night, the prominent orientation point is the North Star. One can also use the rotation of the starry sky. On every trip outside the camp, soldiers should have very well read their position in advance, then they use a whole range of prominent landmarks for their orientation.

Broad spectrum of sera “In such an emergency, protection is also important, not only against the opponent or big predators. There is gamut of additional threats lurking in Mali, with a very specific flora and fauna. What you can encounter is a high quantity of vipers, mambas, boigas, spitting cobras, scorpions, various species of spiders that do not hold so much venom, but they can cause inflammation. There is a half- inch beetle that can cause an allergic reaction if swatted on skin, as it has a venomous substance in its glands,’ Master Sergeant J. Š. cautions. ‘As I already mentioned, there are also some poisonous plants. If you want to sit down or even lie down in the open, it is essential to inspect the place thoroughly first. There are snakes living here with various types of toxins, including neurotoxins, cardio toxic, hemotoxic and cytotoxic venom. The last one attacks the tissue and it then starts to expand.’ In case of a snakebite, soldiers should remain calm, fix the extremity, sanitise the bite point, lightly swath it with bandage, so that two fingers still fit underneath. ‘If we would strangulate the wound as we were used to before, we would run into trouble. We need for the venom to spread in the given area,

but under control. Our advantage is that there is a Role 2 medical facility in the camp and it holds quite a broad spectrum of sera, which we could administer subsequently,’ MSG J.Š. adds. The rules of engaging with the locals may also play a role in such instances. Soldiers should be forthcoming, but not overly, because local people tend to abuse excessive obligingness. So it is useful to exercise a sort of a professional approach, smiles, no aggressive gestures. Contrarily to other coalition soldiers, the servicemembers of our contingent are strictly prohibited from handing out food, sweets or giveaways. That is because people would get used to it, demand it and soldiers would find it difficult to perform their operational assignment. For Europeans, Mali is a very unusual environment. So, the S.E.R.E. training has its specificities in order for the warriors to be ready to perform relevant procedures in an emergency.

By Vladimír Marek We spoke to the Deputy Defence Minister for the Management of the Armaments and Acquisition Division Lubor Koudelka not only about the impact of the coronavirus crisis on the acquisition of new military equipment

Investment in the future of the country

In February this year, Filip Říha resigned from the position of Deputy Minister of Defence for the Management of the Armaments and the Acquisition Division. The position of Deputy Minister and Head of Division was taken over by Lubor Koudelka. Among other things, we asked him about the impact of the coronavirus crisis on the acquisition of new military equipment. We live in a time when the supply of position. A number of large projects started, If less money than expected came goods usually significantly exceeds the dozens of contracts were concluded. I still into the defence department, would demand. For many people, shopping consider the former Defence Deputy Filip it mean the complete termination of has become a hobby. How much Říha to be one of the greatest experts in some projects, or would you rather different from the usual shopping is acquisitions, including the acquisition of prolong contracts over time and to the acquisition of weapons systems materiel in the field of defence and security. delay payments? for the army and buys as such in the We try to focus principally on large, strategic Naturally, our primary effort in such a case Ministry of Defence? projects that are in various stages of would be to try to extend these projects Above all, we have a number of given rules, development. They are a priority for both the over time. The cancellation of projects is the whether laws at the level of the Czech Republic Minister of Defence and the Chief of General last radical solution. This step should only be or regulations at the level of the European Staff. But as I mentioned, it was a challenge taken when all options were exhausted and Commission. All this forms a kind of framework for me, the situation was not and is not easy there is no way to continue the project. for setting the principles for the acquisition at all. At the same time, however, I would like of military materiel. The most important is, to say that the support from the Minister, Opinions on how quickly and whether of course, the Public Procurement Law. One which I have and I very much appreciate, is the modernization of our army will part of it is directly devoted to the purchase of important to me. be completed differ a lot, despite the materiel in the field of defence and security. In reassurances of politicians. How do addition, there are internal DoD norms that set With coronavirus came a significant you perceive this problem, are you these procedures in even greater detail. As for increase in the government deficit. Did more optimistic? the Law on Public Procurement, in some cases you also have to react to this situation Recently, I noticed a number of statements it is not very friendly for users, it means also for in the area of acquisition plans? by our political leaders, which arouse us. We would particularly welcome softer rules Our biggest customer is the Army of the rather optimism in me. There is a fairly clear for the defence and security market, so that in Czech Republic. Ninety-five percent of the statement that the modernization of the army some cases the purchase of materiel could be acquisitions we make for the Army. The must continue. This was heard not only from speeded up. General Staff is the one who pays attention the Prime Minister, but also from the chairmen to money for acquisition projects. Of course, of the relevant committees of both chambers So the planned amendment to this law we had to make some reductions. There of parliament and from the Defence Minister. is something that should help you in was also a distribution of funding for some So I am optimistic in this regard. Investing public tenders in the future? projects. But it did not have any effects in defence is investing in the future of this Actually, a technical amendment is being on strategic acquisition projects. country. Given the security situation, which prepared, to which we have sent our will certainly not improve in the world, this is comments to the Ministry of Regional You mentioned that your biggest something absolutely necessary. Development. One of our comments was customer is the Army, or the General accepted after several rounds of negotiations. Staff of the ACR. How do you evaluate So do you believe that the de- It concerns the procurement of services related cooperation with it? partmental budget for next year will to sophisticated weapon systems. Namely, Over the last year and a half, communication be 1.4 GDP and do you count on it in service contracts, repairs and upgrades. We between our division and the user, i.e. the your plans? want to be able to contact the direct supplier General Staff, has been significantly improved. In fact, the share in gross domestic product of these services and not have to go through Communication at both levels, the highest is not so important, especially in period of a tender. and working one, is very good. The quality of economic recession. Far more important is requirement specifications and qualifications the specific amount of the state budget. But When Defence Deputy Říha resigned has significantly improved. An example of I believe that the Alliance’s commitments will from office, the Minister of Defence this is the particular specification for a NATO be met. The budget for the next year should identified external communication cannon. The qualification on the part of the be 85 milliard crowns, and our acquisition as one of the problems that were to user was very good and fully acceptable to us. plans are tailored to this. be improved in the future. Have you already managed to deal with this matter? This is a question primarily for members of the Committee on Defence of the Chamber of Deputies. For myself, I think so, and this is how the Minister evaluated it. He communicates very intensively, especially with the mentioned Defence Committee.

Your predecessor resigned in the middle of the biggest acquisitions process. You literally had to get on a very fast train. How did you manage to deal with it and how much did you manage to eliminate the impact of this personnel change on the running of the division? It was a big challenge for me. It was a step that I absolutely did not expect. From the very beginning, I have tried to follow as much as possible the work of Deputy Říha, who did a great deal of work in the year he held this How are the prices of weapon systems evolving during the economic crisis, are interesting offers emerging? Is it a good time to buy in? On the one hand, it might seem that financially advantageous offers for the supply of weapons systems will appear on the market. In practice, however, this is not the case. As I mentioned, the security environment in the world is not very favourable. The prices of arms contracts increase by five to ten percent annually. So I doubt that the coronavirus crisis will fundamentally change that. There is no clear connection in this regard. factsheet Lubor Koudelka was born on September 19, 1967, at the town Dvůr Králové upon the Elbe river. What causes such an increase in prices, After graduating from the Military College of Education Bratislava, he went through a number of is it due to the deteriorating security professional foreign courses in the Federal Republic of Germany and Belgium. He participated in situation? UN missions in Liberia and Iraq. He worked as a military adviser to the Permanent Mission of the The reason will probably be a really Czech Republic to the UN, the OSCE and other international organizations in Vienna. He later worked deteriorating security situation. But it is also in various positions at the Defence Policy and Strategy Division of the Ministry of Defence. In the necessary to realize that weapon systems are Armaments and Acquisition Division of the MoD, he held the positions of chief of the Concepts and becoming more sophisticated from year to Analyses Section and director of the Management and Support Department. Since February of this year and that human labour is also becoming year, he has been the Deputy Minister for Armaments and Acquisitions Division of the Ministry of more expensive. These are all aspects that Defence on the basis of representation command. have an impact on the rising cost of security materiels. This is the largest weapons project in the immediate impact focused primarily In the case of howitzers for our army, history of the Czech Republic, so it is very on the equipment and armament after examining the market, you turned difficult to estimate the exact date. of the individual. What does the directly to the French manufacturer. implementation of the project look How are the negotiations going, will Are you not afraid that the selective like, will it be fulfilled soon? the contract actually be signed by the procedure may be attacked in some As for the equipment and armament for end of the year? way and that everything will be ACR soldiers, there was a significant shift. Our ambition is to sign a contract with the delayed? Contracts for the purchase of small arms French company Nexter by the end of this That, of course, is something we cannot rule were signed with Czech armaments factory year. Of course, it will depend on the course of out. It may be part of a tactic. In the past, Česká zbrojovka. A contract for body the negotiations. we also witnessed that the unsuccessful armours was signed with the STV Group. It distributor filed various proposals and contains a delivery of 47,000 pieces of body Probably a key acquisition project complaints with the Office for the Protection armour. Furthermore, a contract is being will be the purchase of new infantry of Competition. These are matters that cannot implemented for the supply of protective fighting vehicles. What does it be avoided even with the best of intentions. helmets and harnesses for equipment. In this currently look like with its completion? We have cases of the purchase of small arms respect, the situation is therefore satisfactory, We have three potential suppliers left in this here, and currently we have a tender for multi- in my opinion. The soldiers will receive new project. These are companies: BAE Systems purpose helicopters. equipment and armament, which is of course with the CV90 vehicle, Rheinmetall Group very much needed. Years ago, this area was with the Lynx combat vehicle, and General For years, anti-aircraft defence need quite neglected, which was fundamentally Dynamics with the ASCOT vehicle. We are compensation for mobile surface-to- negatively perceived by end users, i.e. soldiers currently communicating intensively with air KUB systems. Do you already know of our army. In this area, I think that there has them, asking them to comment on modifying how this matter will be dealt with been a significant improvement, also in terms the modalities of this contract. The payments and when new equipment could be of the allocation of funds. of this project were spread out until 2028 and expected? the deliveries of this equipment until 2027. We anticipate that a final decision, on how What other acquisition tasks will you This was, of course, consulted in advance this public tender will be implemented, address as a priority in the coming with the client, with the General Staff that will be made within a few weeks. There are period? agreed. Earlier, PSM company withdrew from several options. One of them is government- As I mentioned, these will be the four main the tender with the Puma infantry fighting government purchasing. It should be decided armaments projects. That is, infantry fighting vehicle. We have already received answers in a few weeks. Even in this case, we assume vehicles, NATO cannon, fire control system, to this modification and we are continuing the signing of the contract by the end of the and anti-aircraft system. Certainly, another intensive communication. year, with the proviso that deliveries should significant acquisition is the acquisition be made from 2023. of modern pick-up vehicles, which should So when do you anticipate that a final replace the hundreds of obsolete UAZ and contract could be signed? The acquisitions are not just about Land Rover off-road vehicles. Our ambition is still to sign this agreement big arms purchases. Shortly after By Vladimír Marek, by the end of the year. But it will, of course, taking his office, the Chief of the photos: author and the archive of Lubor Koudelka depend on the course of the negotiations. General Staff came up with projects of Interview with LTC Pavel Pavlík, TF commander, on the mission in the Baltics The mission always ends with the return of the soldiers Czech pilots with JAS-39 Gripen aircraft guarded the airspace of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, from September 1, 2019. Then the task was handed over to the Polish contingent. During that time, Czech fighter pilots made thirteen scramble takeoffs, spending hundreds of hours in the air.

Colonel, please, bring us closer to the one of which remained in Lithuania – Siauliai, to take off to identify the target of interest. Baltic Air Policing mission. and the other one is in Estonia, at the Ämari It is a peacekeeping mission, not a combat The current Baltic Air Police mission has base. The rotations are the same, so the assignment. The potential quick takeoffs, been running since 2004. This means that it Alliance states take turns there, after every the so-called Alfa scrambles, cover the has lasted since the date of the Baltic states' four months. interceptions of aircraft that do not comply accession to NATO. Due to the fact that these with standard worldwide rules of traffic in countries are relatively small and do not have What is the goal of this mission? international airspace. In this area, violators supersonic aviation, NATO member states The purpose of this mission is to ensure the are most often military aircraft of the Russian take turns in protecting their airspace. NATO ability to protect the Baltic airspace on 24/7 Federation from the Kaliningrad and mainland aviation currently operates from two bases, basis, always with a pair of aircraft prepared regions of , flying over the Baltic Sea. Russian aircraft usually fly in controlled areas means how to survive in cold water. Also What was the most tense for you? Can over international waters, for which the air important for us, this mission has a second you describe a specific situation? traffic control authorities of Baltic states are dimension, and that is training. We can train Most tense are evidently the scramble responsible. here and fly even at very low altitudes, up to 30 takeoffs. It happened once that during meters above sea level, which of course is not one operational flight, there was a sudden What systems are used to detect possible in the Czech Republic. Well, to sum occurrence of three groups of aircraft with a violator that does not follow the it up, we generally learn the specifics of how different flight directions, between the rules? they work in a given country, how airspace is Kaliningrad , Russian region in Poland, We detect, track, identify, and monitor the divided, with whom we communicate, who and the St. Petersburg region, i.e. the inland movement of objects in the airspace, within controls us in space, and last but not least, part of Russia. So the boys flew, formally they the NATINAMDS system (NATO Integrated there are some other things, like chances for had one engagement, one identification, Air and Missile Defence System), which is further training. Emphasis is also placed on the task was completed. But in fact, at that a unified system of air and missile defence interoperability, i.e. cooperation with partner time, there was one group, where there were of the North Atlantic Alliance nations. In the countries, such as and . We three aircraft, then another group, with two event of a frontier violation, an aircraft in can agree on joint flights, exercises, but we fighters, and finally one transport aircraft. question or group of aircraft are identified. It are also able, in case of need, to support land From the point of view of air engagement, can sometimes happen and it happens even forces as part of the training. Land forces have there were three identifications in one in the Czech Republic that there is a chance been operating there since 2014, together flight, in a short time, this, of course, was failure and the aircraft does not respond, with forward air controllers, as part of the very challenging and to some extent also or a transponder is turned off, in short, the increase in forces. interesting from a professional pilot’s point of airplane shows non-standard features. If view. I can add for myself that none of us has this happens, or the flight plan is missing, What did a normal mission day look like? ever encountered any aggressive behaviour communication is missing, we must check it A normal day looks like that: the team QRA or provocation. out. It always depends on the given criteria () remains at the base, and subsequent evaluation. in formation 24/7. They are ready from Is Gripen ready for long flights, morning to morning for takeoff. The rest, i.e. overflights, and how can you describe If there is an airspace violation, who the support team, is in charge of repairing air monitoring in relatively large issues a take-off order and by what aircraft, there is logistic support, i.e. the so- areas? time must the pilots be in the air? called general logistics, which dealt with food, There is a huge advantage of great The order to take off emergency aircraft is accommodation, rentals, repairs of means sustainability of this aircraft. Gripen has issued by the CAOC, which is the Combined Air we have with us, or which we borrowed. In two pod tanks, so that the deployment Operation Centre, a multinational command addition, contracts with suppliers are being time in the air, we call it play time, could and control centre. When it happens, for resolved. Of course, everything must be be as long as possible. The Gripen is a very example, in the Czech Republic, it is up to accounted, i.e. all accounts and invoices must economical aircraft and is capable of flying us, when in Poland, it is Poland, when in the be documented. We are soldiers, so all things in this configuration for over two hours. It is Baltics; it is one of the states that is currently must have its own authorized items, which therefore able to perform a lot of tasks in one fulfilling its mission there. We perform our are formed by every orders to perform the flight. task in the same way as in the Czech Republic. tasks that I, as the commander, issue together The tool is NATINAMDS. When the siren with my staff officers. The Task Force consisted What are the procedures in case of bad sounds, we run to the planes to fly towards of 70 soldiers, more than half of which were weather? Are there any alternative intruders. We have to be in the air within fixed air and technical personnel and the rest airports? time standards. took care of support and security, including The weather was sometimes a bit tricky, it force protection (armed soldiers who was necessary to calculate what the weather Is it a difficult task, or just an ordinary, guarded equipment and relevant systems, in would be like at the airport during landing, standard one? accordance with a security scheme). Some or whether it would be necessary to use an It is, of course, very difficult. It is flying over the of those systems are naturally classified, and alternative airfield. This is practically any sea. The pilot must dress in a neoprene suit, therefore the soldiers pay special attention to airport where you can land safely. Of course, in which you cannot sit and wait on standby security check and all procedures associated we gave this great weight and importance, in 24/7. But we have procedures for dressing with it. The patrol consequently works also in order to be 100% sure of a safe landing. The quickly, so while we pilots get dressed, the a 24/7 scheme. In fact, we bring a kind of small same goes for at home. technicians prepare the plane for takeoff. base with us. Then, to put it simply, we get on a plane, turn How did you handle service and on the engine, and fly. Is it the same also for other states technical equipment there? Do you operating in the Baltics? have everything you need? Is flying over the Baltic different? Some states have more logistics, when The entire contract of fourteen Gripen aircraft, Basically not, because the air is the same I compare it with the British, Poles, or twelve single-seaters and two two-seaters, is everywhere, we get used to it even before our Germans, their numbers are roughly double. a contract prepared for deployment from arrival, thanks to a series of briefings, where They arranged in a different way. We are able a single base. This means that everything is the ways of flying in given areas are discussed. to function optimally, perfectly, even with bought and obtained with regard to the fact In terms of the environment, we are in the limited numbers of people we have. For that that we operate mainly here, in the Czech north, so the weather can play a substantial reason, it is not necessary to increase our Republic. When preparing for training or role there. We fly over the sea, so unlike in the numbers, maybe in some units, or among deployment, which is a long engagement Czech Republic, we have to wear neoprene some military specialties. We are able to outside our home base, we must carefully overalls, mentioned above. Therefore if some function practically anywhere, even in present plan the sharing of spare parts and ground ejection could be necessary, we have the numbers, roughly seventy persons. equipment. It is important to know where and would somehow degrade our engagement abroad. On the contrary, there has been great, flawless cooperation within NATO alliance.

What did the mission give you and how did the cooperation with other units look like? I’m incredibly happy with the mission. The whole team was made up of people from several bases, including IT professionals and personnel managers, but also from the people here, at home, as a remote support. Everything worked great. They were people from the town of Náměšť who prepared containers for the transportation. There was an EOD team, i.e. specialists going on missions to dispose various explosive traps, however, in accordance with security procedures, they were also in charge of inspecting and resolving serious incidents with weapons. Broadly speaking, everyone who was on this mission worked great. For them, the mission came first. I have thanked everyone several times and I thank them again It was one, well-functioning team. However, support also came, for example, from the 24th Air Transportation Base Praha-Kbely, which created an air bridge to transport the required materiel. Between the Čáslav Air Base, Czech Republic, and the Ämari Air Base, Estonia, all worked well, despite the fact that the base had a number of other duties, tasks, and the number of personnel and equipment was insufficient. Logistics from Pardubice were in charge of ground operations, transport of containers and equipment. Transport was organized through Poland, the Baltic States, there and back. Last but not least, there also assisted the Joint Operations Centre what we shall have. If some equipment (spare of Host Nation in Lithuania and with the of MoD (now the Operations Command). parts, tools), are in one place, transported as help of a base at home, first how to analyse The engineering and aviation service also a whole, we arrange transport, for example, the fault. It was necessary to download data did a great job. This included Jan to Estonia or home from Estonia, the matter from the plane, bring them home, because Blažek, who was assigned to the position is executed without delay, without any everything was already packed, it happened of professional engineer, within the Baltic complications. Such transportation was at the end of the mission. It occurred on Air Policing Task Force. Throughout his done several times and always it worked as the very day of departure, when there was deployment abroad, but not only there, he it should. Complications and problems occur nothing left in Estonia, everything was on its demonstrated an exceptionally high level when the equipment is deployed in multiple way to the Czech Republic. The problem was of professional knowledge and practical locations. This is what happened once: there elegantly solved in cooperation with Lithuania experience, far beyond the framework were five planes in one place during the and the Belgians, who helped us with ground required for the performance of the position mission, the rest was at home. equipment, namely with small carriers that he held. In order to successfully complete could be used, for example, for taking down the operational task, he fully understood The last day there was a defect on the the missiles. At the moment the airplane data the meaning of the motto "One team – one fifth plane, which was subsequently were downloaded for analysis, a solution task – one goal." To fulfil the task and prepare unable to take off. Was it a usual plan was immediately created, in fact, within as many functional and combat-ready aircraft affair, an ordinary failure, or was it an a few hours. It worked great. The fact that the as possible, without hesitation he worked on exceptional situation? breakdown happened on departure was, of repairing aircraft defects, sometimes until late Operability was excellent, the equipment course, unfortunate, it was a problem, but in the evening. He always preferred fulfilling worked really well. As for defects, every piece such things simply happen. It is important to assignments in favour of the Task Force to his of equipment has them from time to time. say that thanks to the cooperation between private personal interests. And that would be The probability of a breakdown during this the NATO nations, it was possible to solve the probably all about the team’s activities at the overflight was one per mille. After landing on problem, repair the aircraft on the spot, in Ämari base in Estonia, and not only just there. the runway of the airport, a defect appeared, a few days, and fly back to the Czech Republic. so that the aircraft was unable to continue The plane was in the Czech Republic within By Michal Voska, flying. The solution was sought with the help a week. Definitely, it was not a problem that photos: LTC Pavel Pavlík, Jan Kouba A report from the training of Malian soldiers led by Czech instructors Ready to pass on new skills

The Malian soldiers emerged from the Casspir armoured vehicle, literally like water from a ruptured dam. Even while running, they mapped the surrounding terrain, as quickly as possible. Each of them tried to take the most advantageous position. While they were fully focused on completing the combat task, a Czech instructor passed through and showed them minor defects.

Our 2nd ACR Task Force EUTM Mali (European the course. It was an advanced retraining different from that one we organize in the Union Training Mission in Mali) has among course, both in the use of small arms and Czech Republic at Vyškov. The task was to others also two instructors. Since December tactics. "There are significant differences provide as much information as possible, in 2019, they have become part of the European in experience of Malian soldiers, as it is in the shortest possible time. This is because the Union’s multinational training unit at the other armies. That’s why we had to start with course in the Republic of Mali was scheduled Koulikoro Training Centre. Together with basic skills. First we focused on skills how to only for four weeks. In our country, we have their counterparts from the armies of other handle small arms, then the fire of individuals, more time for similar courses. European countries, they participated in two followed by the tactics of the unit and finally "In this case, course participants were mostly training courses of the Malian armed forces. the live firing with Casspir vehicles. Progress experienced soldiers, serving for five or six were noticeable for all participants," tells us years, they went through several combat Training course Casspir one of our instructors, Warrant Officer K. H. deployments. Some of them were even The first course was attended by twenty-four At the Koulikoro base, there are sometimes wounded in action. On the other hand, level members of the Malian mechanized units. problems with the materiel provision, but at of their training was different from the one They were equipped with Casspir armoured the end our instructors managed everything we are used to in our army. So, when we vehicles and that was also the name of well. The training itself was not fundamentally teach them, for example, how to carry out the planning process, or responses to attacks in conflict, i.e. something that we consider fundamental in our country, but for them it is something new and beneficial," explains another of our instructors, Sergeant First Class M. V.

Teaching tactics and rifle instruction The greatest care was given to tactics and rifle instruction. The course also included driver training and medical preparation, but this was provided by instructors from other countries. "I’m a fire instructor, so I took care of this occupation specialty. My fellow soldier is a commando instructor, so he focused on tactics. Our indisputable advantage was that even before we got to the instructor positions at Vyškov, we served with the mechanized battalion Tábor," recalls Sergeant First Class M. V. who has been serving as an instructor at Vyškov for five years. He mainly deals with training members of Active Reserve. Despite the relatively little time devoted to training, our instructors tried to take advantage of natural competitiveness of the Malians. During the fire practice, they until they found out that we really had not standard practice, and they surprised us prepared something for them, which they something to teach them and thus we during the manoeuvres. There was excellent called "walking shame". They all started with gained some authority with them. Then cooperation; they communicated perfectly a fire at the same distance, fifty metres. Those their timekeeping was also improved with each other." who failed to hit a target took a few steps significantly and they tried to work as hard forward. There were several persons who got as possible," explains Sergeant First Class M. V. Tactics even for policemen very close to the target. And that was the There was also a problem that they agreed The course for police forces lasted only shame. Therefore, later they tried harder to with everything. And even when they did a week and took place at the training base eliminate their failure. not understand the issues discussed. But of the Malian police base “Ecole de Police”, The biggest problem for Malians is this could be applied to all soldiers, also right in the capital city Bamako. After all, timekeeping. They themselves make fun to those we often meet at home. We just this is the trend of the last months of this of it, when they say: You have a clock, but suddenly found out that our trainees, training mission. Instructors should get closer we have time. "They simply do not deal course participants, did not understand to the dislocation points of the soldiers they with time, that’s their nature. For example, what we wanted from them. However, over train. And so they go after them, directly to when we gave them a five-minute pause, time we have managed to eliminate this their home bases. By the time we visited the they arrived in ten minutes, sometimes problem. The boys worked really well. We Koulikoro training camp, there was only one it was fifteen minutes. It didn’t change also lent them signal equipment, which is of our instructors, and even he was packed and headed for his comrade-in-arms to the eastern part of the Republic of Mali. "I don’t think it would be a problem for us to change the location. On the contrary, it is quite welcome on my part. When we trained police in Bamako, we were accommodated in a hotel, which of course was more comfortable than here, at the base. On the other hand, there were some complications with our food. We drove to the mess at the mission headquarters. This, of course, took us some time, which we then lacked during training. A similar problem was posed by training in more remote areas. Road traffic

in Bamako is very problematic at peak times. It took us a long time before we crossed this agglomeration," says Sergeant First Class M. V. Also this police course was aimed at all military services, as the Malian police perform a wide range of military tasks. The trainees completed training in weapon handling, tactics, topographic preparation, activities at the checkpoint, as well as a drill how to dispose improvised explosive devices. The teaching of tactics was focused primarily on responding to attacks both in urban areas and beyond. "Their activity is not explicitly a police job, it also has a military character. This is due to the heavy workload of the Malian army. The participants of the course told to us that they operated not only in inhabited agglomerations, but also outside them, and often performed the same tasks as the army,” specifies Sergeant First Class M. V.

It is not possible to cook from water The instructor himself must, of course, master the knowledge and skills he passes on to others. When you don’t know what you're talking about, the soldiers know it very quickly. It is simply not possible to cook from water. In addition, pedagogical ability or skills are desirable. "Now most of us are going through a course in pedagogy and psychology. The reason is that we know how to work with the trainees. Not everyone has such inborn abilities. You can be an excellent soldier, but not a good instructor. The mentor must be able to pass on his knowledge," points Sergeant First Class M. V. "Personally, I am a calm person. I rarely raise my voice. I do it only when I have to, when I see that someone is not paying attention. But then all is more effective. They all immediately increase their attention as they know that they have crossed a certain limit," he concludes.

By Vladimír Marek, photos: author and archive of instructors One last pilot flying both MiG-21s and JAS-39 Gripens remains at the Čáslav AFB On the wings of MiG-21 and JAS-39 Gripen

He was one of the two pilots of the generation which had a chance to potential,’ says one of the most experienced pilot the MiG-21 aircraft and then the JAS-39 Gripen. Of the two pilots, pilots from Čáslav AFB, LTC Michal Daněk, on difference between the MiG-21 and JAS-39 one has now ended his supersonic fighter pilot career. Lieutenant aircraft. Colonel Radoslav Matula will not pilot fighter jets in Čáslav anymore, Although the two airplanes are similar in some but he is leaving neither the military nor the airfields. From July of characteristics because of the delta , they this year, he has served as the commander of the Pardubice Airfield very much differ in equipment and in piloting possibilities. ‘The then MiG consumed up to Administration. The symbolic baton of the last pilot of both aircraft 80% of concentration on the very control of thus goes to Lieutenant Colonel Michal Daněk. the airplane and then 20% was left for the practical component with a minimum of From Bechyně to Čáslav LTC Matula logged roughly 2,100 hours on avionics. The pilot thought everything out in After his graduation from the Air College in these aircraft, of which about 2,000 hours were his mind and could not do without the support Košice, Slovakia, in 1990, Lieutenant Colonel on supersonic aircraft. by guidance control officers at command Radoslav Matula began his service career as posts,’ LTC Matula compares the two airplanes. a fighter regiment pilot with Lieutenant’s stars Thirty years’ difference Contrarily, the Gripen with the fly-by-wire on his shoulder boards at the military unit in Until the middle of this year, LTC Matula was and advanced avionics helps alleviate the Bechyně. During his career, he served in pilots in command of the prestigious 211th Tactical pilot’s load in favour of tactical situations and assignments in the 82nd Independent Fighter Squadron. He was replaced in this post by supports opportunities of a more independent Squadron in Mošnov and Přerov. In 1995, he Lieutenant Colonel Michal Daněk, who thus solution of combat missions with its more was assigned to the nascent 4th Fighter Air became the last fighter pilot to have flown advanced weaponry. ‘The miraculous view of Force Base in Čáslav. the MiG-21 and more recently the Gripens. He the earth’s sphericity and the almost purple He progressively flew the L-29 Dolphin, L-39 has also flown all above-mentioned aircraft colour of the sky upon reaching the altitude Albatross and MiG-21, on which he completed during his pilot career. His logged flight time of 20 kilometres with the MiG is nevertheless nearly 900 hours by 2004. In 2005, he was is approximately 2,800 hours, of which roughly impossible today with the Gripen because in the first batch of pilots from Čáslav, who 2,200 hours on supersonic aircraft. of their lower operational ceiling,’ LTC Matula completed the JAS-39 Gripen type training in ‘There is an obvious thirty years’ difference concluded the comparison of the two types. Sweden, and he logged some 1,200 hours on between both aircraft, both in terms of By CAPT Hana Havrdová, the aircraft. During his rich military pilot career aerodynamics and avionics and the combat photos by Tomáš Soušek and the 21st TAFB Lifting personnel and materiel is a challenging job, says the movement coordinator of the Czech Armed Forces Task Force in Afghanistan, Warrant Officer R. J. Responding to unexpected situations

In connection with the withdrawal of Czech service personnel from the Bagram Airfield in the territory of Afghanistan, where the 13th Guard Company served as the last deployment until the end of April earlier this year, a challenging mission came up to provide a successful transport of the Czech Armed Forces servicemembers and materiel back to the territory of the Czech Republic. MOVCON officer of the 20th Czech Armed Forces Task Force, Warrant Officer R. J. and his colleagues were to tackle that task.

What is the job description of a military I am responsible for the planning, requesting application, which is organised in . professional, who serves as a MOVCON and realisation of domestic and international In addition, it is useful to complete the ADR and what does the acronym stand for? transports of materiel and personnel. course (Accord européen relativ au transport MOVCON is an internationally used acronym international des marchandises Dangereuses for Movement Control, meaning a movement How long and where have you trained par Route). coordinator. My primary responsibilities for this position? both on foreign operations and in the Czech I prepared for this position for 12 months What information systems do you Republic include the planning and support ahead of the planned departure for the area work in? of transports and movement of materiel, of operations, and I also benefited from the On the national level, we plan in the equipment and personnel from point A to lessons learnt by my colleagues who have Information System of Logistics (ISL). In point B. The job is therefore to support the already been deployed. Further, I was involved the international environment, we plan movement of oversize equipment, vehicle in multinational exercise Capable Logistician movements in the Logistic Functional Area convoys or transport of hazardous cargo 2019 in Poland and exercise Steadfast Flow Services (LOGFAS) information system, which in the Czech Republic, through planning 2019 in Turkey, which primarily focused on is a software product of the NATO Support and realisation of transport of forces to the force transport and movement. and Procurement Agency (NSPA), used by the designated location on a deployed operation NATO nations. or back to homeland. Furthermore, that Did you complete any courses? concerns the movement or transits of foreign So far I have only completed the basic Is there any substantial difference forces into or through our homeland territory. International Air Transport Association between your responsibilities in That work is not done by one individual, but Dangerous Good Regulations (IATA DGR) a foreign operation as opposed what rather a team of members of the Military course, which is organised by the Flight you do as part of MOVCON in the Transport Department of the Logistics Training Centre in Prague Ruzyně. I am slated Czech Republic? Agency of the Ministry of Defence. Here on to attend a course to learn how to fully use The responsibilities are basically the same – deployment in the territory of Afghanistan, the Logistics Functional Services (LOGFAS) I am up to organising specific movement or transport. Of course it differs by the location where the missions are realised, and I also arrange most of the movements on a deployed operation on my own. From planning and requesting to the very realisation, such as transfer of personnel or materiel among camps in Afghanistan. I only realise international transports in a foreign operation in conjunction with other involved forces and with colleagues in the Military Transport Department. For example, the current effort to withdraw the 13th Guard Company from BAF involves the Military Transport Department, Chief Logistics Officer of the 13th Guard Company with his team and myself. Back in the Czech Republic, there is always a team of people engaged in the realisation of transports and movements. For instance during the transit of U.S. Army units via our territory, which received a high media coverage, we supported their crossing of the state border in cooperation with the Military Police, stops on movements and rest overnight in various military garrisons. So, coordinating the parking of twelve convoys with each comprising 30 vehicles in a barracks area so, that it is obvious where each convoy stands, making sure there is a free passage among them, because there is always a single point of entry and single point, plus reflecting fire prevention rules, is not as easy as it may seem at the first sight.

What are the most difficult and challenging activities you are faced with in the performance of this assignment? In this job, it is key to be able to make timely and responsible decisions, react rightly to unexpected situations. It is equally important to be self-reliant in your job.

Have you served as a MOVCON on a foreign operation? Where and when? It is my third time downrange, but the first time as a MOVCON, as a member of the 20th Do you have any interesting experien- What do you learn by serving as Czech Armed Forces Task Force Resolute ces from your job? a MOVCON, and how would you like Support Afghanistan. In 2014, I was also here There is a gamut of experiences and lessons; to develop your career in the Czech at the Hamid Karzai International Airport it has always been and perhaps also will be Armed Forces? (HKIA) as a team leader of depot specialists fun to do loading on a railroad. People are I would like to continue to serve in the ranks of and I worked closely with the then MOVCON, diverse, so there is always fun, for example the Czech Armed Forces. My current job fulfils Warrant Officer L.M., who is now my colleague. when you load 20 railcars at the railhead, the me and I enjoy it. There is a lot of work done, At that time, I did not know anything about freight conductor accepts the train, handles it often invisible. When you load a transport planning air transports, but I prepared and at the station, you drive back to your barracks of a unit into Lithuania at the train station, loaded all materiel and was involved in and after covering 200 kilometres you have majority of the transported servicemembers handling all passenger flights from and into phonecall at night that you have to retie the do not have a clue what it is all about. As the Czech Republic. loaded materiel, because another freight a MOVCON, I also travel a lot, including conductor will not permit the train to leave outside the Czech Republic. And my plans for Your job as a MOVCON involves liaising the station. Then you get naturally emotional the future? I would like to improve my skills, with international colleagues. What to some extent. In the end, you have no choice because there is always room to improve, language skills do you need to have? but to go there and get the job done. During and I want to expand my language skills and My English knowledge is at STANAG SLP 2222. various movements, including outside the specialist abilities. Of course, higher levels naturally come in Czech Republic, it is essential to tackle minor By 1LT Zdeněk Stavinoha, handy, including in other languages, such as well as bigger challenges, but one always photos by the Czech Armed Forces Task Force Afghanistan as French. handles that somehow. Substantially surpassing the MILES, the TES is already used by the Czech Armed Forces Engagement sim

Soldiers of the 71st Mechanised Battalion in Hranice tried out the new Tactical Engagement Simulators (TES) by the SAAB company in the Libavá Military Training Area. The Czech Armed Forces can equip up to 300 soldiers with this system that moreover complies with the NATO standards and is fully compatible with NATO partners’ simulators.

The Libavá MTA became a demonstration area the difference is substantial,’ says Private First for the most advanced simulation systems the Class Jan Průša, who was put out of action. Czech Armed Forces procured from the SAAB ‘Realising that it would mean my definitive company of Sweden for CZK 300 million. ‘The end, it is not really a nice feeling. That is simulator is able to substantially rationalise why I believe training on this engagement training both in terms of costs and especially simulator will force me even more to follow the through a realistic simulation of combat acti- trained drills, work more with the others and vities at various levels,’ Deputy Chief of Staff max it out.’ Soldiers realise they can be hit, and Operations, Captain David Kremlička, praises therefore much more carefully consider their the TES. The system works as a set of sensors tactics and procedures. The great advantage reading laser signals initiated by firing of the is also the possibility of after action review. practised ammo. Accuracy and effectiveness When the mission is complete, the warriors of the hit are evaluated, putting the engaged can replay everything and evaluate actions by warriors out of action, or designating them every individual so as to avoid mistakes or to as injured. Their condition requires treatment know where to move up a gear in a specific and subsequent evacuation. phase of training. The TES can be connected to a field power generator, so the commander Better than a computer game is able to watch the moves of all individuals in It is like regular warfighting, the soldiers praise the battlefield live on his display. The colours the sim. ‘It looks like a computer game, but show the current status – the opponent, injury or elimination and the like. It approximates The Czech Armed Forces will use the new the soldier’s body. That was not possible reality, the equipment has commonality with infantry simulators to reinforce the training before. Likewise, it is not necessary to carry engagement simulators on the Pandur APCs capabilities of the Simulation and Trainer relatively heavyweight batteries with limited as well as similar equipment of the NATO Technology Center (CSTT), which can equip capacity. The TSS lasts roughly 24 hours when partners. up to 300 soldiers. In cooperation with fully charged, which allows for longer training NATO partners, the Mobile Exercise Control events. If the soldier is put out of action, the (MobExCon) is able control the training of up laser emitter on the weapon deactivates to 2,000 servicemembers at a time. Trainers automatically, the system communicates from the Training Command in Vyškov can acoustically and the warrior’s wristwatch connect their simulators to be used virtually vibrates. by the whole Czech Armed Forces. Almost unlimited possibilities Juxtaposing MILES According to Mr. Zdeněk Palacký of the This simulation system is rightly compared Czech Armed Forces Simulation and Trainer to the MILES systems that the soldiers have technology Centre in Vyškov, the acquisition known intimately for many years, specifically of the new system is a quantum leap ahead. from 2003, when approximately a hundred For example, it took up to half a day to prepare sets were donated to the Czech Armed an exercise with the previous MILES system, Forces. Contrarily to the older system, the when it took hours to accoutre every soldier TES is not only more modern and lighter, but and adjust the technology. ‘The previous the primary difference is the hit assessment. system also showed, given the intensity and its Soldiers are now aware of bullets swooshing use conditions, a relatively high susceptibility past them, and they know upon receiving to failure. It was neither equipped with a hit, whether the injury is fatal, or they a communication system, nor did it have remain mobile or are immobilised. The the GPS to track the position of individual system is also able to simulate an exposure trainees,’ Mr. Palacký said. The expectations to chemical and biological warfare agents. are that the TSS will continue to expand in the It also has the ability to emulate the effects future. Besides the involvement of the Pandur of hand grenades. Using a small handheld IFVs, the interconnection with virtual reality controller, the instructor may also put out is planned as well. All of that has a single of action the soldiers he thinks are taking goal: to achieve cutting edge capabilities at poor cover, or make other training mistakes. a reasonable cost in a real environment that The instructor may also choose to alert the simulates combat to a maximum extent. trainees to the mistakes and simulates the swooshing of bullets in the loudspeaker on By Michal Voska Military psychologists carry on providing assistance on the psychological assistance line

Stress under control

Almost five hundred phone calls in the total length of nearly ten thousand minutes. Most frequent topics – fear, panic, anxiety, uncertainty and stress invoked by the current situation in connection with the extraordinary measures introduced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

That is the score of the telephone line run by phone lines were active from seven a.m. till model of teamwork discipline, regimen, rules, military psychologists, which was established midnight. People were mostly interested in plan and open communication. It works well in March and discontinued in June. how to handle situations when the whole to divide duties, and make clear who does Extraordinary measures related to the new family is quarantined, how to handle panic or what. So, our most frequent advice was coronavirus turned many people’s life upside fear, how to communicate with kids, how to for every family member to have specific down in March of this year. We were isolated, get calm when they cannot sleep at night.’ responsibilities they have to fulfil. These basic many were forced to spend whole days Military psychologists have sizeable rules work well not only for soldiers.’ without human contact. Twenty-four hours experience with similar crisis situations. in distress, fear for oneself and their families They work in teams preparing our Stress, disease and death of a close one and friends, without the slightest indication service personnel for foreign operational It was no exception to entertain topics such of when it would all end. Schools and deployments, where they will serve at least as domestic violence, disease or death of the kindergartens were closed overnight, parents six months in countries with an unstable close ones. Most callers were females, and had to stay at home. Nobody knew, what security situation, hundreds of kilometres their calls were longer. The age spectrum would happen and, more importantly, how from home. Many, unfortunately, were in covered basically all age categories, although long this situation would last. Communication a situation in which their comrades died. a majority of the callers were in the productive was often possible only on the phone or ‘Czech servicemembers undergo an academic age, from 36 through 65 years. electronically. We all have been through that. psychological training, plus we also seek ‘People from the civilian sphere comprised to get them under pressure with specific over ninety percent, the remaining ten Military model stress situations. They have to know how percent accounted for military professionals, At that time, twenty-six psychologists of they will behave in various crisis situations, their families or medics for instance,’ Colonel the Operation Psychology Department how their organism will react. That is why Sováková recalls. She however adds, that of the Military Medicine Agency and four our psychologists prepare crisis situations, true representation may differ, because the psychologists of the 601st Special Forces in which they have to tackle both physical calls were anonymous and the callers did Group began to provide assistance and and mental fatigue. For example, they want not have to or did not want to reveal specific counselling on three lines in shift operation. to know how to handle cabin fever,’ COL information. ‘In that instance, we knew that we needed to Sováková elaborates. ‘The most frequent ‘What struck me was one of the first do something. Everybody was in an abnormal question in the time of the coronavirus was conversations, when the caller was a lady with situation, where abnormal reactions are how not to become claustrophobic at home, anxiety neurosis and an acute panic attack, in completely normal,’ explains Colonel Helena when everybody is forced to be together. an intense stress state,’ recalls Sováková, the Chief MoD Psychologists. ‘The That is why we used the well-proven military Ondřej Machút, one of the psychologists who Psychologists continuing to aid Assistance and counselling by military psychologists in the time of the coronavirus pandemic via the military telephone line has proven very well. Therefore, military psychologists have carried on providing the assistance from 1 July 2020. The line is open again to military professionals and defence civilians, their families, war veterans, their families and coordinators, as well as the general public. ‘Our effort met with a good response, in four months we provided aid or advice to almost five hundred people, who got into a situation in which they were not able to help themselves. For our psychologists, it is naturally also a big and valuable experience they will certainly make use of in their work. I am therefore glad that the new telephone line activated at the beginning of July, can continue to be useful. Our military psychologists are ready to help anyone who dials the line. Our website also factsheet offers a range of information and instructions Military psychological assistance helpline 973 255 145 for people to handle situations they are not able to deal with,’ Chief MoD Psychologist Helpline active from 8:00 till 17:00 Colonel Sováková concludes. Online counselling on the Facebook profile By Jana Deckerová, „Psychologové AČR“ photos by Operational Psychology Department of the Military Medicine Agency Consult the website psychologove.army.cz for more information worked for the line. ‘The first thing was to calm her, so I recommended her to sit down, drink some water and together we performed easing coupled with muscle relaxation. The lady calmed down and clearly got better.’ ‘The worst thing for me was the communication with an individual in deep depression, a gentleman on disability pension, who could only see with one eye because of an infection. He was left in an old house practically on his own, without the support of his close ones. I instantly realised from his voice that he was going through a difficult period and the coronavirus situation only made things worse for him,’ Major Ivana Černá adds her experience with the assistance line. Other military psychologists also encountered similar subjects. The most important task was to calm the callers down and make sure they would get the instant stress and panic under control. ‘The ability to realistically assess one’s possibilities and current situation is a mark of the human personality’s maturity. To ask for help at the right time is the first step on the way out of the crisis situation. To know procedures and obtain tools, regain the peace of mind, is the solution of our problems. Get to know oneself, be able to work with one’s weaknesses and to know where my power rests is the way to handle the most challenging life and professional situations,’ psychologist Sováková explains. Chrudim Paras went through a retraining course “Helicopter Rope Suspension Techniques”

The Fast Rope is an alternative to classic rappelling, with the use of rappel seat, safety harness and a figure eight device. This method of insertions and extractions is used Fast Rope in situations when helicopter landings are impractical. It also depends on the nature of the task that the unit performs, drop/pickup variants are selected accordingly. Rappelling or abseil is a slower alternative, especially for or airdrop with the the deployment of larger groups of soldiers. Each soldier must tie himself to the rope first, with the help of the eighth device and slide down the rope, on his own. On the ground, he must untie from the rope. Moreover, help of thick rope everyone must have a harness assembly on, which may be incompatible with certain tasks. However, thanks to a safety locking, it is a safer option. "At the end of the retraining course, 220 The Chrudim underwent a retraining course on fast ropings were performed in 50 minutes. how to descent from the hovering helicopter, using a special Insertion via fast roping is preferred over classical rappelling due to its overall thick rope, called Fast Rope. It is one of their main tasks to efficiency, effectiveness, and ease of master in their airborne training. Fast roping is a technique installation. Compared to conventional used to rapidly introduce heliborne personnel into areas that rappelling, where only 50 rappelling was helicopters cannot land. done on a loose rope in the same time, it is clear that Fast Rope method is about four the site Captain Simona Mužátko, one of the but this time on a rappel line simulator and Czech women paratroopers. And here’s the at night. In the first phase, no one hesitated, first test, to get on the rope and hold for 20 but in the hangar, the light was still on. seconds, then go down. "I repeat, at shoulder After turning light off, it is really dark, and height, squeeze, hold on, and let’s go. The therefore the beginning and end of the squeezing means that you grasp the rope rope is marked with a light stick. Initially, it with your hands, close above you, you make is fast roping without materiel. "I can only a move, as if you are squeezing the laundry, see how the silhouettes of my comrades are pulling it to your chest,” she adds. gradually disappearing. Finally, it’s my turn. The first "ride" was probably a little The most important thing is to hold the rope embarrassing for everyone, they didn’t tight in hand. When there is light, we get on times faster,” explains instructor, Warrant know what to expect. The next test follows entire harness again, and repeat fast roping Officer Jiří Kupčík, 43rd Airborne Bn. in a moment. In the middle of fast roping, with materiel. They all passed," the Captain Fast rope is a 4 centimetre rappel line of participants must stop for 5 seconds. This emphasizes. multiple strands that is approximately 12 moves them to the next platform, and then And here comes the conclusion of retraining to 27 metres long. It is designed to allow they reach the third. and final "live" fast roping. The descent fast and safe roping from the helicopter, "I admit that the movement on the simulator will not be just one, it would be too easy. up to 3 people with fighting load and full was worse for me than the fast roping Participants carry on the fixed procedure. equipment (1 person = 150 kg). The rappel alone. After roping from the third platform, The helicopter still sits on the ground as rope is attached to the winch of the Mi-171Š which is about 6 metres high, my hands they write a methodical preparation. First, helicopter, using a lifting eye. The soldier are burning, but the gloves withstood. And there are two “easy” fast ropings without grips the rope with both hands at chest level there’s another part. What we have tried so equipment. One is from a height of roughly and descends down, then on the ground the far, now we do again with the materiel, i.e. 5, the other from 10 metres. In the helicopter, unit takes an all-round defence. This method fighting load and equipment. So we're going the rope is attached a little lower than on of fast roping is also used by other ACR units, for a ballistic vest, rucksack, of course, assault the simulator, yet getting on the rope is not namely the 601st Special Forces Group, rifle must not be missing. With such a load, difficult. the 102nd Reconnaissance Battalion and one gets heavier, you will feel it most lately "Get dressed! We hear the order from the forward air controllers. Within the Police of on the rope. I’m already starting to feel the instructor. We take vest, rucksack, weapon. the Czech Republic, this method of airdrop, forearm, my grip is weakening a bit, but the The finals are approaching. Again, roping i.e. fast roping, is used by a special police unit self-preservation instinct will not allow me to down from two different heights. For me, of rapid deployment, URNA. ease off," says Captain Mužátko. After a pause this is fun, even though 10 metre descend At a retraining course, the instructor first and dismantling the materiel, there follows with materiel warmed my hands a lot. It’s like explains and demonstrates how to grasp fast roping in a group. "That means we go taking a bowl with boiling soup out of the the rope correctly. "So far you are only one after another. Again, we proceed from microwave,“ Captain Simona Mužátko adds wearing a helmet and gloves, which look the first platform to the third. I have to admit, at the end. like bikers. All rappellers must have helmets I enjoy it. And here it is, we put the materiel Text and photos by CAPT Simona Mužátko and gloves. Now we stand on the JAKUB on, and then go down, one after another.” climbing simulator, on the first platform, it The following day, the course participants is roughly at a height of 2 meters,” describes repeated the skills from the previous day, Tomáš Zdechovský reached the very bottom, but finished successfully A reservist MEP Czech politician, since 2014 Member of the European Parliament (MEP), since 2020 vice-chairman of KDU-ČSL. Prior to that, he worked as a crisis manager and media analyst. He is considered an expert in crisis communication, political marketing and public relations. This is Tomáš Zdechovský, a new member of the Active Reserve, who, among other things, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political communication from the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome.

Mr. Zdechovský, could you tell us it. And I also found out that our whole life what led you to enter the AR? would fit in one backpack. I wonder how I decided to enter the Active Reserve for I shall teach this to my children and wife several years. A great motivation for me when we go on vacation. And what took it was the fact that we had three legionnaires away from me? Probably the most important in the family, who took part in the fighting thing was 14 kg of my weight (laughs). against the Hungarians in 1918 and in 1938 were ready to go to defend Czechoslovakia. Did you reach the bottom or was the My father and uncle were even ready to fight training less demanding than you the occupants in 1968. My older brother and expected? cousin, who is a professional soldier, also Due to anti-coronavirus measures, the went through the army. We have respect training was only three weeks long and took for the homeland, its defence, it’s our family place on a 24/7 schedule, which means that tradition. When deciding which college or it was incredibly intensive. Among the other university to attend, I was even accepted to trainees, with my age of 40, I was the oldest the Military Academy Brno, now called the amongst menfolk and many times I really everyone else, even though I had originally University of Defence, but at the end I chose wondered if it wouldn’t have been better to arrived with a short haircut that was allowed. another university, which I repeatedly join the army 20 years ago, because now I’m I was simply one of them, and many people regretted. rather old. After the first week or so, I wanted subsequently appreciated it. to quit. Then I got on with it and completed How did you hear about the AR? the training successfully. And I’m proud of How many of you took the course and At Hradec Králové, where I live, the director myself for that. I had great comrades there how many completed it? of the Regional Military Headquarters is and I was quite supported by my team-mate I don’t know the exact numbers, but about Colonel Filip and the commander of the Petra, who was two years older, with whom a third of the people did not finish it. It infantry company of reservists Pavel Kuthan. we encouraged each other. was even half of our section. Many people They both are great patriots, who discussed dropped out, especially physically, from with me the possibility of serving the How did others react to the fact that various injuries. homeland as a member of the Active Reserve they had the MEP among themselves? and inspired me to serve in the AR. So I sent Even many instructors did not know that What was the most difficult thing for an application, and then it went very fast. I was a member of European Parliament, I did you? After I was accepted, I was just looking for not want any preference. When someone The state when you don’t think and just obey a suitable term. knew who I was, I was either joking that orders that sometimes didn’t make sense, I was just a thinner cousin, or we agreed that but you had to carry them out. Even this What did the basic training course they kept it to themselves. It was completely was one of the reasons I thought I couldn’t give you, and what did it take? revealed at the end, during a comprehensive do it. Yes, we got up at 0430hrs and went to I learned humility and endurance. If we training, when everyone already knew me morning exercises at 0515hrs, even though wanted to survive, we had to pull together, and they knew I wasn’t playing anything, there was a night watch before. There were otherwise we wouldn’t all be able to do that even my head was shaved clean, just like hard times when, for example, we had to run factsheet Mgr. et Mgr. et Mgr. Tomáš Zdechovský He graduated from the grammar school at town Ledeč over the Sázava river, and then he earned the master’s degree, in the field of pastoral-social assistant and a leisure- time teacher, at the Faculty of Theology of the University of South Bohemia České Budějovice. In addition, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political communication from the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome and he has a master’s degree in media studies and journalism at Masaryk University Brno. In 2001, he co-organized an event prepared by the Catholic Youth Association to honour the memory of Josef Toufar, martyr priest, tortured by the communists in 1950. He is married and has four children.

in the rain while carrying a comrade-in-arms me that guns don’t kill, but people kill. Do you recommend entering the on a stretcher, who felt sick, and at the same Even a Christian should be able to defend basic training course to others? time to have an assault rifle, large backpack himself. For example, to your fellow party and equipment. Or, we used to do about 500 members? push-ups per day, and so on. But the worst After all this, did you change your I would definitely recommend it to anyone were mentioned illogical orders. It really was view of the army, soldiers, in a way? who is just thinking about it. Personally, I try a huge lesson for me and I am grateful for it. My view has always been very positive, to inspire my assistants and their partners because as I said, we had and still have a lot to join the Active Reserve. Many party Did you want to end it then? of soldiers in the family. But now I value members are already in the Active Reserve Yes, I must openly admit that after six days everyone even more than before. I met many and I firmly believe that my story inspires I wanted to end it. But it’s just part of the who had served in missions. And I lift my hat others as well. The Active Reserve are training – to grid your teeth and stand out to them and their work. a great opportunity to recruit into the army to it. people with interesting vocations, who are How do you combine your parliamen- enthusiastic and want to help the Czech Is employing weapons, for example, tary mandate with the AR? Republic with its defence. more difficult for you as a Christian, I already have a position and I want or do you have a positive attitude to continue at the Regional Military Prepared by Michal Voska, towards weaponries? Headquarters, where I will help with the photos: archive of Tomáš Zdechovský I've been used to shooting since I was a kid recruitment of new people and their and I like it. I am also an active hunter. preparation. I shall have the rank of So the only difference is that now I don’t lieutenant. I do not finish with politics, but shoot everything that moves, but I think it will be necessary to harmonize both two more about it. My father always taught activities. It is definitely possible. Twenty-five years ago, two of our soldiers died during a Croatian attack on the separatist Republic of Serbian Krajina, others were wounded Death came in the midst of the Storm “Of the four years that UNPROFOR has existed, the worst time was the last three days. It started with Orange Alert, about a week ago. When I went to watch the news on TV, the alarm sounded. Croatian troops were heading for us. Red Alert began. We had to take all- round defence. That day, fierce fighting started at all UN posts. The hardest fights were in locations Repetitor, Bunič, Dabar and Kuzmač. Our UN post was also under fire, because on Bunič post, there is a Serbian command, and our post is right next to it. Bunič and Repetitor posts were reported to be under fire from all sides. Fifteen artillery shells hit them in ten minutes. The residential unit and kitchen were demolished." These words were written twenty-five years ago, in August 1995, by one of our UNPROFOR soldiers to his family in the Czech Republic. It was only a few tens of hours after two of our soldiers were killed and several others were Sergeant Petr Valeš Warrant Officer 3rd Class Luděk Zeman Luděk Zeman (second from left)

wounded during the Croatian raid on August 5, 1995, at Repetitor post. After the disintegration of Czechoslovakia, the Czech Republic had a unit of about five hundred soldiers in the UNCRO mission. The year 1995 could be characterized as peace before the storm. All indications showed that was not going to accept the existence of the so-called Republic of Serbian Krajina. At the beginning of the summer, the situation worsened significantly. The Croats were preparing an attack on Serbian positions. On Thursday, August 3, an order was delivered to Tango 23 post, where Sergeant Petr Valeš and Warrant Officer 3rd Class Luděk Zeman served, together with other Czech soldiers. It was an order to increase the number of duties at observation posts. It was a leave season, so from the original platoon under the command of the then First Lieutenant Sergeant Petr Valeš that I realized I had shrapnel in my thigh," Jaromír Alan (now Major General) there were died in the Balkans told us after years Sergeant First Class Roman only about fifteen soldiers. After twenty-four during Operation Čelanský. hours later, the highest alert signal, Red Alert, Storm Other soldiers also suffered from wounds. was announced. Sergeant Jiří Suda was hit in the back. At that time, Croatian troops already opened Sergeant Jiří Hubáček had wounded leg and Operation Storm. At noon, a group of about arm. When the soldiers took his helmet off, he thirty Croatian soldiers, supported by several found that he had been born a second time. tanks, overran Tango 23 post. The He had a fist-sized hole in it. Luděk Zeman and responded with intense mortar fire. The battle Petr Valeš were affected by this blast the most. broke out over a strategically advantageous The first one had his leg torn off. The extent position, located at the altitude of about of his wounds was virtually incompatible twelve hundred metres above sea level, from with life. Even in the case of qualified medical which it was possible to see up to a distance of assistance on the spot, it would be probably twenty thirty kilometres, with good visibility. difficult to save him. Petr Valeš lost his arm. He "Our position was a demarcation line. The had another serious wound in the back area. Serbs were separated from the Croats by There was a lot of blood everywhere. He was some kilometre strip of no man’s land. We in terrible pain. Unfortunately, the unit did had only light infantry armament, i.e. small not have an ampoule of morphine to alleviate arms, machine guns and anti-tank grenade his suffering. So the soldiers at least tried to launchers. We were allowed to use them stop the heavy bleeding. They immediately only for our own defence. And then we were reported the matter to headquarters, asking ordered to retreat to an improvised bunker. for medical help. It was hardened shelter, our soldiers built it still explosions," described the situation First “An armoured personnel carrier with from a container, which was reinforced with Lieutenant Milan Nechvátal, platoon 2IC. a surgeon, who came to help him, was logs, then covered with stones and clay," At nine o'clock in the evening, the situation detained by Serbs. Fighting was still raging. recalled these moments Warrant Officer 3rd finally calmed down a bit. Everyone believed Finally, after long discussions, they let the Class Vladimír Osvald. "When first Croatian that they were out of the worst. Nevertheless, surgeon go. But he had to continue on foot. reconnaissance troops approached us, they they continued to monitor the situation. At the end, the headquarters decided that asked us not to resist, allegedly they just They took turns at the observation post not only the wounded, but also other soldiers wanted to cross our territory. All around us, after an hour. On Saturday, August 5, early would be withdrawn. "There were a lot of there was a mountainous, rugged terrain, and in the morning, Petr Valeš entered the duty. mines all around. One of the drivers managed it was practically impossible for the Croats to He called Luděk Zeman to come down from to put into operation an armoured personnel cross sections like this with tanks. And so they the observation post, because he was going carrier, which drove in front of us. We followed decided to make their way on an access path, to replace him. And at that very moment, its tracks. We realized that something could directly to us." several Croats attacked the site of our soldiers. explode at any moment. It was an endless The Czech soldiers had no choice but to Apparently, the Croats wanted to hide there. mad mile. In the end, however, we got to the monitor the situation and report to the "I was sitting with two other comrades right at headquarters in good health. That is, except battalion headquarters how the Croats were the exit of the bunker. From outside we heard for our two great friends,” adds First Lieutenant proceeding and what had been destroyed some voices. We decided to find out what was Michal Nechvátal in conclusion. by the shots. Their post also was also hit. The going on. But as soon as we ran out, a mortar Every year at Rožmitál, the Šumava Mountains, their friends, kitchen, commander’s room, and water tanks, grenade hit our bunker directly. I felt a blow comrades-in-arms, and family members, commemorate the all were demolished. Some other objects were to my thigh. At first I thought a bounced anniversary of the tragic deaths of Sergeant Petr Valeš and damaged. stone hit me. I tried to get back to bunker, as Warrant Officer 3rd Class Luděk Zeman. “We learned from a radio that in other quickly as possible. But the explosion cut off sections there is no longer fighting, they are the electricity supply, it was dark all around. By Vladimír Marek, relatively calm. But in our post, there were It wasn’t until the boys brought the flashlight photos: author and archive of our UNPROFOR unit