11/2012/2012 REVIEW

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1 Contents

An equation staggering too much 2 Interview with new Czech CHOD, LTG Petr Pavel

Never step into the same river twice 6

Medics were the fi rst 12

Interactivities green-lit 14

Facing new challenges 17

Czech aid for Afghans 20

Four Czech years in Kabul 22

Cadets attained the jaguar 24

Managing oneself 27

A unique helicoper project 30

Minimi machinegun 32 LLieutenant-Generalieutenant-General PetrPetr PPavelavel A school with no teachers 35 Czech MTA Hradiště turning into Logar 38

newly appointed the Chief of General Staff ”Hit!“ 40

Unique institute with mission out of the ordinary 43

of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic Solving the puzzle of death 46

On Friday June 29, 2012, the President of your side,“ general In tune for missions in Afghanistan 48 the Czech Republic Václav Klaus appointed the Picek said to the Pre- new Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces sident. The period of In the kingdoms of the mythic Scheherazadea 52 of the Czech Republic. Replacing General Vlas- time when he served timil Picek, Lieutenant-General Petr Pavel took as the Chief of the Firing at the Artic Circle 54 over as the new CHOD at July 1, 2012. Military Offi ce of the The Czech contribution to NAEW&C 58 The President congratulated both Generals, President gave him an and thanked General Picek for his achievements extensive experience The Balkan crucible 60 in the highest military post. ”I had the chance that he sought to use to watch his performance for a number of years, in his assignment as (Extra)ordinary eight-digit number 62 not only as the Chief of Military Offi ce of the the Chief of Defence. President, but also in this assignment, and I have Lieutenant-Gene- Science against terrorism 64 to admit he proved excellent. It is our duty to ral Petr Pavel noted thank General Picek for his endeavour of many that this day could be years’ standing,“ President Klaus said and awar- for him the proverb ded General Picek with the Golden Plaque on come true of “mar- that occasion. “It is a sort of personal award that shal’s baton in the I, as the President of the Republic, bestow on knapsack of a simple those who have excelled in their branch, became soldier“. But he ra- publicly recognised personalities, and enriched ther underscored he The ceremony started by laying a joint wre- “I am a soldier, so let me be brief. Thank you very much for the years of me personally,” the head of state explained. was at the beginning ath in the Courtyard of Honour of the National diligent, effortful and meaningful work,“ General Picek said. The President also wished the new Chief of of a journey, that Memorial by the top MoD and Armed Forces The newly appointed Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant-General Petr General Staff Lieutenant-General Petr Pavel the would not involve lustre only, but surely also offi cials and continued with a minute of silen- Pavel, mentioned in his remarks: “The coordinated and sustained effort to very best of luck in his new assignment, that he hard work, often with uncertain outcomes. "In ce in honour of those who died in the line of penetrate the most senior levels of government and political parties with remained unchanged and would not yield to ex- addition to pride, I also increasingly realise the duty. unbiased and complete information about the true condition of the armed ternal pressures. “I fully realise the complexity responsibility, which is and will be obliging, and “The Czech Armed Forces may be right- forces and its readiness to ensure national defence is beginning to yield the Published by MoD CR, Commnication and Promotion Department of your position in the situation of current cut- will be greater than that I have ever been faced ly proud of its legionnaire traditions that are expected outcome in the form of an increased awareness that the defence Tychonova 1, 160 01 Praha 6, Czech Republic; www.army.cz ting of defence expenditures and I trust you will with in my service career," General Petr Pavel worthy of honouring and following on. I have department may no longer serve as a readily available auxiliary resource to Identifi cation number: 60162694 be able to cope with it successfully. I am always said. By the way of conclusion, General Pavel no doubt that the Armed Forces of the Czech fi ll public spending defi cits.“ Address: Rooseveltova 23, 161 05 Praha 6, Czech Republic ready to be of assistance to you in this respect,“ thanked the President for the support the Presi- Republic thoroughly protects the legacy of the After the order of the Minister of Defence was pronounced on his appo- Phone: +420 973 215 553, +420 973 215 786 President Klaus added. dent has shown and emphasised he would do his founding fathers of our armed forces and of our intment as the Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant-General Pavel took over Editor-in-chief: Jan Procházka, e-mail: [email protected] General Picek thanked to the President on be- best for the armed forces to be responsible and statehood,“ Defence Minister Alexandr Vondra the banner of the Czech Armed Forces General Staff from the hands of Mi- Layout: Andrea Bělohlávková Translation: Jan Jindra half of the whole Czech Armed Forces. “Today continuously able to provide national defence. accentuated in his remarks and thanked to Ge- nister Vondra. Exactly at 12:00 hours, Minister Vondra, General Picek and Cover photos by Jindřich Plescher is a very important day for me. Not only I am On the same day, the National Memorial’s neral Vlastimil Picek, who ended his fi ve-ye- General Pavel signed a document in the foyer of the National Memorial Distributed by MoD PDD – Production Section ending my term as the Chief of General Staff, Courtyard of Honour was the venue to a mus- ar term in the position of the Chief of General on handover and takeover of the offi ce of the Chief of General Staff of the Rooseveltova 23, 161 05 Praha 6, Czech Republic but my service career that lasted over forty years ter ceremony involving the servicemembers of Staff of the Czech Armed Forces for everything Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. Oľga Endlová, tel. +420 973 215 563 concludes as well. I have seen good times and the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic on the he has done for the Czech Armed Forces. “He Printed by: EUROPRINT, a. s. bad times too and I would like to accentuate that occasion of the armed forces day and handover/ navigated the Armed Forces through a highly ISSN 1804-9672 perhaps the most enjoyable moments I experi- takeover in the post of the Chief of General diffi cult period and led it successfully,“ Minister by Olga Haladová and Pavel Lang Registration number: MK ČR E 18227 enced in my military life involved working by Staff. Vondra underscored. Photos by Marie Křížová and Radko Janata Published: July 2012 2 Guest An Equation Staggering Too Much

On July 1, 2012, too and when I returned there after years as the I stand ready to work with the team that I have. be authorised by the Government. We were tas- commander, I felt like in military heaven. All I do not mean to say at all that I would take over ked to prepare a defence policy document for Lieutenant-General Petr Pavel the rest that I achieved afterwards just kept me people lacking in quality. But that does not ap- the Government by the end of August, which was appointed the new Chief surprised. Every new post gave me the pleasure ply to this component nevertheless. There will will replace the 2008 National Military Strategy that I got as far as there. I have overcome my be just one change, with another general offi cer and elaborate on the National Security Strategy of General Staff of the Armed horizons quite frequently and I was happy with moving to my position. endorsed last year. It should redefi ne our level of Forces of the Czech Republic. every one of them. ambition and provide a clear assignment. That Who will be that person? will provide the basis for another other docu- When General Štefka was taking over as CHOD Brigadier-General Bohuslav Dvořák. ment covering the force structure and size cor- in 2002, he called his people the winning team. responding to the assignment. Only when all of Your team is rather referred to as a team of da- You are one of the authors of the White paper that is approved by the Government, some sort One of our colleague editors served with your redevils. You will be the most senior military on Defence, but it now shows that there will of realisation comes in question. father in the military. He recalled your father as leader in a very diffi cult period. Do you fully not be enough funding allocated to bring it a man with huge natural authority and a soldier realise the challenges you will be facing? into reality. Do you think nevertheless that it But General Picek said the fi nal shape of de- with big S. Were you reared military style even Sure. The more the takeover was drawing be fulfi lled? fence reform would be made public at June 30. before enrolling at the Military Grammar Scho- closer, the more the feeling of responsibili- The White Paper is not a set of tasks with Does it mean this deadline is postponed? ol in Opava? ty pressed on me. But I seek to take it as not specifi cally defi ned timing. We simply cannot Yes, this is postponed. We attended a session Exactly. My dad was a true soldier in his tying me down, but rather obliging me. It will say now the White Paper no longer applies, that of the National Defence Council, where we de- heart and soul. Although I probably did not ad- defi nitely be hard, but I always maintained the we may calmly archive it for the generations livered a briefi ng on the condition of the armed mit it at that time, I perhaps grew up as a sort opinion that unless the situation is completely to come, as a memory of an effort made. The forces and the ability to perform missions, but, of a little soldier. Not that he would force me to hopeless, people should do their best to achie- White Paper is rather an evaluation of certain fi rst and foremost, we made it clear to the Nati- follow a military regimen, but the military spirit ve maximum. I believe the team of people here condition, which we made in given time and is onal Security Council that the current equation was always there. He had sort of strictness and are capable enough that we will be able to fi ght also a policy. And that has not changed a bit. It comprising the tasks, human and fi nancial resou- high demands for me and tried to motivate me problems somehow. From my perspective, the remains equally valid as it was twelve months rces is completely out of balance. This status is for a higher notch than I thought I would be able biggest problem is that most of the tools for so- ago. Some conclusions that have the nature of simply not sustainable down the road. We simply to attain. lutions are not in our hands. That is what I am assignments are likely to be accomplished at must bring these three principal parameters back afraid of most. What you can infl uence is most- a later stage, but that is the destiny plans have. into balance. While the defence appropriation is You served a tour abroad in 2007-2011, and the ly manageable. But if those are matters outside I think that the concept of the White Paper, the constant according to the Government, i.e. that last three years at SHAPE, which is understood our purview, it is naturally worse. Things have appraisal of identifi ed issues and solutions to we will get no increase, and we say at the same by some as a farewell post in military career. huge inertia at the highest echelons of command problems are generally right. time that we do not want to eat our budget out Did it occur to you then that you would be of- and senior MoD level, and potential success in personnel cost, then we have no choice but fered the most senior post in the Czech Armed only come out in the long run. If some things People wrote on the Facebook that fi nally to adjust the other two quantities in the equati- Forces? do not materialise straightaway, I do not lose a true soldier comes to this post. Does it fl atter on. That is either to reduce the tasks, or dip into I do not think that posting in SHAPE would hope. Even minor achievements fi ll me with op- you that soldiers take you that way? the personnel strength. Or possibly do both. The be something given on farewell. timism, at least in part. Then I start to trust that Of course it does. I should underscore on the Government must fi rst approve our assignments, But there were cases in the past that this things are going to move forward. other hand that people should be cautious about then the force structure and size, and only after posting was given as if before honourable having too high expectations. There are many that we may realise some changes. discharge... There are not many service personnel sharing soldiers with big S in the armed forces and yet But that was a mistake. Some posts may have this optimism. What sort of advice would you they are unable to push things forward. They The servicemembers are defi nitely interested been given as a reward prior to retirement. But offer to them? simply do not have the necessary tools. Although what course their life will take. Could you give I am confi dent that SHAPE should contrari- I believe we are living some kind of reality I will be in the position of the Chief of General a specifi c timing for the prepared changes at ly be the doorway to the highest armed forces and there is nowhere to hide. Of course, we have Staff, I will not have the complete toolbox. And this time? command echelons. It is a place where one has the option to throw the towel in, retire from the that will restrict me in performance of essential I do not think we would leave soldiers in some opportunities to gain much experience and con- military and hope for a brighter future elsewhe- changes. Although we all know what should unhealthy expectation or information vacuum. tacts. First and foremost, however, one gains re. But there are problems in all sectors these probably be done, we may nevertheless be able On the CHOD handover/takeover, we made a different perspective on various issues to be days. Unless people have professions that are to push forward some things only. Sadly, not a tour of all major command headquarters, had judged. People learn, for instance, how problems in high demand and low density in the civilian everything can be realised for the time being. discussions with commanders at all echelons, are solved in multinational environment. Both sector, which is unfortunately not the case with sergeant majors, and we informed them in-depth me and especially General Malenínský brought most of military service personnel, we have no Does it not annoy you that you have a reform about how things stood. Through their comman- a body of experience from there, which we to- choice than to try and fi ght what there is. It is package at hand and yet you do not know what ders and sergeant majors, all service personnel day fi nd very useful in our day-to-day work. our life, our time, and although it is hard, we the defence appropriation will be next year? should have an awareness what changes may be have to cope. We do have a funding allocation for the next expected. In case the Government approves in When you gave us an interview then, you said year already, although it has not been authorised September the proposals we are going to sub- that you reached certain horizon, but the hori- How numerous will be the team you are going by the Government yet. We are making calculati- mit, then reorganisation of the operational level zon afterwards moved much farther again... to bring along with you, and do you consider ons observing the limits we have been given. We command headquarters and building of agencies Just that I served at SHAPE and was pro- replacing some of the deputy chiefs of general naturally are aware that a number of very real could take place sometime in the middle of the moted Major-General was much more than staff? problems will emerge already next year, and we next year. Reorganisation of units would most I ever hoped to achieve. I have had many I have not brought any team; I am going to will have to solve them in a very short period of probably be on the agenda only at the point the objectives in my military life. One of the take over the people serving here. When one is time. The force structure and the way the forces amendment to the Act No221 on Career Soldiers fi rst ones was to get to Prostějov and in a managerial post, especially the most seni- operate will naturally need to refl ect on that, but and the new Act on Remuneration of Service become a member of airborne forces. or one, the qualifi cation should be their ability not fully yet in 2013. In that timeframe, we only Personnel will be becoming effective, i.e. at Ja- That came true for me, I lived through to work in team. If that is a problem, then the plan to realise a part of the changes we have pre- nuary 1, 2014. We would do it at the same time loads of good things and worse things individual is probably not in the right position. pared on paper. On top of that, everything must and according to single standards. 2 3 Guest

still be feasible. It is our aim for the policies to support functions, but naturally at the expense of I naturally accept that and realise this time will factsheet incorporate a much more specifi c defi nition of slight reduction in capabilities. We have conside- demand that we be pushing more. While we are the threshold minimum for us to be able to still red all options available. We plan to assign those getting into serious diffi culties, we have no cho- speak about a defence posture. units of those arms to mechanised brigades to jo- ice but to abandon diplomatic language commu- intly create what we used to name combined-arms nicating some messages and address things the But we have some NATO commitments … formations and now we call brigade task forces. way they stand. I have lowered on diplomatic That is the point. While we defi ne our nati- Regimental staffs would then be earmarked for language over the last twelve months. In addi- onal defence solely in NATO context in all po- task force staffs. But it is all just in planning sta- tion to pushing energetically, we also have to be licy documents, the contribution we make to ge. We plan for this to happen at January 1, 2014. much clearer in formulating the positions of the NATO’s collective defence equals to the defence Naturally, provided that such change will be ne- Armed Forces as an organisation. The recom- of this country. If we fail to meet those criteria, cessary. In case it turns out over the next year mendations by the Armed Forces to its political we would lose the right to collective defence and that we are able to perform our assignments with leadership must be communicated clearly. The therefore defence as such. On standalone basis, the current force structure, then we will not push decisions then are naturally up to politicians to solely on our own, we lost the ability to perform such a change at any cost. We defi nitely do not make. The Armed Forces must build on clear that assignment a long time ago. mean to destroy something that works well. positions and criterions.

A reform of the active reserve component has When the Rapid Deployment Brigade was for- You have nevertheless surprised many with recently been prepared. If things get worse med, it had the strength of three and half thou- your outspokenness; people are rather not in the years ahead, do you think that savings sand personnel, including own artillery, engi- used to it here. Some say such senior functio- could still be achieved by building up the re- neers and other combat support components. nary should be more diplomatic. Do you think Fifty-year-old Lieutenant-General Petr Pa- serve component while reducing some units to Have you not considered that you would reas- you will hold out, that it will not wear you out? vel started his military career at the Mili- framework units? sign those arms directly under the command of I may not say something and act different- tary Grammar School in Opava. Then he It is naturally one of the ways ahead, but an mechanised brigades? ly, just because I would obviously need to tell studied reconnaissance program at the option that entails a set of risks at the same time. The idea of combined-arms brigades, or bri- lies. Since I came back from the tour abroad, we Army College in Vyškov. In 1983, he was The active reserve component is much frequen- gade task forces, has already been tabled on have actually been doing nothing else than com- assigned to Special Regiment in Prostějov. ted at this time, as if it would be a magic cure. several occasions. The premise we work on is municating reality. Veiling our conclusions and Later he served as a military intelligence With due respect for the existing reserve com- that a country sized like ours is much more li- recommendations into a blank package would offi cer. In the beginning of 1990s, he par- ponent, I have to admit that a lot of water will kely to deploy contingents smaller than brigade appear ridiculous to me. On top of that, it would ticipated in UNPROFOR mission in the fl ow under the bridge before we attain the condi- task forces. Our objective is to achieve maxi- defi nitely take the Minister, Government and territory of former Yugoslavia. During that The new remuneration bill is conceived quite It is 41.9 billion, which is virtually the same tion allowing us to make up for some shortfalls mum “freedom of movement“ and fl exibility in Parliament by surprise. We have told them the deployment, he volunteered with his unit generously. Do you think it will win support in as the 2012 allocation, after 1.4 billion has been in the Armed Forces’ size and capabilities using forming them. We will always try to tailor the naked truth on several occasions already. to go and rescue French soldiers trapped the Chamber of Deputies? frozen. It is naturally the nicer fi gure. But it is the reserve component, Not only considering deployments to the specifi c situation. By preser- between warring factions, for which he Although I am optimistic by nature, I will not not the solution to the problem as such. Even their size, but their training and equipment in ving a degree of autonomy for the units of those You have been known for driving a motorbike was eventually decorated with the French trust that until the bill is passed and promulgated when we restructure the armed forces, huge gaps particular. Those are indeed matters that require arms, we are going to have a greater fl exibility to work. Tomorrow you will be appointed the Cross of War with Bronze Star and later as an Act. There have already been all sorts of in O&M expenditures will persist, not allowing both time and relevant resourcing. In order for in building task forces according specifi c needs. Chief of General Staff. Will you go to work in also the Order of the Legion of Merit. various efforts and hopes. We do everything we us to operate fully. That primarily involves indi- us to achieve a higher number of reservists, and If we would place them into combined-arms bri- a Skoda Superb, or on your motorbike? ”None of us contemplated whether we can for this bill to enter into force at the begin- vidual equipment, ammunition, POL and spares I am not speaking about the compulsory reser- gades, it would be more diffi cult. The weather should be nice on Monday, so would go or not. The situation was quite ning of 2014. We met the deadline for the bill expenditures. Those are items involved directly ve component, it is essential to motivate people I will go on my bike. I suppose I will make some unclear and called for a quick solution. We to complete the intra-MoD staffi ng procedure. or indirectly in quality and scope of training. appropriately. One of the options would be in- Asked about what he would recommend for reasonable arrangements with the security guys followed basic human and military instincts. Now it is ready for staffi ng by other Ministries The next year will see our training expenditures centives for employers to let people off for tra- you to be careful about, General Picek said you and if possible, I will continue to ride my bike It was soldiers, our colleagues, who were and governmental departments. Then it will be curtailed. And that is alarming. First of all, we ining. We naturally try to seek solutions to that, should be more assertive than him. Do you to work. in danger. We could easily fi nd ourselves contingent on what shape and form it comes out will seek to ensure training of forces assigned but it is challenging with the limited resources realise you will have to resist some political in similar situation a week later,“ General of the process and how it will be judged in the for deployment in Afghanistan. Consequently, we have available. In case there will be further pressures? Pavel commented his decision afterwards. Government’s Legislation Council and the Parli- we have to restrict the training of others. Which reductions, the incentives for employers will I perceive it with a smile that the outgo- by Vladimír Marek a Jan Procházka In 1994, General Pavel was appointed as ament. Naturally, there might be a gamut of bot- is exactly the other way round than we would be the limiting factor for the size of the reserve ing CHOD advises me to be more assertive. Photos: Marie Křížová, Radko Janata and Archives the Deputy Military and Air Attaché in Bel- tlenecks and snags we fi nd diffi cult to foresee. have wanted it – to maintain the armed forces’ component. It goes without saying that we are gium and studied the King’s College in the That is also why I would be cautious to speak capabilities in its primary functions. This will unable to make this happen using the defence UK. Then he was appointed the comman- about January 1, 2014. But all measures we have naturally be refl ected in the paper for the Go- budget only. National defence is not a task just der of the 6th Special Brigade in Prostějov. taken so far are directed at that timeframe. vernment, Parliament and the National Security for the MoD, it is indeed primarily the Gover- After eighteen months, he went to serve as Council, because we are of the opinion that this nment’s responsibility. The Government should coordination offi cer and later aide-de-camp You made a mention about meeting with sol- situation is manageable in the short-term, but it probably try and fi nd resources outside the MoD to the Director of Operations Planning at diers and sergeant majors; what was their re- would mean some of the national defence capa- to cover some activities. For example, incentives the Regional Headquarters Allied Forces sponse to the changes at hand? bilities would be lost in the long run. for employers in the form of tax reliefs would be North in Brunssum. He was appointed Certain degree of frustration is understan- an appropriate measure. The current strength of the Deputy Commander 1st Mechanised dable. What we are conveying to them is not Are you ready for what we are already facing, the active reserve component oscillates around Division in Brno in July 2002 and then the really pleasing news. At the same time, we per- including the economic downturn, a low tax re- eleven hundred members and the number does Commander of Specialised Forces in De- ceived a certain feeling of relief with them as venue, which has lead the Government to fre- not increase despite all effort the Armed Forces cember that year. they are fi nally told something. I am confi dent eze spending and the MoD could possibly end is making. We are authorised to have three thou- In 2003-2005, he was the Deputy Joint that people much better cope with bad news, in up without the promised billions in the end? sand active reserve component personnel. But Force Commander and then Deputy Direc- case they are told early and bluntly. The worst We do realise that. Already when we were de- efforts to man the units have failed so far. tor of MoD Operations Division – Director thing is when something is covered up or conti- veloping documents for the worse scenario, we of Operations Branch. nuously procrastinated. So it came as a surprise cautioned that the force structure does not allow Slovakia already dipped into staffs of individual Then he served another tour abroad, fi rst to some extent that sergeant majors received the cuts across the board. In case there would be arms’ brigades. They do not have an artillery as the Deputy Czech Military Representa- news with certain relief. The point is that they another round of cuts, we would have no choice brigade anymore, but just an artillery battalion tive in the EU in Brussels and then as the know what they are up to and will be better able but again initiate a session of the Government, embedded with a mechanised brigade. Are sa- Czech national military representative in to get ready for it. the National Security Council and submit a new vings still possible in the staffs at that echelon SHAPE. General Pavel was appointed De- equation: for given sum of money, we are only in the Czech Armed Forces? puty Chief of General Staff – Chief of Staff Preparing reorganisation for the next year, able to deliver this amount of tasks. If we get The objective force structure we have tabled in July 2011. Then he also became invol- do you work on the military budget amounting lesser money, we are only able to perform accor- also includes an option of abolishing brigades ved in development of a strategic policy to CZK 38 billion, which was there according to dingly. Only then we can present to the Govern- in individual arms such as artillery, CBRN and document, the White Paper on Defence. the MoD midterm development plan, or is it 41 ment the way we are able to support performan- GBAD, and replace it with regimental system. He was promoted Lieutenant-General in billion spoken of at the moment? ce of the reduced set of tasks, in case it would That would save us certain volume of staff and May 2012. General Pavel’s hobbies include travelling, diving, skiing, photographs and 4 books. 5 rubrika NNeverever ssteptep intointo tthehe ssameame rriveriver ttwicewice

6 7 Operations Servicemembers of the Czech Armed For- The mountain range that rises into the Azra dis- – exactly what the forces needed then, besides Minister Vondra visited Czech deployments in Afghanistan projects realised by the CIMIC team of the 9th ces 9th Provincial Reconstruction Team Lo- trict reaches as high as 2,700 metres above sea a high payload capacity. PRT Logar deployment, the Centipede donated gar with commanding offi cer Colonel Antonín level and that is where the Czech soldiers hea- The last several hundred metres of elevation At the end of May earlier this year, Minister Defence Alexandr Vondra, 1st Deputy Chief of US$ 10,000 for procurement of textbooks and Genser, Deputy Commander 4th Rapid Dep- ded together with civilian experts to discuss and difference were to be negotiated on a narrow and General Staff Major-General Žižka and Czech Parliamentarians visited Czech forces operating other teaching aids for selected basic and secon- loyment Brigade, took over the operational as- survey another development project designed to very steep stony road rather suitable for walking as part of ISAF in Afghanistan. dary schools in the region, painting aids for local signment from their predecessors on Tuesday, strengthen local security. or for caravan of mules than for heavy milita- On their arrival to Kabul, the delegation was welcomed by Colonel Ján Kožiak, the Comman- children and education courses for women with February 14, 2012, following upon what had For the fi nal ascent, soldiers picked four ry vehicles. But the vehicles managed. Althou- der 4th Czech Armed Forces Task Force ISAF, accompanied by the commanding offi cers of his focus on housework skills and to counter illite- been nearly four years of intensive effort of MRAP MAXXPRO vehicles and a Pandur gh slightly heavier than MAXXPRO vehicles, subordinate units stationed at KAIA, including the National Support Element, Field Surgical racy. Like the Centipede, military chaplains and Czechs in Logar. Many of them indeed came wheeled armoured personnel carrier from the Pandur clearly capitalised on its lower centre of team, Air Adviser Team and the CBRN defence unit. their charity collections organised in individual back to the place they had known very well, convoy. The choice was not coincidental at all. gravity and 8x8 wheel confi guration, thanks to “I arrived to Afghanistan after some time to express my support to the Czech men and women parishes back in the Czech Republic are also an but it holds true for Afghanistan perhaps more MAXXPRO and Pandur are the most powerful which long steep climbs in the terrain posed no in uniform, who are doing an excellent job here. Their effort is also highly valued by our Allies. important source of aid for CIMIC. than anywhere else, that you never enter the machines the Czech deployment has. In additi- major problem. In addition, I came in time when the decision is to be made about the mandate the Czech In addition to aiding girls’ and boys’ schools, same river twice. on to its advanced monitoring systems and ef- Viewing photos taken from the narrow ridge, Armed Forces will have for operational deployments. The mandate has been endorsed by the especially in Puli Alam, Muhammad Aghah and The core of the 9th PRT Logar deployment fective weapon station, the Pandur has the best it seems close to incredible where vehicles may Government and now it will go through the Czech Parliament. Afghanistan remains a dange- Khoshi districts, the Czech CIMICers work with is formed by the personnel of the 42nd Mecha- offroad mobility of all the machines in the motor go through thanks to superior skills of the dri- rous place and the more pleased I am, touching wood, that this year has seen no fatalities local radio stations to hold various quizzes for nised Battalion “Saint Wenceslas“ of the 4th pool available to Czech forces in Afghanistan vers. Just for illustration: the Czech warriors among the Czech warriors,” Minister Vondra said. children. drove their heavy duty vehicles on this mission “You have just a couple of days to go before you hand over your operational assignment. It is As to helath care, CIMIC delivers aid in co- at elevations just under 2,700 metres above sea vital not to slacken on the regimen, make sure all responsibilities are handed over properly to operation with the Ministry of Health Care of level. In the forbidding terrain, the Pandur pro- the deployment coming to relieve you and bring all people safely back home,” General Žižka the Logar province especially by distributing ved its Alpine descent and fi guratively conque- underscored. essential medical materiel for local hospitals red the Czech Republic’s highest peak, Mount Minister Vondra with his delegation visited the 9th PRT deployment in Logar, the 4th OMLT in and clinics. This aid has also partially benefi ted Sněžka, reaching 1,602 metres above sea level, Wardak and also met with 3rd Military Police team at ITC camp in Wardak Afghan soldiers and police offi cers in Logar and by more than 1,000 metres. Wardak, including personal fi rst aid kits. Sol- diers received bandages and additional materiel CIMIC aiding schools from Czech children involved in collecting old and hospitals car fi rst aid kits. A small CIMIC group operating as a part of Dobanday: the most beautiful the Czech Provincial Reconstruction Team in Logar does a tremendous job. Realising the so- valley in Logar called quick impact projects, particularly in the Some of water management projects run by sphere of education and medical care, they aid the PRT’s civilian component are situated in people in need, and also practically help win the one of the most beautiful corners of the pro- hearts of people in local communities. But the vince – the Dobanday river valley. The 2nd CIMIC effort cannot do without the assistance mechanised platoon augmented with two Pan- of others, because their activities are fi nancially dur wheeled fi ghting vehicles plus additional dependent on help from sponsors and humanita- essential assets from the unit took up the task rian organisations. to inspect the Abtak weir, a feeding concrete The Centipede – On Own Feet children’s mo- channel and the small hydroelectric power sta- vement, headed by Ms. Běla Gran Jensen, ranks tion nearby. among traditional partners the Czech Armed Major part of the journey leading to the Ko- Forces cooperate with. The cooperation started shi district in this direction is on main paved already during the war in the Balkans, where the roads, and so the physically most demanding centipede movement delivered aid side by side task awaited the warfi ghters only when they with the Czech troops, for example in Bosnia and dismounted from the vehicles on the edge above Herzegovina and in Kosovo. For humanitarian the valley. The descent leads among steep slo- pes that soldiers have to negotiate on foot. With Rapid Deployment Brigade. The 42nd Mecha- the subsequent movement to the locations where nised Battalion returned to man the Provincial individual projects had been realised, they were Reconstruction Team for the second time as the up to a fairly good mountain hike. The point of very fi rst unit and indeed the only unit to have departure was about 2,500 metres above sea le- done so to date, because the 42 MechBn person- vel. First they had to get several hundred metres nel comprised the core of the 4th rotation, then down into the valley, go on to individual places with Colonel Milan Schulc as the commanding of interest and then return back to vehicles. The offi cer. The unit with roughly two hundred per- planned route was not too long, just about six ki- sonnel of the 42nd MechBn is complemented by lometres, but the overall height difference never- additional specialists from twenty-one military theless made it really demanding. On top of that, units and components across the Armed Forces soldiers must always wear full body armour, of the Czech Republic to make the total strength carry weapons, observation and communication of 293 personnel. devices off base. So, each individual carries the load of roughly 25 kilos. Pandur or chamois? Down and through the valley, the warfi ghters The Logar province consists of a central plain were going through a landscape dotted with stan- roughly 2,000 metres above sea level surroun- dalone qalats. Qalat is a typical Afghan dwelling ded by high rocky ridges reaching as high as structure with square or rectangular yard enci- 3,000 metres, with some peaks being close to rcled with high earthen walls built for defence 4,000 metres above sea level. purposes. One qalat usually houses multiple mu- Their journey into the Khoshi district towards tually related families. Surrounding fi elds and ANA observation posts on the Jerowbay ridge orchards watered by the Dobanday stream pro- was an example of the many patrols off the base vide subsistence to the locals. As opposed to the involving vehicle movements truly high in the plain without vegetation above the steep slopes, mountains, which the Czech forces carry out. www.army.cz this place is a true green oasis. 8 9 Operations

To keep the oasis alive, the Czechs helped factsheet renovate the Abtak weir to withstand spring fl ooding, and built a connecting channel to the Since taking over their operational assign- power station cut deep into the rocky mountain- ment in mid-February earlier this year till sides in some places. The channel bed may both the end of May 2012, in other words over bring water to the power station, but also to the three months, the service personnel of the fi elds worked by the locals. The Czech trace in 9th PRT Logar completed 150 aeromobile, the Dobanday valley is therefore quite tangible, vehicle-borne, combined and foot patrols but living in there is not and will not be easy for and 11 rotations of teams assigned for a long time down the road. The beauty of its sce- permanent protection and defence of the nery can be admired in photos, but seeing it on forward operating base in Puli Alam. On own eyes however costs much sweat. top of that, PRT personnel have also been involved in fi ve coalition security operati- ons in the Logar province, continuously Czech – Afghan cooperation assigned EOD specialists for permanent through mortars duty and assistance on route clearance A completely new activity that Czechs started patrols (RCP) and also performed roughly in Logar was the cooperation on training mortar 40 fl ights of the RAVEN unmanned sur- crews of the 1st Kandak 4th Brigade the Afghan veillance vehicle. The ninth deployment for National Army at Camp Altimur. Members of the PRT Logar is also continuously involved in mortar battery of the 42nd Mechanised Battalion security and defence of Camp Shank and with commanding offi cer Captain Viktor P ser- also provides forces and assets to the quick ving on the 9th PRT took up the challenge. reaction team. The Military Police team As the fi rst one weapon, the Afghan soldiers mentored two runs of the basic course for provided to the Czech servicemembers calibre members of the Afghan National Police 82mm M69 mortars for testing and the coope- and the CIMIC team realised or launched ration therefore developed based on that type of eighteen Quick Impact Projects. The 9th weapon. “The fi rst Kandak lacks trained crews PRT also newly renders cooperation on tra- plus there is not any piece of information avai- ining mortar crews of the 1st Kandak of the lable on this weapon, similarly as is the case 4th Brigade the Afghan National Army. with other mortars. Therefore, we had to start The primary equipment used to perform from scratch,“ Captain Viktor P. explains and the operational assignment are IVECO goes on to say: “We were lucky to have received and Dingo light armoured vehicles, Pandur valuable assistance from our colleagues back in armoured fi ghting vehicles and US MRAP Vyškov, who also have experience with mento- MAXXPRO vehicles. Small arms used by ring Afghan soldiers in Wardak. We made a rea- the Czech PRT include modernised Mod. ch-back request and they managed to get hold of 58 assault rifl es, Mk. 48 MINIMI machi- an English manual for the weapon.“ The mortar neguns, Sako TRG-22 and Falcon sniper guys of the 42nd MechBn were able to use the rifl es, Benelli shotguns, Glock G17 pistols manual as a basis for their training effort. and CZ 75 SP-01 Phantom, RPG-7 and According to Captain Viktor P., the M69 AGS grenade launchers. The 9th PRT Logar mortar is a very good weapon in its class: “It has service personnel are the very fi rst Czech a standard range of 3,000 metres, and up to 5.5 Armed Force’s foreign deployment to be kilometres with special rocket-powered muniti- completely equipped with the new calib- ons. An experienced crew is able to fi re as many re 5.56 NATO CZ 805 BREN assault rifl es as 20 shots per minute,“ he comments what are with accessories and CZ 805 G1 attachable fairly good parameters for calibre 82 mm wea- grenade launchers. pons and adds that Afghans also have newly ma- nufactured modern Bulgarian ammunition to fi re with the weapon.“ Once a thorough inspection of the weapon markedly as the Czechs managed over time to all training sessions, but now we have our own law and essentials of traffi c service and traffi c and shells was completed, the Czechs could hit progressively train instructors recruited from instructors, whom you helped to train. Today, control. the road to the shooting range. They selected the ranks of Afghan police offi cers. The Czech those instructors are in charge of preparing our Major Luboš Š. concludes: “The training is a gorge some 800 metres away. Using optical Military Police were therefore able to transiti- new police offi cers and the Czech instructors now led by six Afghan instructors, who have al- sight, aiming the mortar laterally posed no pro- on from actually doing the training themselves only mentor and assist. Words are not enough ready achieved certifi cation authorising to lead blem. The more diffi cult part was to set the right to mentoring – providing supervision and me- to thank you for everything you have done.“ lecturing under supervision.“ The objective of elevation, because there were no fi ring tables for thodology oversight of lectures led by Afghans In the basic patrolling course, the new Afghan the Czech instructors is therefore not only to the weapon and ammunition. ”We had no choi- themselves. police offi cers gain familiarity with what they help them with lecturing, but also to carry on ce but to try and calculate the fi ring parameters locals, and proved that they will be competent contingent serving the tour, a formal training The job has nevertheless become any easier will need in practical performance of police ser- educating them in afternoon hours to prepare using the limited and incomplete technical data and able mentors in the training done already jo- program for the ground component of the Af- and involves everyday practical assistance to vice in the fi eld and at police stations. The com- them for future exams that will qualify them to available,“ Captain Viktor P. explains. intly with assigned personnel of the 1st Kandak. ghan National Security Forces, specifi cally per- Afghan instructors, especially with preparing mander of the Military Police team the 9th PRT lead lectures and sessions completely on their An explosion of the fi rst round just a couple Back at home, the personnel of the mortar forming basic courses to train the Afghan Nati- the lectures and leading individual sessions. Logar deployment Major Luboš Š., explains: own. Some of them are already so experienced dozen metres over the target confi rmed that the battery of the 42nd Mechanised Battalion use onal Police offi cers. It was the personnel of the That Czechs perform very well is best proven “In addition to essential physical preparation that they are highly likely to achieve that qualifi - specialists from Tábor do their job excellently. towed Czech-made calibre 120mm Model 82 42nd Mechanised Battalion, who launched the by the statement of the commander of the Af- and basic drills, the practical subjects include cation already during the tour of the 9th Provin- The second round was so-called shortened shot, mortars with range up to eight kilometres that lecturing and training, and Military Police ser- ghan police school at Camp Shank, First-Lieu- apprehension procedures and techniques, safe cial Reconstruction Team deployment. before the target, to verify the calculation both fi re Czech or Soviet-made high-explosive frag- vice personnel took over and have carried on to tenant Mohommad Bassir Stanekzi, who has personal search methodology or vehicle check for shortening and lengthening the distance. mentation shells. date. been leading the academy for eighteen months as well as rudiments of practical investigation After this “framing“, the third HEF shell went The 9th PRT deployment order of battle already: “I enjoy working with Czech poli- and crime detection. Given the security situati- straight down the middle of the target area to the Mentoring Afghan Police also includes a Military Police training and ce offi cers and we have no issues between us on, a high premium is placed on shooting and satisfaction of all. Relatively less known fact in the history mentoring team comprised of the members whatsoever. I am proud of what we have jointly medical training and, with a view to the low lite- by MAJ Jan Šulc, With successful hits and good calculations, of the Czech Provincial Reconstruction Team of the Military Police Headquarters Tábor achieved here so far. After all, when lecturing racy rate among Afghanson reading and writing 9th PRT Logar deployment the Czech servicepeople won respect of the is that they started in 2009, with the 4th PRT and Stará Boleslav. The situation developed started a couple of years ago Czechs had to lead .“ Furthermore, the course also teaches Afghan Press and Information Offi cer 10 11 Operations

The Armed Forces of the Czech Republic has When the fi ghting for It was augmented with a force protection cookhouse and special engineer vehicles and Three Afghan girls, who had been for treat- platoon and a Military Police team. The medi- equipment. The logistic support was to produce ment in our fi eld hospital as inpatients, learned operated in Afghanistan for a decade already Shahi Kot valley was cal component included an ICU, surgery ward, over fi ve thousand cubic metres of drinkable wa- a Czech song, which they sang for the Czech coming to a head in the inpatient ward, operating rooms, dentist ambu- ter, deliver over 300,000 kW-hr, dispose of three medical personnel in the end of their stay as an lance and a medical evacuation team. thousand cubic metres of liquid waste and wash expression of their gratitude. One of the boys, east of the country, the fi rst The staff comprised of seventeen doctors, roughly eighteen thousand tons of laundry. who were treated in the hospital, was adopted Czech soldiers arrived to twenty-three nurses and medics, two pharma- The alarm was at seven o’clock. There were and brought to the Czech Republic by the then cists and fi ve lab specialists. Besides the fi eld two hours off after the lunch. The working hours MoD spokesman, Mr. Milan Řepka. MMEDICSEDICS Afghanistan. The Surgical hospital facility, the medical component had ended at six p.m. and there were six working available two POP-2 casualty aid stations, three days in a week. Only Sundays were free, re- Attended for the fi rst time Team of the 6th Field Hospital regular ambulances, three offroad ambulance gardless of the fact that Afghans do not work on The 6th Field Hospital also performed com- had serve from March 17, cars, special OT-64 armoured ambulance vehic- Fridays. In the medical facilities on the base, the prehensive examination of the personnel for- le, a mobile dentist surgery and the PHEL-2 mo- Czech medical personnel were able to provide ming several Kandaks of the newly built Af- WWereere tthehe FirstFirst 2002, with the British 34th bile hygienic lab. treatment to as many as one hundred and sixty ghan National Army and provided medical aid Field Hospital in Bagram for injured and ill persons a day. Five surgical teams to them on continuous basis. ”It was interesting Alcatraz uptown Kabul had a capacity of up to fi fty surgeries a day. to see how our work boosted their self-confi den- several weeks. The fi eld hospital was set up in the outskirts ce,“ microbiologist Captain Karel Kovařík said. of Kabul city, covering a narrow rectangular Reaching out to deliver care “It was for the fi rst time in their life that someo- By mid-May 2002, they were area of 60 by 300 m. Most of one hundred and One of the missions the Czech medical per- ne seriously cared for them.“ replaced by the 6th Field thirty-two Czech service personnel spent close sonnel had was to cooperate with local hospitals Ten years ago, we were also able to go, with to six months on what was a little less than two and medical facilities, including a Kabul hospi- a heavy security, to one of the six districts at Hospital. A couple of days hundred thousand square feet. Practically all tal fi nanced by the International Committee of the outskirts of Kabul our doctors regularly vi- later, the medical facility was warhorses concurred on the point that this state the Red Cross. That had 224 beds and speciali- sited delivering aid to outpatients. Our escort of isolation was probably the most demanding sed in surgeries. Majority of patients were men had a Rottweiler with them. We learned it com- ready to deliver medical care factor. Throughout their tour, nobody was per- and children with war injuries. Limb amputati- manded even higher respect than an armed man. mitted to leave the base except for the guard unit ons caused by landmines were very frequent. There were nearly no dogs in Kabul at that time. to full ROLE 3 standards for members and the mobile medical teams. And so The principal, Doctor Abu Saeed, had nothing Rabies spread out, and so dogs were destroyed. both ISAF forces and for the it was nicknamed after the notorious American but praise for cooperation with the Czech me- In October 2002, the 6th Field Hospital was re- jail, the Alcatraz. A twenty-seven strong force dics. ”They come to our place quite frequently. lieved by the 11th Field Hospital that operated in locals. protection platoon, comprising of airborne and They would choose fi ve or six cases they are able Afghanistan till the end of 2002. A ten-member reconnaissance troops, was responsible for secu- to help us with. They would take those patients Czech surgical team then continued afterwards rity of the base and of the mobile medical teams. to their fi eld hospital for operations and return to serve in the country for some time. Thanks The Czech 6th Field Hospital with comman- Those soldiers got into contact with the locals them to us for post-operation treatment,“ Doctor to delivering aid to local inhabitants suffering ding offi cer Colonel Jindřich Sitta had huge most frequently. Saeed said. Ten years ago, we had a chance to from the hardships of war, the fi eld hospital won body of experience at that time already. It was Over their fi ve months’ tour, most of them go with doctor Lieutenant-Colonel Igor Krivo- some sympathy among Afghans. The Czech Fi- formed in 1998 based on a commitment the learned quite many words of Pashto, the offi cial sucký to the Hood Kheil district. They were go- eld Hospital returned to Kabul in 2007 to stay Czech Republic had undertaken even prior to its language spoken by more than fi fty per cent of ing out three times a week to provide treatment there for nearly two years. Dozens of medical accession to NATO. As early as 1999, the 6th Fi- Afghan population. Bakshish was the most fre- primarily to children there. Indeed, population doctors and nurses have served tours at KAIA in eld Hospital deployed in the territory of Albania quented word, meaning both a demand for bribe aged under eighteen accounted for half the Af- fi ve rotations altogether. and in Turkey following a disastrous earthquake. and a request for a gift. ghan population. Average life expectancy in this At present, there is a French military medical In Afghanistan, the 6FH operated as a part of It was strictly prohibited for the Czech ser- country was forty years. Apart from heavy inju- facility at KAIA housed in permanent buildings. coalition mission FINGAL. vicemembers to consume any local food or ries caused by hostilities, the occurrence of infe- And a Czech surgical team operates as a part Over one thousand tons of materiel, including beverages. Practically all food the cooks used ctious diseases was quite high. ”All education is of it. thirty-nine vehicles and forty-two special conta- to prepare meal on the base was imported by useless when, just after you have once again ex- iner shelters, were transported by air. The Czech a German contractor. The base was completely plained the essentials of hygiene, you see a child Armed Forces hired thirteen fl ights of the An- independent of its environs. The Czech Armed drinking water straight from an irrigation duct 124 cargo airplane. The fi eld hospital comprised Forces’ fi eld hospital had there an AQUAOZON while waiting for treatment,“ LTC Krivosucký by Vladimír Marek an HQ, staff, signal team, logistic element and 32 mobile water treatment plant, power gener- explained. Thankfulness of the smallest patients Photos by Vladimír Marek and the CZE specialist medical component. ators, mobile refrigerators, fi eld laundry, own was most rewarding for the medics. 6th Field Hospital

12 13 Czech experts lecture at the NATO School in Oberammergau, Bavaria NATO

facility only has forty-fi ve beds. The School ar- ranges accommodation for the rest of students in guest houses and hotels that are found in dozens in Oberammergau. It is an interesting source of IInteractivitiesnteractivities GGreen-Litreen-Lit funds for the town. The NATO School courses were attended by 10,487 students from 67 countries in 2010, with most of them coming from France. In the fi rst half of 2011, about three students attended the facility a month, but recently the number grew up fi ve or six individuals a week. Majority of Czech military professionals interested in tra- ining courses however recruit from those ser- ving in NATO structures. They are sent to Obe- rammergau from individual NATO command headquarters. While the school started with two courses in 1953, it holds over a hundred of them at pre- sent, including information about NATO, mul- tinational forces, electronic warfare, command and control, psychological operations, logis- tic operations, force mobilisation, weapons of mass destruction, peacekeeping missions, crisis management and public diplomacy. The NATO School employs approximately two hundred pe- ople from twenty-three countries. Most of them are Americans and Germans. The NSO organi- sational structure comprises the command and logistic support components. But the most important is the teaching staff, who are divided into six sections; the posts are manned with service personnel from NATO as With about six thousand inhabitants, the town of well as non-NATO nations. They are headed by Oberammergau mostly reminds of a woman that gets pregnant a dean. in regular intervals. Every year in winter, the community grows Best qualifi ed experts Lieutenant-Colonel Jiří Havel graduated from by ten thousands visitors attracted by skiing opportunities in the the Army College in Vyškov in 1982 following Bavarian Alps. Many more people from across Germany come the successful completion of a CBRN defence program. He is the Czech National Representati- here every ten years (last in 2010) to see the Oberammergau ve and leads and has responsibility for two cour- ses in the NATO School Oberammergau. The Passion Play. fi rst course is designed for experienced soldiers in senior ranks or their civilian equivalents, as Oberammergau nevertheless has one more Czech Armed Forces Command Sergeant Major Mountain Signals Company was based here it comprises lectures by renowned experts from magnet that attracts people, indeed soldiers, not SWO Miroslav Švadlena joined the NSO staff from 16 October 1937 as part of the 1st Ger- universities and schools or military professio- only from Europe, which is the NATO School last year. man Mountain Division. The unit was ordered nals or civilian staff from higher NATO com- Oberammergau (NSO). The Armed Forces of to the Balkans during World War II and the fa- mand headquarters, specialised organisations the Czech Republic is represented in this NATO A bit of history cility was lent to the Messerschmitt company. and various agencies. In a single week, those facility. In addition to Lieutenant-Colonel Jiří A military compound was built at the town In addition to other operations, the develop- lecturers offer a broad spectrum of latest trends Havel, who has been here for over a year in his outskirts in 1935. When construction of moun- ment was underway there of the fi rst jet airpla- and perspectives on political developments and capacity of a CBRN defence expert, the former tain troop barracks was completed, the 54th ne ever, the Me 262, and V2 rockets. A cave doctrines, non-proliferation as well as latest les- sons from operational deployments worldwide. complex was dug in nearby mountains at that Initiative. A new building was constructed in Students mostly appreciate the opportunities to time, and critical parts of production were mo- 2005 to house a self-service mess hall for stu- actively join discussions and share their obser- ved in there. At the end of WWII, the barracks dents. In 2011, the NSO premises were expan- vations and experience in this subject-matter were occupied by the U.S. Army that later esta- ded with new lecture rooms equipped with all area. The other course covers CBRN reporting blished the Army Information Education Staff state-of-the-art learning process prerequisites. and warning and leaks of hazardous industrial School there, which progressively underwent contaminants. a series of reorganisations. Military police Ten thousand a year “These posts should be fi lled with individu- personnel and intelligence offi cers were over Throughout its existence, the NSO has built als having a record of experience. Both students here for training. The Special Weapons School on the basis of bilateral cooperation between the with minimum subject-matter knowledge come was established in Oberammergau after 1960. U.S. and Germany. These two countries provide here as well as those dealing with the specia- Over time, the school gained an increasingly facilities and logistic support for the NSO. But lism full time. Those individuals are interested Allied nature. It was integrated directly under its budget is dependent on student fees, so the in highly sophisticated matters and apply for the Supreme Allied Commander Europe and School is quite self-reliant to a large extent. The courses to maintain their currency,“ LTC Havel renamed the NATO School in 1975. From the predominant type of training is one-week cour- explains. ”The alert and warning system course beginning of 1990s, students from non-NATO ses, but there are also courses lasting fourteen comprises academic lectures and a practical part, nations were also accepted for courses. Apart weeks. The courses are continuously revised and which is held in dedicated lecture rooms suited from the Partnership for Peace countries, that updated to refl ect newest developments. Rough- for practical exercises. We introduce a situation currently involves countries of the Mediterra- ly three hundred students are here for courses involving a type of threat, and they have to re- nean Dialogue and the Istanbul Cooperation on weekly basis, but the NSO accommodation spond somehow. That way, we verify in practice 14 15 NATO Guest

The year 2011 saw the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic sustaining its largest deployments ever with units operating in Kosovo and Afghanistan, as well as many other locations. Deputy Chief of General Staff – Director MoD Joint Operations Centre, Major-General Aleš Opata, elaborates. whether the students have mastered the subject. The Netherlands and Belgium Belgium. I am relying on senior NCOs mostly We have to be real experts and we may not af- from those countries, as they help me organise ford to fail. That would discredit both the course Leading the Way the courses.“ and the whole school. Having said that, there In September last year, the originally two- are relatively few people specialising in these member section expanded with SWO Švadlena Feeding back subjects though. If someone goes out, we have and his Hungarian colleague. One more U.S. The spirit of complete academic freedom problems replacing them.“ Sergeant is to come later on this year. prevails here. Students may not offend anybody, Senior Warrant Offi cer Švadlena is respon- Maximum twenty-four people may apply for but otherwise they can show any opinions. They sible for two weekly courses. The NATO Aca- this course, but demand exceeds supply in gene- have the option of evaluating the courses in the demic Instructor Course is open for offi cers, ral. The procedure is such that individual nations conclusion, for which they use a prepared form senior NCOs and civilian employees alike. He claim certain posts and the School is to decide in for them to fi ll in. That mostly involves sub- focuses on didactical models. ”Our goal is to the end. It often happens that they send just one ject-matter comments, but there is space for the FFacingacing nnewew bring lecturing in NATO to the same standards. student instead of two. sense of humour as well. For example, one of Every nation has indigenous instructor training “When one joins such an organisation co- the students complained he was accommodated system and we would like to see them work ming from the General Staff, it is a major chan- downtown Oberammergau close to the church along the same lines. We focus on the structure ge. First of all, you have to gain familiarity with and did not have much sleep as the bells were of lectures. Plainly speaking, we teach people the workings and get settled here. We therefore chiming all the night. ”This feedback represents to teach,“ SWO Švadlena elaborates. “I am the try to get every individual involved in the lear- an important input to what we do. The evalua- cchallengeshallenges course lead, which means in practice that my ning process. Everything is much more interac- tion informs me whether I prepared the course responsibility is to develop the course structure tive here than back home, otherwise we would well or not. I am confi dent that satisfi ed stu- and get in touch with all the lecturers. We invi- have students falling asleep in lectures. Practical dents will do good promotion in their countries te external lecturers, but we also make use of lectures are valued most. Everybody is able to not only for my course but indeed to the whole What is your appraisal of the Czech Armed For- their best in Kosovo to contribute to a safe and loads of other materiel. In addition, the deploy- own contacts and experience. I am able to iden- try out what it is like to give a lecture on the- NATO School,“ LTC Havel explains. ces foreign operational deployments in the last secure future of Kosovo and its democratic de- ment dispatched two road convoys and some air tify the best students already during the course. ir own,“ SWO Švadlena explains. ”We prepare But it is not about the contents of individual year? velopment. Kosovo must learn to stand on own transfers. Moving such an amount of materiel I may contact them later and ask whether they the courses and lecture plus we evaluate them courses only. Military professionals also benefi t The Czech Republic took part in fi ve foreign feet and be able to tackle problems the environ- over a long distance was defi nitely not easy at would be willing to come back to give lectu- as well. This process in particular is highly ac- from the international environment as people operations in 2011 with deployments in Kosovo, ment of nascent democracies brings about. The all. Moreover, everything went without any pro- res. In addition, you have to book the lecture centuated. Students evaluate every single lesson share their observations and lessons. They ex- Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Uni- mission in Kosovo was a success story for us. blems and without any major damage or loss. It rooms, develop the timetable and prepare the using a scale from one to fi ve. First the lecturers pand their awareness of how business is done ted Kingdom and Egypt. Nearly 3,000 personnel For eleven years, we were involved practical- was an exemplary proof of a well-functioning technical support, including computers, Inter- evaluate themselves, then their fellow students elsewhere. ”Our contribution also has its repre- served tours in those missions. ly in everything that historically took place as logistic support system and overall coordination net access etc. There are plans for me in the evaluate them and then us, the instructors.“ sentative value. Other countries appreciate that a part of the process of stabilising the country. in the Czech Armed Forces on national and in- future to give lectures as well. I am also an When instructors divide the students into the Czech Republic is making such a substantial To what extent was your assessment affected by But in the very last years, we were not providing ternational level. instructor here.“ In addition, he is responsible smaller groups, it is always interesting to see contribution. Indeed, we have also held so-cal- the fact that two servicemembers were lost in any signifi cant value added in purely military for the NATO Instructors course, which is only who is going to stand out as the leader. Nati- led country briefi ngs for the NSO staff to learn Afghanistan? terms. Kosovo was better accessible than Afghanistan. open to sergeants. ”In our section, we chose ten ve speakers have an advantage in this respect, interesting facts about the Czech Republic and Indeed, we lost two warriors in 2011, who Considering our somewhat limited strategic subjects we deem important. Just from the top but it does not apply universally. Moreover, the the Czech Armed Forces,“ LTC Jiří Havel adds. suffered fatal injuries in combat operations. It is Was it challenging for us to leave the country airlift capabilities, is it not more challenging of my head, they include NATO's history, stra- leads seek to make them backgrounded in or- Lectures at the school are scheduled from an immense loss for their families, fellow sol- after so long? for us to sustain that effort in terms of logistic tegy and so forth. We train instructors, whose der to leave room for others. “My post here is eight in the morning till fi ve in the afternoon, diers and for the Czech Armed Forces. In spite It claimed a considerable effort. The last dep- support? mission will be to train other senior NCOs in not administrative; I work with people and give followed by self-study in some cases. The course of that, I regard our endeavour in Afghanistan loyment with commanding offi cer Major Nejed- That is not accurate. I regard claims that we NATO. Those are mostly instructors from va- lectures. It is an excellent opportunity for NCOs. includes a joint dinner for all students and a visit and in other foreign operations successful, pri- lý was tasked to withdraw all materiel back into have minor strategic airlift capability as a per- rious schools. This course came into being I do the same job here as senior offi cers. But it is to the Neuschwanstein fairytale castle located marily in terms of mission performance and de- Czech Republic and make sure the area we had sistent cliché, which is no longer correct. We pursuant to their requirement,“ SWO Švadlena challenging though. Nobody orders students to nearby, which Ludwig II of Bavaria had built livering on our commitments. been stationed in for eleven years was revitali- have been in Afghanistan since 2002. We have says. “At the beginning of this process, there come here. You have to develop lectures intere- in the second half of the nineteenth century. In sed. They put everything back into the original learnt many lessons over those ten years. But was a NATO document signed by both Sup- sting enough for them to show interest and apply case there is some free time left for students in After eleven years, we have accomplished our condition, i.e. the way the place had looked like our Armed Forces has changed in a major way reme Allied Commander Transformation and themselves. When I prepared my fi rst course, no their busy schedule, they may opt for going into endeavour in the Balkans, but the security situ- before we arrived Kosovo. Those nearly hun- too. Both in terms of equipment, mindset, ex- the Supreme Allied Commander Operations in one applied initially. Naturally, that makes you the mountains as the environs offer innumerable ation in Kosovo has recently deteriorated again. dred personnel involved successfully readied perience and the way they approach mission 2010 containing NATO recommendations for nervous. But with about a month to go, the cour- hiking opportunities. Was it not a bit premature? six full trains carrying eighteen thousand tons performance. The logistic support in Afgha- the nations how to shape development of the- se got full very quickly,“ SWO Švadlena smiles. I do not think it was premature. After eleven of materiel for redeployment. One hundred and nistan has also grown completely different. ir respective NCO corps. That is why focus on ”In my view, senior NCO academic training sys- by Vladimír Marek years, the mission has come to an end for the ten vehicles were transported, roughly the same When we were starting up in Afghanistan, we this specifi c area.“ tem is best developed in the Netherlands and in photos by Vladimír Marek and the NATO School Czech Republic. The Czech Armed Forces did number of containers, seventy portacabins and had not owned aircraft capable of transporting 16 17 Guest

It was the fi rst time for a Czech helicopter unit assignment, and that we fi nally stopped operating to deploy for such type of operation. Helicopter in the we-give-you-the-manpower-you-give us- pilots and gunners, as well as technical and sup- the-equipment-we-will-already-eat-on-our-own port personnel proved to be trained to very high style at last. But back to your question: Afgha- standards. We can manage even in the extreme nistan is an extreme environment, in which eve- environment of Afghanistan. We did not have ry type of equipment has its pros and cons, but a single casualty, single hit by opposing forces also its limits. Having monitored serviceability or any serious problem over those twenty-four of equipment and weapon systems over a lon- months our helicopters were deployed for. The ger specifi c period of time, we may fairly say it unit nevertheless did not operate only in more never fell under ninety percent benchmark. That secure places but also in high-risk areas, inclu- defi nitely attests to some quality. I am confi dent ding the province of Wardak, where it was often that we are better off in this respect than some of the last resort for our OMLT to have air mobili- our partners are. The quality of our equipment ty into or out of the area of combat operations. and the speed at which our servicemembers lear- I believe this mission has brought our helicopter ned to operate it have largely contributed to the service among the leading nations that have such fact that our losses in Afghanistan have been mi- capability deployed in Afghanistan, including nimal. In addition, what we achieved is that our because our coalition partners have recently be- commanders in Afghanistan have available quite essential materiel into that country. We had to gun to adopt the tactics the Czech pilots chose a broad spectrum of land equipment, so that they rely on our Allied for that capability. It chan- for Afghanistan. are able to select vehicles matching the terrain ged in the fundamental way in 2007. We began profi le and mission to be performed. operating the Czech Air Force Airbus A-319 The helicopter unit’s mission was previously aircraft, focused our efforts on the ground into said to be only suspended for twelve months to I was surprised in Afghanistan how quickly our a single area of operations in 2008, created an resume in 2013. Does it still hold true, the fore- service personnel were able to learn to opera- integrated task force system with National Sup- seen budgetary restrictions notwithstanding? te the borrowed U.S. hardware, such as MRAP port Element (NSE) providing direct support. We are in the process of developing the man- vehicles. Is it truly our national advantage that The whole system got more stable as the Czech date for the unit for 2013-14. We had to suspend we are able to quickly settle with circumstances Perhaps least is known about the Czech Special country in terms of mentoring, partnerships and EU forces usually deploy for lower intensity Armed Forces’ engagement grew in Afghani- the mission; we are not a military with hundreds and improvise? Forces’ mission in Jalalabad. What is their role security consultancy. confl icts than those under NATO command. In stan. Currently we do not face any major issues of helicopters and pilots. Our helicopter capa- It is not a benefi t of improvisation, but rather there? the role of observers, we also operate as a part of resupplying our deployments using the Czech bilities are limited, as are those of the like-si- an outcome of the effort by our commanders Our Special Forces have been integrated into Presently we have our foreign deployments UN missions. Likewise, we have been through Air Force assets. The Airbus aircraft completed zed countries. Both personnel and helicopters and individual soldiers alike. They are very well the ISAF special forces chain of command as almost exclusively under NATO command. Is it deployment of whole units under UN command. 608 fl ight hours having transported 4,751 per- demand a sort of break to renew their combat trained and, thanks to skills they gained both at a standalone task force. I would hate to specu- conceivable for you that sometime in the future We took part in operation UNPROFOR in the sonnel and 162 tons of materiel between Pra- readiness. Rotary-wing aircraft are absolutely home and in Afghanistan, they are able to acc- late about what strand their operations pursue. we would operate as part EU military structures 1990s. Something like that cannot be ruled out gue and Afghanistan just in 2012. In addition, crucial for supporting Czech land deployments limate themselves and stand up to new challen- Their mandate defi nes for them to perform mis- or UN forces? down the line, but no requirement of the kind we have prepaid the SALIS program fl ights for in Afghanistan. Helicopters provide up to eighty ges. But what it builds on is a high-quality tra- sions in the full spectrum of special operations, I do not think the European Union would has been voiced. However, should anything like strategic airfl ift. We have been fi rmly integra- percent of personnel movements on operations. ining and preparation on tactical subunit level. which I believe is telling enough. In addition, mean something new, something ground-brea- that happen, it is certainly the kind of effort we ted in the system, but we have also reserved Nations having deployed the machines down- Improvising does not substitute quality training the special forces task force is involved in men- king for us. We assigned a CZE/SVK European would manage to deliver. The peak of Czech additional coalition fl ights, and we have built range primarily use them in support of their land and preparation, although the art of improvising toring a special unit of the Afghani National Po- Union Battle Group for standby in the past, and forces’ operational activity is at the level of NA- an operational STRATEVAC system. units. The withdrawal of the heli unit has com- has been intrinsic to Czechs for decades. lice (the PRC – Provincial Response Company). we have preparations now underway for another TO-led operations. We are insourcing airlift to resupply our de- plicated our mobility to an extent. We have to In the Czech Republic, the PRC compares to the one. So, we have a good degree of familiarity ployments in Afghanistan for around eighty rely on coalition helicopter effort. regional police SWAT units. with the European Union system. Moreover, the by Vladimír Marek percent, which is defi nitely not a marginal fi - The Czech 601st Special Forces Group in photos by Vladimír Marek and MoD JOC gure. Logistic support in Operation ISAF has We have deployed the newest equipment in Prostějov have traditionally performed to excel- grown into a completely new dimension as we Afghanistan, including Dingo, Iveco and Pan- lent standards and that is refl ected in their asse- factsheet work with all coalition actors in the theatre and dur armoured personnel carriers; plus now the ssment by the Allies. have additional links in place for effective coo- CZ 805 Bren assault rifl es have been delivered Forces and assets of the Czech Ministry of Defence to be peration as part of operational logistic support. there as well. How much does the equipment We are told the year 2014 will be decisive in We have learned to use both national and Alli- prove well in the demanding conditions in the context of terminating operations in Afgha- deployed for foreign operations in 2013-14 ed assets. We have also tried out the so-called Afghanistan? nistan. Coalition forces are to withdraw in that Northern Rail Route earlier this year. So far we The forces that went from the Czech Repub- timeframe. To what extent will that apply to the The plan of deploying Czech MoD forces and assets for foreign operations in 2013–2014 with only sent two containers with materiel that way lic to perform their assignments to Afghanistan Czech Armed Forces? outlook to 2015 keeps ISAF as the highest operational priority. into Afghanistan in a test. This option also pro- back in 2002 were what I would call a predo- 2014 is really meant to be the turning point in The Government of the Czech Republic mandates the deployment of up to 539 Czech military ved viable, but not as fl exible as the air; it takes minantly Russian type of military riding UAZ the operation. But it would be naive to think that professionals in Afghanistan in 2013, and maximum 340 personnel in the following year. In roughly two months for the materiel to pass all trucks and BMP-2s, equipped with Russian, or Operation ISAF would close down completely 2015, with Afghan authorities already fully responsible for security in the country, the Czech for- the instances. indeed Soviet made equipment. From 2007- in 2014 and everybody would go out of Afgha- ces operating there will predominantly have the assignment to perform missions associated with 2011, our forces were completely rearmed with nistan. The process began last year of transitio- training, mentoring and assistance to the Afghan National Security Forces, with total authorised The Czech heli unit completed their deployment weapons and materiel compatible with NATO ning responsibility into the hands of the Afghani strength of 150 personnel. Up to twenty special forces operators will be assigned to provide in Afghanistan last year. Did they perform the nations’ armed forces. The last piece of the puz- government and the Afghani National Security security to the Czech Embassy in Kabul. way you expected them? zle was the handguns. Not only were our forces Forces. President Karzai has a very selective In 2013-14, up to ten Czech military professionals will serve tours in KFOR in Kosovo. Ma- Our helicopter unit accomplished a two-year rearmed in such a short time interval, but it was procedure in place to identify provinces, towns ximum three service personnel will be assigned for the EU Operation ALTHEA in Bosnia and deployment that I am confi dent was highly suc- moreover done literally on the move and directly and areas to transition into direct Afghan re- Herzegovina. The Czech Republic will also continue its involvement in the counter-piracy EU cessful. The helicopters had deployed downran- in operation, naturally with all associated risks. sponsibility. As a part of the process, operations Operation ATALANTA – up to three personnel, and the same number will be involved in the ge right after their modernisation and operated The effort exerted by those involved in introdu- by coalition forces are being restricted in selec- Multinational Force and Observers mission in Sinai. there for two years without any major issues and cing the materiel, adjusting it to specifi c conditi- ted areas. This transition is to come to head so- The plan also includes deployment of a Czech air component for the Icelandic Air Policing missi- showing full reliability. That the modernisation ons of operations in Afghanistan and naturally in metime around 2014, but I do not think all areas on in 2014. The Czech Republic will continue to assign forces and assets to the NATO Response was performed to excellent standards was pro- force training can hardly be appreciated. It was would already be under Afghan administration Force (NRF) and the UN Standby Arrangement System (UNSAS). ven by its operational use in Afghanistan. The all performed at such a speed that we really did in that timeframe, particularly in security terms. Approximately twenty fi ve thousand Czech Armed Forces service personnel have served tours helicopter unit performed over fi ve thousand not notice our weapons and equipment in Opera- The developments down the road however re- abroad since 1990s. Over eight thousand served in Kosovo, roughly three thousand were for fl ights during their tour and spent 2,750 hours tion ISAF changed radically. I must admit it was main to be seen. I would rather regard 2014 as operations in Iraq. Since 2002, close to eight thousand Czech men and women in uniform have airborne. They transported over nine thousand not always easy, but I feel very strong about that a time of a sort of operational climax. But that deployed for operations in Afghanistan. personnel and over 330 tons of materiel. Those we are self-sustainable and not reliant on our does not mean we would leave Afghanistan for are impressive fi gures. partners in terms of delivering our operational good. We are likely to remain engaged in that 18 19 Training Czech Aid for Afghans

An exclusive look behind the scenes of Mi-17 and Mi-24 helicopter expert teams in the 5th Air Adviser Team at the Kabul International Airport.

The 5th Air Adviser Team (AAT) led by Lieu- changes of the weather, unpredictable turbulent tenant-Colonel Petr Kratochvíl took over its streams over mountain ridges, brown-out or operational assignment on 4 December 2011. white-out landings. The current training scheme For most of the AAT personnel, this has not been comprises four to six-week blocks, when a pair their fi rst deployment. The unit is deployed at the of helicopter with two advisers and four ”stu- Kabul International Airport (KAIA) and compri- dents“ perform the training and transportation ses two expert groups. The fi rst team focuses on missions outside KAIA. When fl ying into areas training for Mi-17 Hip air mobility helicopters with possible hostilities, a pair of Mi-17 Hips is counterparts are very friendly. Afghan pilots and timber plus eleven ANA soldiers, whom we and includes two instructor pilots, a systems escorted by pair of fully armed Mi-35 gunships. maintainers highly value the attitude that Czech were to lift to another Afghan base called Giro engineer-instructor, a gunner and three mainte- The aircrew of these helicopters comprises Armed Forces personnel have showed in perfor- on a mountain plateau with elevation 2,200 nance specialists. Except for the gunner, all the a Czech adviser-pilot, Afghan trainee pilot and mance of missions in the combined team and the metres above sea level approximately fi fty kilo- air force personnel are members of the 24th Air Czech systems engineer. In one of these joint particularly value the time they spend together, metres south of Ghazni,“ the team commander Force Base Prague-Kbely. The mission of the missions performed to resupply an ANA forward when many issues get settled while drinking tea Lieutenant-Colonel Petr Kratochvíl explains and second team is to train Afghans on Mi-24/35 operating base in Ajristan, a helicopter formati- in a friendly atmosphere.“ goes on to say that the spot may hardly be acces- gunships. The Hind team also comprises two in- on had to fl y over a mountain range reaching The deployment of the 5th AAT in Afghani- sed in summertime, not to speak about winter. structor pilots, two system engineers and seven roughly 3,900 metres above sea level. ”Piloting stan has been partially affected by the weather. Having accomplished the mission, the heli- maintenance specialists. In addition, the AAT at such altitudes is already quite demanding. The In terms of temperatures, amount of snow and copters transferred into the city of Gardez some also includes a senior offi cer-assistant comman- interval between maximum and minimum fl ight duration, the winter was extreme this year. Ac- eighty kilometres away for the night. Necessa- der. The Mi-24/35 team’s permanent station is speed is narrow. The maximum fl ight speed de- cording to the data available, there has not been ry technical maintenance however needed to be the 22nd Air Force Base Náměšť nad Oslavou. creases due to altitude, air density and payload. such tough winter over the last fi fteen years! performed fi rst. That makes calculating the maximum take-off Over the two and half months of their tour, The tasks on the second day again included Flying in non-standard weight critical,“ systems engineer Warrant Offi - the Czech Mi-17 adviser pilots completed 48 transportation of materiel and personnel to ANA cer Vlastimil K. concludes. A team of Czech Mi- fl ight hours in 17 fl ight days and transported forward operating bases not accessible on land. conditions 35 advisers escorted Afghan Mi-17 machines 8.6 tons of materiel and 123 servicemembers Thirty Afghan military personnel had already Every day is different and specifi c at the same on a resupplying mission into the Kunar Valley, of the Afghan National Army as a part of rotati- been waiting on the fl ightline to transfer into time in the mission in Kabul, although the AAT regarded one of the most dangerous places in ons in the forward operating bases. It should be a location just six kilometres from Pakistani bor- also has to develop monthly and weekly plans. Afghanistan. noted that eight fl ight days had to be cancelled der at 2,300 metres above sea level. ”Transpor- The squadron however is tasked to respond to The Czechs have been involved in providing for inadequate weather conditions. In addition, ting troops was without problems. We have been instant requirements of the Afghan National ground training to Afghani pilots, including they completed fi fteen hours’ training on a fl ight lucky with the weather so far,“ Mi-17 team com- team continued their mission nevertheless. The a helicopter formation commander. Another pi- Army (ANA) or to the needs of coalition for- a fl ight simulator, where the U.S. command of simulator to practise circuit fl ying, emergency mander Major Peter S concluded. At FOB Bar- choppers transported additional twenty Afghan lot was certifi ed as a helicopter captain on the ces. When forces deployed at forward operating the Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron sent procedures (engine failure, hydraulic system fai- mal, the helicopters loaded food for FOB Curry soldiers from Gardez to a camp in the city of second aircraft. bases or combat outposts high in mountains can- them based on their achievements in mentoring lure) and instrument approach. The 24/35 heli- situated in Gowmel valley amidst high mounta- Orgun and then transferred to FOB Zirok and Upon returning to their home station, the not be resupplied otherwise than by air, training members of the Afghan National Army Air For- copter team completed thirty-nine fl ight hours in ins about forty kilometres inland, where all ac- Lwara located just three kilometres from the Czech pilots were welcomed by the U.S. com- is rescheduled or cancelled. ce, to practical fl ight training. The training in- ten fl ight days in the same period of time. cess roads are snow-blocked in wintertime. Pakistani border, where Hips joined the trai- manding offi cer of the 438th Air Expeditionary As a matter of fact, helicopter fl ights are per- volves piloting techniques fl ights and inspection ”In transfer fl ight to FOB Curry, named af- ning of Afghan soldiers for escorting prisoners Advisory Squadron, Lieutenant-Colonel John formed over hostile territory. They are engaged fl ights transporting materiel and personnel into An FOB resupplying mission ter a U.S. soldier killed in the valley in 2007, taken in an attempt to cross the state border P. Conmy, who thanked them for a job well done quite often because the slow-moving and low- locations hardly accessible by land and with very In the fi rst half of February, the 5th AAT mem- the helicopters fl ew over a mountain range at illegally. Upon returning to Orgun, helicopters in completing the various tasks in the mission. fl ying helicopters represent an easier target as restricted size of mountain landing zones. The bers performed transportation mission fl ying the three thousand metres above sea level in strong carried on to Barmal, where they loaded other The Czech team made another step in increa- opposed to fi ghters or commercial airliners that 5th AAT personnel are also responsible for pro- Mi-17 in support of the 203rd Corps the Afghan wind and turbulences,“ Lieutenant-Colonel two tons of materiel and fl ew into Gardez via sing the Afghan National Army capabilities to fl y faster and at much higher altitudes. All he- viding assistance on mission planning as well as National Army. On the fi rst day, a pair of Hips Kratochvíl describes the mission. After unloa- Camp Gowmel. There they loaded a wounded perform air transportation missions on their own licopter crewmembers are aware of the threat, on after-fl ight debriefi ngs. ”As to Afghans, they with Czech-Afghan aircrews transferred into the ding thirteen service personnel and two tons of U.S. soldier with a complex leg fracture and and contributed to enhancing skills and training and adjust the fl ight tactics to the mission and are generally evaluated as very highly experien- city of Ghazni in the province bearing the same materiel, the machines continued with additio- transported him to KAIA, where he instantly standards of Afghan pilots. the area they are fl ying or indeed to the location ced pilots. Some of them fl ew already in the time name in central Afghanistan. The Czechs were nal ANA members back to Camp Lightning at went for a surgery. they are going to land in. ”Fear of being shot at Soviet forces operated down here. An overwhel- represented by two pilots, a systems engineer, the city of Gardez. ”But the job was defi nitely Over those three days, helicopter aircrews must remain outside the cockpit. The pilot and ming majority of them had a Lieutenant-Colonel three maintainers and a door gunner. Afghani not over for us on that day,“ the commander from Kbely AFB logged eleven fl ight hours other aircrew members only dedicate their effort and Colonel rank. Our squadron comprises close personnel included two pilots, a systems engi- adds. “Our technicians carried on maintaining and transported a high number of soldiers and and thinking to fl ight performance. Fear must to eighty Mi-17 pilots and two dozen Mi-24/35 neer, three gunners, fi ve maintainers and, essen- the helicopters till late night to keep the ma- materiel. Upon completion of the mission, the Developed by Pavel Lang, courtesy of the Press stay outside the cockpit,“ Czech helicopter per- Hind pilots,“ the Czech instructors explain and tially, a translator, whose service were mostly chines serviceable and in reliable condition,“ Czech Air Advisory team awarded two certi- and Information Offi cer 4th Czech Armed Forces Task sonnel concur. go on to say: ”As to their professionalism, that used by the Croatian ground air requirement co- LTC Kratochvíl speaks highly of his team. fi cates to the pilots of the Afghan Air Force. Forces in ISAF CAPT Jiří Zedníček and members There are many factors directly infl uencing very much differs. Some of them have an exten- ordinator. ”In the Afghan National Army Camp The weather aggravated substantially on the One of the pilots is now authorised to lead of the 5th AAT, LTC Petr Kratochvíl and MAJ P. S. fl ight performance, such as high elevation and sive log, some only gather experience. Relati- Vulcan at Ghazni, we loaded two tons of diverse following day. A strong wind was blowing group training on his own and perform per- Prepared by Pavel Lang fl ight altitudes, maximum take-off weight, sharp ons between the Czech team and their Afghan materiel, including food, power generators and and caused turbulence. The Czech helicopter sonnel and materiel transportation missions as Images: Czech Air Adviser Team 20 21 Operations

Czech mentors awarded with U.S. decorations for their merit in ISAF,“ MAJ Synek says and gives an example: ”Contrarily to the missions at home, you get into training Afghan pilots and maintainers the cockpit with people you do not know much about and they are in fact strangers to you, while onboard it is vital that you may rely on your col- leagues one hundred per cent in any situation. It is about mutual trust and confi dence in particu- lar. It aroused with me a special feeling initially. Four Czech Later on it became a daily routine.“ MAJ Synek trained Afghan pilots on the Mi- 17 Hip. In the notional stick-and-carrot metho- dology, he rather preferred the second type of attitude. ”I always tried to help them with kind Years in Kabul words. When I saw they were trying really hard, I did not hesitate to commend. In case they per- formed with shortcomings, I told the individual to go aside and I discussed the issue with him in depth. Criticism before the others would be Twenty-three Czech Armed Forces military professionals are counterproductive. The Afghans fi nd such situa- tions diffi cult to bear; they take it too personally. standing lined up face-to-face with the US Army Attaché in the When you discuss the performance just between Czech Republic, Colonel Charles H. Wilson. Although they are you and him, they are able to draw lessons for future missions,“ MAJ Synek adds. assigned to different units, they have something in common – The former Czech AMT ISAF mentor also operational tours served in the International Security Assistance speaks openly about the level of threat present. “Concentration on piloting itself forces certain Force (ISAF) in the territory of Afghanistan, specifi cally as a part feeling of fear out of your mind. Performing a mission, you only perceive your professional of the Air Mentoring Team. On the fi rst Tuesday of March, they activities in the cockpit. The fact that you could were decorated with the U.S. Army Commendation Medal and be in danger will only came to you later on, perhaps in the evening or on the next day while U.S. Army Achievement Medal. you are doing the debriefi ng. The fl ight must be performed strictly according to given methodo- logy. Coincidence of various albeit unforeseen circumstances may substantially affect the fl ight The Czechs have trained the members of the (AMT). At the moment, the fi fth Air Adviser performance. In other words, every little detail Afghan Air Force (AAF) for four years already. Team (AAT) comprising expert groups for Mi- matters. This applies permanently in aviation. Since April 2008, a group of helicopter speci- 17 transport helicopters and Mi-24/35 gunships Therefore, you cannot tell that today you go for alists from Přerov AFB led by Colonel (Ret.) operates at the Kabul International Airport an easy mission and tomorrow it will be diffi - Ivan Pospíchal started to operate at the Kabul (KAIA). The commanding offi cer of the Czech cult. You still have to perform one hundred per International Airport. instructor pilots, systems engineers, door gun- are doing training the military pilots and ground done,“ LTC Straka recalls and elaborates: “The given specifi c locations. You cannot underesti- cent,“ Major Synek argues. Subsequently, serving four-month tours, ners and maintainers of the 24th Air Force Base technical personnel of the Afghan National violent death of nine US colleagues claimed en- mate even apparent trivialities,“ the military pi- An air incident happened while he served his Czech Air Force personnel rotated in the Czech Prague-Kbely and the 22nd Air Force Base Ná- Army. The Czech support is extremely impor- hanced security measures at KAIA and made the lots argues and describes what both operational tour in Afghanistan. In a brown-out landing, the Air Operational Mentoring and Liaison Teams měšť nad Oslavou is Lieutenant-Colonel Petr tant for us to achieve our common goal: to have atmosphere grow denser, which affected each tours in Afghanistan have given to him. “Extre- dust impaired orientation for an Mi-17 aircrew. (OMLT) and later the Air Mentoring Team Kratochvíl. “I highly value the excellent job you a self-reliant and well-trained Afghan National member of my team. It was a double challenge me limits. Mine and those of the Mi-24. I have “After completing a transport mission, we were Army,“ Colonel Wilson said in a ceremony de- for me as the commanding offi cer. I felt a huge shifted my notional pain threshold and the Mi- on approach for landing with an Mi-17. Behind corating the second, third and fourth Czech Ar- responsibility for their security. 24 helicopter again reinforced my conviction the stick was a Croatian colleague as the captain med Forces ISAF AMT deployment. The airmen You keep on wishing for all your subordi- that it is a very good machine in its category.“ and I was in the right seat as the second pilot. were also commended by Major-General Aleš nates you have known personally for a number For LTC Straka, Afghans themselves are an We were surrounded by a cloud of dust and Opata, Deputy Chief of General Staff – Director of years that they returned home safely. That is unforgettable experience, more specifi cally the our rotor blades got into contact with an object MoD Joint Operation Centre: “I know this job the highest priority of any foreign deployment.“ military pilots whom he worked with in the coc- while we were performing the escape mano- is very demanding and often frustrating, becau- He adds at the same time that he lived out both kpit. They were predominantly experienced pi- euvre. We were lucky to get away without any se you are starting from scratch with every new a tough winter, and a hot summer. “The Hinds lots, who had been for training in the former So- major injuries. I just had several swellings on course trained by the AAT. You have done your are very sensitive both to elevation and tempe- viet Union and logged hundreds of fl ight hours. my hands and legs and a couple of bruises in my job with honour and this day is a proof of that.“ rature. Just as a matter of interest, the Kabul In- But they have been absent from practical fl ying face. A short stay in the Kabul military medi- ternational Airport is situated eighteen hundred for a long time. Aviation novices were no excep- cal facility put me together again,“ MAJ Synek Commanding offi cer two metres above sea level and that brings about tion either. “They repeatedly showed to us how explains. some specifi city to fl ight personnel training. high they valued our assistance. Emotions cul- Every cloud has a silver lining. In this case, times in two rotations The machine performs worse in summertime minated in the end of our tour. When a veteran the incident became one the driving factors for For Lieutenant-Colonel Rudolf Straka, cur- than in winter. That naturally affects the way Afghan pilot comes up to you and says a sincere Czechs and Croats to start joint training activi- rently acting Deputy Commander 22nd Wing Mi-24 helicopters are maintained in serviceable farewell with tears in his face, it is really an in- ties, as they have worked together in Afghani- of the Náměšť Air Force Base, the 3rd AAT condition.“ Although he has logged over two tense experience,“ LTC Straka concludes. stan for quite some time. Bringing their prepa- deployment was a rerun of his previous tour in thousand hours fl ying Hinds, he states the AAT ration to the same standards already ahead of Afghanistan. He served his premiere tour down- job is not only about sharing experience with Experience for both their deployment for AAT will undoubtedly help range at the beginning of 2010, when he was the Afghans, but also about learning new lessons. Colonel Charles H. Wilson also bestowed the attain a higher effectiveness of training but also commanding offi cer of an eleven-member group Flying in mountains and extreme climatic US Army Achievement Medal on Major Milo- enhance air traffi c safety in particular. comprising Náměšť AFB personnel, whose mis- conditions is another step forward in your pro- slav Synek of the Helicopter and Transport Se- sion at KAIA was to train and mentor Afghan fessional qualifi cation. “Plus you have to count ction the Air Force Branch of the MoD Force fl ight and ground personnel on the gunships. in the fact that you operate in a crisis area whe- Development – Operations Division, who served “The tours were completely different. From re engagement is probable to a certain degree. as a mentor at KAIA from March till August last security situation in the area of operations to The more you have to work with intelligence, year. ”It is never easy to start something new, By Pavel Lang climatic conditions in which fl ight training was the more precisely you have to plan missions in which is also the lesson I learned with the AMT Photos by Pavel Lang and LTC Petr Čepelka 22 23 Training

Cadets Attained the JAGUAR

Infi nite movements on foot and obstacle The annual partici- in the jungle and information about the local fl o- shelters and rafts and learn how to survive on lo- courses in water, mud and on the trees, those are pation of two students ra and fauna were complemented with practical cally available resources. the lesser pleasing parts of the survival course, from – members of the demonstrations. There is a little ZOO right on They are continuously supervised by instruc- because you are permanently soaking wet and University of Defence the base with majority of local animals, ranging tors throughout the course and have to repea- dirty with mud. The only chance of having at le- Commandos Team – in sur- from spiders and snakes to a jaguar. tedly go through the feared local system of four ast one dry set of clothes for night is to carry it vival course in the middle of In the jungle, the Defence University students obstacle courses built in the jungle, which are in a watertight barrel, as air humidity reaches up jungle of the French Guiana is – Master Sergeant Daniel Buršík, Sergeant Petr the icing on the Foreign Legion cake. The Pig to 98 percent in the jungle. ”All days were tou- a prestigious affair. This year the opportunity Topinka, Sergeant Jakub Rozsypal and Serge- Trail represents a system of obstacles leading gh,“ Sergeant Lukáš Chroumal recalls. ”Bruises, was furnished even to four students who under- ant Lukáš Chroumal – were accompanied with through a muddy blind channel. Negotiating the rash, hands burnt from ropes were commonpla- went a two-week jungle survival training course humidity all around, plus sometimes hunger trail, soldiers practise crawling, balancing, cree- ce. We slept in expedient shelters we built our- in March-April timeframe. and thirst. But the greatest threat were insects, ping, climbing, jumping, diving and swimming. selves from trees and palm leaves. We used to The training course is organised by the French as gnats carry malaria there. Biting by snakes, The Liana trail was nicknamed the monkey trail go to sleep early, because the dusk was around Foreign Legion 3rd Infantry Regiment base (3rd spiders or scorpions or contact with poisonous by the trainees. It comprises of ropes, nets, tre- seven and fi re provided the only light. It was ra- REI) at Kourou. The Foreign Regiment has thir- frogs may be dangerous. ”Several days on, you es and wooden structures and trains climbing, ining through most of the nights we spent there. ty instructors assigned to the Equatorial Forest get the danger out of your mind and just con- shimmying, jumps and balancing. Day temperatures fl uctuated between thirty and Training Centre (CEFE) with a camp located in centrate on the training,“ says Lukáš Chroumal, The Team Trail takes longest, normally over thirty-fi ve degrees Celsius.“ Amazonian forest close to the town of Regina, who encountered two venomous snakes in the two hours. The course comprises nine obstacles The demanding course came to a head with as the point of departure for training missions. forest, but fortunately nothing happened to him. requiring cooperative effort by the whole group, a four-day mission, whose principal objective That is also where the course participants prepa- Practical training primarily seeks for the sol- at least seven individuals. Again, the team trail was to survive. But before that, there was a pre- re in an intensive training over the fi rst ten days diers to acquire habits necessary for surviving in features mud, trees and a giant slick wall. The paration led by indigenous Indian named Narcis- after their arrival before the four-week marathon local forbidding conditions. The famous Devil last test involves carrying a casualty by a group sus employed by the local Foreign Legion unit. through the tropical jungle begins. Islands are indeed a part of the French Guiana. of at least seven people. The ”injured” is tied to He showed to the soldiers the fruits to eat and The alarm started training at four thirty. The course participants learn how to orient in a long log as tight as possible and the other sol- how they should prepare them, how they can A physical examination followed to reveal fi tne- the jungle, sail on pirogues, obtain basic skills diers have to carry him over the muddy terrain obtain food by hunting, how to prepare fi shpots ss of individual trainees. Instructions on conduct using the machete, practise building improvised with sharp changes in elevation. and traps to catch animals. 24 25 Training Training

“Military instructors dropped us in the jungle The Training Command without food and water. We only had a shotgun with ten cartridges for self-protection, water – Military Academy in purifi cation tablets, salt, simple fi shing equip- Vyškov is coming up with ment, barrels, compass and a whistle. They even took away our T-shirts and shoelaces,“ Serge- a new interactive course ant Rozsypal and Sergeant Chroumal describe. of leadership for team and They were to live on what they caught on their own. The team with Sergeant Rozsypal caught platoon leaders a monkey, which cannot be eaten because of pa- rasites, but they exchanged for it for three quar- ter kilo of rice for twenty people! ”We were luc- ky enough to have a lad on our team, who grew up in a similar environment. He knew the fruit of the jungle and taught us what to eat,“ Sergeant Rozsypal says. The team with Lukáš Chroumal only caught a couple of tiny marsh crabs. ”We made a soup from them. It was close to inedible. There was perhaps no meat in it. It was fatty and salty, so we just replenished minerals,“ Sergeant Chroumal describes the unusual menu. But it was not much easier with water either. ”We took it from the river, but although purifi ed with the tablets, it remained brownish. We also bathed in the river, washed our rifl es, fi eld uni- forms and shaved,” Sergeant Rozsypal recalls. Simulated attacks on an armed camp of ille- gal gold miners or drug mafi a were also an inte- resting experience. ”We just simulated the attack on a prepared camp, but the whole action was nevertheless quite challenging owing to diffi cult movement in the forest,“ Sergeant Chroumal says and goes on to specify that it takes near- ly two hours to cut a kilometre-long path in the jungle with full gear on. MManaginganaging ooneselfneself Commander of the 3rd Regiment the Foreign Legion Colonel Lardet was happy with the per- formance of Czech soldiers and he also highly Every month, training courses valued their good physical fi tness and mental re- silience. At the same time, he expressed his wish start or end at the Training that the students of the Czech University of De- Command – Military Academy fence took part in the survival course in Guiana in the next year as well. Back in the camp, our in Vyškov, Czech Republic. soldiers met legionnaires with Czech origin, who However, the one held in the were very friendly and sought to help them. Sergeant Topinka sadly did not fi nish the second week of February 2012 course due to an injury. ”Moving through the jungle, it does not take much to suffer an injury was nevertheless different. and the body reacts differently in these conditi- Following a pilot edition, not only academic knowledge in the sphere of been included in career courses, or why should ons than it would normally do. It was the case management and leadership, that are commonly it be held on separate basis. According to CAPT with me, and a leg injury coupled with an infe- the Career Training Branch found in various lectures, leadership/manage- Záchová, the answer consists, among other mat- ction put me out till the end of the course. But already organised a regular ment training courses, not even mere backing ters, in what is somewhat unique lecturing me- still I gained much valuable experience for my of the command hierarchy. The decisive factors thod: ”In the beginning, we naturally thought future career,” Sergeant Topinka says. run of the basic leadership/ are social and psychosocial aspects of working how to make most attractive and effective the Defence University students and cadets from with people at large. In our opinion, the art of lecturing that the psychological services group the l’Ecole Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr, who managerial skills course. working with people, infl uencing and motiva- provides in support of career courses. But we went through the course, passed the fi nal exam. ting them effectively is an essential precondition have repeatedly struggled with the time alloca- Now they are entitled to wear a badge with Ja- of the competence military commanders should ted and some other issues. What is completely guar on their uniforms, which they obtained have, same as with managers in the civilian natural and justifi ed with career courses, that is upon completing the course in French Guiana. sector.“ capacity and no differentiation based on years And they may also recall the feelings of relief, of service and post the individuals serve in, is happiness and victory, which came to all of them “Obviously, this training course focuses on Focusing on authentic contrarily an impediment for us in principle. But once they were through the demanding survival the lowest level of management, the Czech Ar- I do not mean to say that the subjects featured on training course. med Forces commanders on team and platoon experience our course would substantially differ from what level, which comprise the basis of the command, The training course is designed to expand comprises the essence of in-career courses: mo- leadership and management pyramid,“ says team and platoon leaders’ familiarity with ba- tivation, communication, teamwork, stress ma- Captain Darina Záchová, the Chief of Psycho- sic principles, methods and techniques of wor- nagement and so forth. But method is the crucial logical Service Group at the Training Command king with subordinates, psychological aspects difference.“ – Military Academy. ”We have pondered the re- of commanding, leading and managing people So, this training course differs from the others ason and contents of the course extensively. In in the military and with the ways to develop in terms of its overall concept. It is designed as by Pavel Pazdera the end, we have built it all on the assumption these so-called soft skills. Naturally, this begs a one-week course dedicated to personal develo- Photos by CEFE that the key for effective work with people is the question, why this type of training has not pment of managerial skills with individuals who 26 27 Training

have already gained some experience leading with maximum fi fteen persons. But benefi ts are for delivering dedicated training sessions to word basic in the course name. The capacity their subordinates. It is neither a lecturing cour- clearly predominant in this case. The follow-on cover basic managerial skills, communication of our staff does not allow us to do more at the se not a powerpoint storm coupled with tiresome putting into context and rehearsing different, and management of confl ict in workplaces and moment. Again, to work effectively with people, monologs. more appropriate leadership/management tech- units as well as many other subjects that com- fi rst you have to manage yourself and your re- niques helps identify new effective procedures manders, colleague psychologists and sergeant lation to others. And that is the keynote idea of Experience learning for working with people, offers possibilities and majors of Czech Armed Forces units address our the course. ”Know thyself” is the initial step in ”Having properly considered the matter, we ways for practical application of acquired skills psychological services group with,“ Captain Zá- cultivating managerial skills and competencies. selected a method somewhat unconventional for into everyday professional life and the line of chová describes. “I would dare to say the course Knowing their own managerial style, its streng- the military: interactive experience learning that duty. It also opens up the potential for further came into existence based on the needs and re- ths and weaknesses, enables acute commanders uses practical sessions, model situations, role self-development. quirements of the Czech Armed Forces units. It to better foresee, resolve and manage diffi cult playing, self-testing, discussions and working in is very much like with building the consulting and challenging situations occurring in scores small teams. This methods works with authentic Not on order point here at Vyškov, which the psychological in performance of commanders’ everyday duties experience and counts on their ability to learn Coincidentally, at the time when the idea service, or the psychological services group runs and in working with people. from the consequences of own conduct, identify matured in Vyškov to develop an integrated in support of servicemembers, defence civilians That could provide solid foundations for innovative solutions, and accomplishing tasks learning product for commander at lowest le- and their families. Realisation of that project possible follow-up or extension the way the and facing up challenges jointly,“ CAPT Zácho- vels, the MoD Personnel Management Division also did not ensue from orders by our superiors, course trainees suggested.“ vá elaborates. ”To be a successful commander, required that the Defence University to prepare but our realisation of the need and respecting the The military psychologists in Vyškov always one has to be able to develop oneself, not only a management/leadership training course for requirement for providing this type of service seek to be a step ahead to be able to respond to to hope in one’s talents, but consciously pursue audiences recruiting from battalion and brigade not only for the permanent staff but also for trai- the needs of personnel development in time. personal development. Experts in this branch level. Of course, we were strongly motivated by nees attending individual courses.“ They do regular polls to establish the interests exercise a similar approach. that. In November 2011, the Commander of the that people have and seek to fi ll the gaps they If you want to work with people successfully, Training Command – Military Academy recei- The form of lecturing identify. “This way we are creating products co- as a commander, boss or colleague, this applies ved a proposal of course on effective working successful vering those particular aspects both needed and doubly. Successful commanders should be able with people with a full learning documentation. making their job easier in what may sometimes to respect all of the above factors. So, they would Colonel Ján Kožiak approved the documents for Based on preliminary nominations, the de- be a labyrinthine jungle of interpersonal rela- manage to work with people in a much more na- inclusion into the MoD training activities bulle- mand for the basic course of working with peo- tions. We realise very well that our mission is tural fashion, be able to motivate them, increase tin already for the Training Year 2012 to be held ple exceeds the capacity four times. The course to serve for preparation and training of military their performance, appraise and appreciate their at least on quarterly basis. Already in December periodicity, four times a year, is also a limiting professionals in its whole extensiveness,“ Cap- work, manage confl icts and put the potential of 2011, a pilot edition of this training course took factor. The military psychologists from Vyškov tain Záchová explains. ”The more we want to their subordinates to a maximum use.“ place with attendance by selected commanders strive to keep quality standards of the training assist training instructors in obtaining psychoso- The subject is delivered to trainees in doses, and command sergeant majors from the 7th course and be able at the same time to fulfi l the cial, psychological and pedagogical skills. They but completely in context at any one time. Mechanised Brigade, 102nd Reconnaissance other tasks and commitments they have. “Based are those who really have to be with their sol- From the learning experience, the course trai- Battalion and 101st Signal Battalion. The cour- on the response we solicited I dare to say that diers twenty-four hours a day. Enhancing their nees choose lessons important to themselves ac- se has been fi ne-tuned to the current form using this training course ranks among successful competence in these subject-matter areas should cording to their own service and life experience their feedback. products. In the feedback from the trainees, rationalise preparation of military professionals as well as their abilities. Everything takes place “This training course is indeed an outcome of the course is appraised very well, including in serving in the present and those to enlist in the under careful supervision of qualifi ed specialist several years’ effort practical efforts by military terms of support, contents, systemic sequence, future, but also to make life easier for their in- lecturers who also correct the conclusions dra- psychologists and builds on the experience we integrated format, and practical usefulness. The structors. Interactive education has proven well wn. This method has proven highly successful have gathered leading similar types of academic form of lecturing was also evaluated successful. for us and, provided that our product is found especially where it vital for people to actually training including outsider the Czech Armed For the second time already, the course attende- useful, we would like to follow this path in the realise the mistakes that they frequently do wor- Forces. This was not a case of a precisely defi - es required that the course had a follow-up or years ahead.“ king with people and that they have already ned order or hard requirement. We always seek some kind of workshop elaborating on practical acquired before as a part of their individual’s to be ahead in order to be able to early respond application of the acquired knowledge,“ CAPT managerial style. The specifi city of this method to the needs of in-career personnel development. Záchová says. “We have realised from the very by Vladimír Marek also represents its disadvantage to an extent, be- The important factor for us has also been the in- start that it was impossible to get beyond the ba- Photos by Vladimír Marek, Ivana Vávrů, cause it is essential to proceed in small teams, creasing number of requests and requirements sics in a week’s time, so we have included the Vladimír Bezděk jr. and Pavel Kočvara 28 29 NATO The Czech Republic offers to the NATO Partners its rich experience from ooperatingperating MMii family of helicopters as well as the lessons it has learnt forming multinationaltional eeffortsfforts ttoo build training capabilities. A unique helicopter project

Czechs are coming up with another contribution to multinational capabilitylity development projects that NATO strives for, the type answering the demandsmands tthehe Smart Defence initiative, or the European Union’s Pooling and Sharing pprogram.rogram. The specifi c contribution is the Multinational Aviation Training Centre (MATC)MATC) for Mi helicopter fl ight and ground personnel. For NATO partners, the pprojectroject was presented by the Czech Defence Minister Alexandr Vondra: ”In this rregard,egard, the Czech Republic has both training capabilities available and a long-standinganding experience that it seeks to develop jointly and consistently in favour of nnationsations that will be directly involved in building the MATC, but also for training aairir fforceorce personnel of the partners showing interest in this capability.“

The joint training program with Croatian Air fl ight operations and, most importantly, it will and dust in high fi delity. The joint training over effort for such international platform to be es- professional skills grow over time, undoubted- “My personal estimation is that roughly by the Force is regarded the springboard for the esta- enhance the standards of working with AAF per- a couple of weeks is indeed a predeployment re- tablished, while the NATO Summit in Chicago ly thanks to their training in the United States, end of the next year the international project blishment of MATC. The program will be rea- sonnel. It is also vital that this cooperation will hearsal for the mentoring team. We want to build furnished an opportunity for additional countries where they will focus on NVG fl ying. The rea- team could fi nalise the necessary documentati- lised based on a bilateral agreement. The head help us signifi cantly strengthen air traffi c safety on integrated training in the years ahead. We are to indicate their readiness to get involved in the son is obvious. Most of the operations nowadays on, including a Memorandum of Understanding, of the MATC project team, Mr. Václav Čejka of and eliminate differences in procedures used in confi dent our project is right, from experience project. in crisis areas take place at night. The erudite which will, upon its signature, bring the MATC the MoD Defence Policy and Strategy Division possible emergencies,“ says Lieutenant-Colonel sharing to the coordination of fl ight effort in Development of the ”Czech contribution“ to CLV personnel will have available a suffi cient project into its implementation phase scheduled regards as the vital precondition for successful Petr Čepelka of the Air Force Helicopter and support of Afghans. NATO partners declare over MATC will not start from scratch; it will lean quantity of Mi-17 transport helicopters and the for completion by the end of the next year. In the realisation the political support the project rece- Transportation Section, Air Force Branch the a hundred of Mi type helicopters. The existing on the capability of the Czech Aviation Training CLV Pardubice is ready to respond to the growth meantime, individual national and international ived in bilateral defence ministerial meetings in- MoD Force Development – Operations Division practice defi nitely proved the Mi family of heli- Centre (CLV) in Pardubice. “The CLV Pardubi- of international customers. “The initial response training programs will continue, which will be volving Alexandr Vondra of the Czech Republic and accentuates the emphasis on standardising copters plays an important role in Afghanistan,“ ce has trained military helicopter pilots for se- solicited by our initiative, which has major poli- transferred under the MATC when the time is and Ante Kotromanovič of Croatia. the methodologies used by experts of both na- LTC Čepelka underscores. veral years. We intend to develop fl ight training tical-military signifi cance for the Czech Repub- right,“ Lieutenant-Colonel Čepelka says. It is no secret that Czech and Croatian Mi-17 tions, who are sent to the AAT. “We have to be curriculum and then certify it to become a stan- lic, sound appreciatively. The demand for Mi-17 The available information is that the trai- pilots have closely worked together in Afgha- on the same sheet of music before deploying to Comprehensive training dard in NATO environment. Most of the nations training has a longterm future prospect and that ning will cover both ground and fl ight parts by nistan, specifi cally at the Kabul International Afghanistan. To get to know each other both in operating Mi type of helicopters struggle with is a good message. We believe the Czech con- the means of repeating courses lasting several Airport as a part of an Air Advisor Team (AAT), terms of personalities and professionally in the in MATC restrictive measures. Integrating the capabilities tribution to the MATC arrangement will get weeks. The schedule of individual phases of whose mission is to provide training, advising area of deployment is too late in my view. Har- “The Multinational Aviation Training Cen- available in involved nations and developing rooted and prove that a multinational approach MATC training programs will be dependent on and mentoring fl ight and ground personnel of monisation of operating procedures in domestic tre’s primary mission will be to provide a com- them consistently will decrease the aggregate to air and ground personnel training is a more training opportunities and possibilities the par- the Afghan Air Force (AAF). The joint Czech- conditions will then enable us to instantly per- prehensive training to fl ight and ground person- costs the nations would otherwise spend on in- effective and at the same time a more affordable ticipating nations will come up with, and the Croat activities met with a positive response. form full basic and lead-in pilot training mis- nel from NATO and Partner armed forces on dividual basis. At the same time, it will enhance option for the NATO and Partner nations invol- subsequent optimising the structure, which will The program enjoys support by the NATC-A sions and ground specialists training of the Af- Mi family of helicopters,“ Lieutenant-Colonel training standards and interoperability, which ved,“ LTC Čepelka comments. What if not? It be subject to international discussions. To date, command, which is responsible for training AAF ghan Air Force,“ LTC Čepelka emphasises and Čepelka specifi es. What does he mean? Ground will substantially benefi t future joint operations should be noted on this account that the Mi-type Croatia has joined the MATC project, and the in general, and is also directly supported by the states that the cooperation planned between the and fl ight preparation for day and night fl ights, led by NATO, EU or other international organi- training interoperability platform is not designed Czech Republic therefore plans to make use of U.S., which have made the largest investments. Czech and Croat Hip pilots is just the fi rst step. including NVG (Night Vision Goggles) training, sations,“ LTC Čepelka elaborates and specifi es just for Afghanistan. As a matter of fact, the Par- advanced domestically produced simulator tech- It comes as no surprise then that the support the The good thing is that words soon turned into re- plus preparing pilots for instructor training. Be- that the MATC will provide a full spectrum of dubice based CLV center will be primarily used nology and performing a larger part of fl ight tra- U.S. has provided to the concept of the training ality. Cooperation of Czech and Croatian Mi-17 sides standard training, there are also plans for training opportunities (basic, lead-in and combat in support of building helicopter capabilities ining in the Czech airspace, but selected parts of program is critical and the Czech Republic and pilots Mi-17 has already gained a specifi c shape. running training packages tailored to specifi c training, or possibly specifi c training packages) for AAF in the short term, but it will surely be training will take place in Croatia, because Cro- Croatia regard it a key prerequisite for success- ”A fl ight simulator course was held in the Czech needs, be they formulated by the nations invol- also to other countries, if interested. useful in other locations worldwide in the years atia offers better conditions for specifi c fl ight ful development of the Multinational Air Trai- Republic on April 16-21, 2012, and subsequent- ved in developing the MATC or the so-called Insiders know the CLV Pardubice was not se- ahead. There are currently intensive policy-ma- training missions – fl ying in mountains, in dusty ning Centre (MATC). ly, from April 30th till May 15, practical fl ight “third countries“. From the very outset, MATC lected by coincidence. The CLV has an extensi- king efforts underway to prepare all that is nee- environment and over water. ”Harmonising training of Czech and Croat training will take place in the Croatian airspace. is conceived as purely international project to ve subject-matter expertise. The potential of in- ded to gain international support for forming and aircrews is an optimal step to achieve progress. Hilly terrain in the Zadar area offers the condi- use and combine the existing capabilities and structor pilots is enhanced with their operational operating a training centre, starting with legal is- Standardising our preparation, we will achieve tions that may quite well simulate those down- assets of nations willing to becoming involved. experience gained in the countries of the territo- sues, air worthiness, certifi cation, funding, logis- by Pavel Lang substantially higher effectiveness in helicopter range in terms of combining air temperatures The Czech Republic stands ready to lead the ry of former Yugoslavia and Afghanistan. Their tic and materiel support to the MATC structure. Photos by Jan Kouba and LTC Petr Čepelka 30 31 Equipment and arms

One of the newest arrivals in the Czech Armed Forces’ infantry’s type of the lower handgrip and heat protection above the barrel. inventory are the Minimi machine guns, presently comprising There are additional derivatives, particularly a part of weaponry used by our units abroad as well as on the U.S. M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Wea- pon) with metal collapsible stock and Mk46/48 operational deployments in Afghanistan. that a have a fi xed butt, but modifi ed railed han- Minimi dguards for additional accessories. The Minimi (Mini Mitrailleuse) machinegun machinegun (cal 7.62x51 mm NATO cartridge). The fi rst delivery of Minimi machine guns for was developed in the fi rst half of 1970s by the Some of the users however demanded that more the Czech military was contracted via the Czech FN (Fabrique Nationale) arms factory located in effi cient ammunition was kept so the develop- CB Servis Centrum company. There are plans to Herstal, Belgium. According to available yet un- ment was actually completed of a Minimi MG procure additional units in 2012 by the means confi rmed information, the fi rst demonstration prototype that used cal 7.62mm NATO muniti- of the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency presentation was held in 1974, but serial produ- ons. Licensed manufacturing takes place in the (NAMSA). ction only started in 1982. Minimi became the U.S. at two FN subsidiaries, plus in Australia, machinegun fi rst European machinegun to use the new calib- Italy, Japan, Greece and Sweden. The variant for Description re 5.56mm (5.56x45 mm NATO cartridge) intro- the U.S. armed forces has denomination M249, According to offi cial Czech Armed Forces duced in 1960s, initially by U.S. armed forces. but the derivatives for the U.S. special forces technical specifi cation, the FN Minimi is a ful- The Minimi has been progressively introduced use denomination Mk46 for calibre 5.56mm and ly automatic long gun, a calibre 5.56mm or to inventories by 34 countries. Mk48 for cal 7.62mm. Chinese copy is deno- 7.62mm machine gun. In the Czech Armed For- In some of the countries, it replaced the well- minated XY 5.56x45. As a standard, the manu- ces, the Minimi is a primary team (platoon) fi re proven older cal 7.62mm FN MAG facturer markets three basic versions of Minimi: support weapon carried and operated by single Standard with fi xed stock and long barrel, Para rifl eman, but it can also be mounted if needed with shorter barrel and folding stock and SPW (on a tripod or in vehicle mount) and serve as (Special Purpose Weapon) with a barrel slightly a general-purpose machine gun to a limited ex- longer than that on the Para variant, with new tent. The weapon is currently in in- ventories of all NATO nations, espe- cially the United Kingdom, Canada and the U.S. (U.S. denomination M-249 SAW). The weapon is fed with a dis- integrating-link type M-27 NATO standard ammunition belt for calib- re 5.56mm cartridges (M-13 for 7.62mm car- tridges) from the left-hand side. The belt can theoretically be endless. Polymer or fabric box with capacity of 200 or 250 rounds for 5.56mm cartridges (or two hun- dred calibre 7.62 mm cartridges) linked in a belt can be connected to the weapon, or an unsup- ported loose belt. On the left-hand side, the cal 5.56mm weapon also has a magazine port at 45° angle, which can use any magazines fi tting the AR-15/M-16/M-4 family of rifl es. The Minimi fi res from an open bolt. The barrel is locked with a rotary bolt forced into the battery by helical camming guide, and it is driven to the rear by expanding propellant gas

Key tactical data FN Minimi 7.62 Mk48 FN Minimi 5.56 Para Empty weight 8.5 kg 6.56 kg Length overall 1,015 mm 914 mm Width 128 mm 128 mm Barrel length 465 mm 349 mm Theoretical rate of fi re max 800 rds/min 1,150 rds/min Muzzle velocity 925 m/s 866 m/s Effective range 1,000 m 1,000 m

3232 33 Equipment and arms NATO

bled through a port in the barrel. The gas block gas block. The gas pressure pushes on the piston to use the M-16 rifl e magazines holding 30 rds is equipped with a valve to possibly increase gas that in turn drives the carrier bolt to the rear. As or any other mags used with AR-15/M-16/M-4 pressure when heavy fouling is present or less bolt carrier moves back, the bolt unlocks, as it is rifl e family (for the cal 5.56 weapon). effective munitions used. forced to rotate by the helical cam. Once the bolt No modifi cation needs to be made for chan- Upon lifting the feed tray cover, the rotary gets unlocked from the barrel, it is still driven ging this function; the feeding mechanism turns bolt mechanism is exposed. The weapon is loa- back against the pressure of the recoil spring. upon inserting the magazine into the port and ded by inserting the fi rst cartridge on the belt The extractor removes the empty cartridge ca- changes from belt feed to magazine feed. Am- into the feed tray. After closing the cover, the sing from the bolt and the ejector fl ings it to munition belt cannot be inserted while the wea- bolt has to be manually moved into the rear po- the right beneath the weapon. At the same time, pon is fed from a magazine. sition using the lever, where it is locked. Moving another cartridge gets into the feed tray, is ex- the bolt backwards extracts the fi rst cartridge tracted and the whole cycle repeats until all the from the belt, and its link is released beneath the ammunition has been exhausted or until the trig- by Martin Koller weapon. The cartridge is caught by the extrac- ger is released. In case needed, it is also possible Photos by Marie Křížová and Jan Kouba Close to the Colosseum, street tor and carried to the rear by the bolt, where it is lowered and inserted under the feed tray vendors compete to win the in the axis of the barrel and the bolt. As a result of the feed tray movement for- attention of tourists, offering ced by rear movement of the bolt, heaps of souvenirs including the the ammunition belt is shifted by one cartridge, which is fed inste- most famous she-wolf that suckled ad of the fi rst extracted cartridge. Romulus and Remus according to The bolt must be returned to the front position manually. The wea- the legend. It just takes jumping pon is then ready to fi re. Above the pistol grip, there is a manual safety into a car and start southwards push button enabling safe or burst to the Tyrrhenian Sea. Before fi re. The weapon is not designed to fi re individual rounds. When the you leave the last quarters of the trigger is pulled, the bolt is released Eternal City, you hit a barracks and forced forward by the recoil spring. The cartridge is inserted compound the Italians call into the chamber and is fi red upon locking the bolt with the barrel by a military zone. The compound is the cam. The bullet is driven throu- dominated by a modern building gh the barrel and once it passes the gas bleed port, the gas enters the that houses one of the three NATO schools: the NATO Defence College.

There is a Czech representation at the highest Allied academic training institution, the NATO Defence College in Rome A School with no teachers

The Czech footprint can be found at NDC as Eisenhower came up with the idea that NATO Steered by the North Atlantic Over forty Czechs have studied here in the past. should have its own educational facility as ear- The golden plate identifying most famous NDC ly as 1951. NATO had its second anniversary at Council Course Members bears the names of two Czech that time. In November 1951, the NDC Course The NDC is NATO’s highest educational in- Generals – Miroslav Kostelka and Jaroslav Kol- 1 was opened in Paris. When France withdrew stitution, it is a part of the NATO chain of com- kus. At the moment, Czech Armed Forces Co- from the NATO integrated military structure in mand and it reports to the supreme Allied autho- lonel Rostislav Jaroš is posted at NDC as the 1966, the College moved to Rome. A new NDC rities. The curriculum is approved by the North national representative and a head of one of the building, twice the size of the old one, was in- Atlantic Council, which funds the NDC using study groups. The only Czech Course Member augurated in September 1999 to provide all ne- a dedicated budget. at this time is Colonel Zdeněk Čížek. cessary facilities. The building houses a large The NATO Defence College comprises four The NDC celebrated its sixtieth anniversa- auditorium, room for study groups, library with divisions providing the whole educational and ry in 2011. The legendary World War II allied a vast collection of books and media, a mess hall research process plus all support. The backbone forces commander and the fi rst commander of and conference room, a gymnasium plus facili- of the education is the six-month Senior Course NATO powers in Europe General Dwight D. ties for outdoor sport activities. for high-ranking NATO military offi cers as well 34 35 NATO

recently, and what impact it can have on futu- performs. He is indeed a tutor attending indivi- Study tours Students planned to visit the UN in New York, attends the meetings from the Czech Republic. re developments. For Central Europeans, these dual discussion sessions, offering opinions and NATO Defence College is known for its bu- and the White House plus Pentagon in Washing- I would like to encourage the former students to may be very interesting topics as there is no gre- recommendations, updating students on actual siness trips. Each Senior Course includes a stu- ton D.C., and Allied Command Transformation get together and invite them to attend the reuni- at awareness of Northern Africa back at home.“ situation at the school. He is indeed a sort of link dy tour with three trips as a part of fi eld studies. in Norfolk. In all locations, they were to hear ons. In 2013, we plan to visit Prague as a part According to COL Čížek, every beginning is between the students and the NDC leadership. The fi rst trip focuses on European security, the lectures and have practical familiarisation with European Security and Defence Policy study diffi cult, including in school education. One has “There is no problem communicating with second on the transatlantic relations and last one the workings of the institutions in question. tour and it would be good for the former Czech to settle with the study system. This is where it Europeans on the group. But sometimes it may targets a selected region. ”Our fi rst fi eld study ”While the lectures are held directly on the pre- course members to come to the reception and applies twice as much. Every morning, there is be challenging to understand an Algerian for in- trip focused on how international organisations mises of the specifi c organisations, the ensuing join the discussions. That is the habit in other an English lesson to improve language skills. stance. Cultural and historical differences play and institutions work. We visited a number of questions are much more specifi c. Those are pla- countries,“ Colonel Jaroš adds, who had already French and Italian courses are prepared for the a role in those instances. It is a slightly diff- European countries, including the UN in Vien- ces I may never see in my life anymore. It will been in the College as a student six years ago. course members who already achieved STANAG erent way of thinking. Discussions with Turks na. Study tour leading to Switzerland and Aus- defi nitely be interesting, it helps you get a better His assignments in Rome include representati- 4 English language profi ciency. Then there is an may be quite sensitive. In such case we need tria with specifi c focus on their neutrality was idea of what it is about,“ COL Čížek smiles. on of the Czech Republic and the Czech Armed hour’s discussion in committees on the subject to avoid some delicate topics, or present them an interesting one. We travelled through coun- Another benefi t the NDC brings is that one Forces. ”I have not encountered any negative that will be lectured. Study documents of twenty in a way acceptable to the Turkish side. But tries from Slovenia to Germany,“ Colonel Čížek meets with people supposed to fi ll important opinion on our country, but most of the students to fi fty pages are submitted in advance and then some sort of consensus is eventually reached describes. ”I recall one idea mentioned during posts in the future, including in NATO structu- here associate Czech Republic with Prague and are subject to discussion. Then there is the lectu- in the end,“ Colonel Čížek describes. ”Indivi- lectures and questions and answers in Switzer- res. Many useful contacts can be established. historical sights. They have a substantially lower re and the Q&A block. In the afternoon, there is dual lectures also cover security issues. Guest land. Neutrality demands not to be a member of That was also one of the reasons why the so- awareness of our political scene. We therefore time for evaluating the lecture, its contents and speakers have in-depth knowledge of the Mid- political or military groupings, but it does mean called club of Anciens – former students – was seek to expand their knowledge.“ lecturer, subject-matter debate and development dle East and North Africa and other regions as no contributions or engagement in the interest formed. There are reunions every year. People of group projects and presentations. The so-cal- well. Discussions also cover issues relating to of security. So, there are limitations to neutra- share their information on newest developments led Study Project is the most important. states such as China, India or Brazil, and their lity too. That I am not a member of a military and trends in specifi c branches. ”Ties and con- by Vladimír Marek “Each of the groups selects one of the pro- future global infl uence. Students on individual organisation still does not mean I would not tacts are forged here. It is only a pity that we Photos by Vladimír Marek posed subjects and decides the extent they will committees also developed the vision 2035, i.e. be willing to participate and help under certain are a bit passive in this respect. No one usually and the NATO Defence College work the proposed subject into. That mostly how the world is going to look like in about conditions.“ involves clarifi cation of certain problems ha- a quarter of century. In this document, they At the time we visited the NDC, detailed pre- ving historical roots, spanning the present and described potential powers, tried and guessed parations had already been completed for the se- generating future-oriented visions. Then there the role individual states would be playing and cond fi eld study trip to take the course members is a teamwork to develop the Study Project to identify those who may be backgrounded.“ into the U.S. This trip was even more demanding be defended at the end of the course. Everybo- for organisational support than the previous one. dy on the course pulls at the same rope. No one is judged on individual merits only. There is no competition among the course members. The re- ason for this to be done in teamwork is primarily as for foreign ministry offi cials. Representatives that people learned to negotiate, achieve con- of the armed forces from PfP, EU, Mediterrane- sensus and fi nd common ways ahead,“ Colonel an Dialogue and Contact Countries are increa- Jaroš explains. ”This ethos also prevails outside singly found among course members. school. Joint dinners and events learning about The course members therefore include stu- the history of the country hosting the NDC are dents from Arab countries, including Iraq, as quite frequent. It is not just about lectures, but well as Japan, South Korea and Australia. There also trips in free time. That includes the so-cal- are currently students from thirty-seven coun- led Papal Audience, an offi cial public audience tries attending the courses. In the ongoing cour- with his Holiness the Pope. Attendance in in se, seventy-six students are divided into seven this event ranks among regular activities of the groups. ”For example, my group comprises a fe- College. The Course Members have the oppor- male Norwegian Colonel, who has recently ser- tunity to see the Holy Father from quite a short ved as a contingent commander in Afghanistan, distance.“ plus two Frenchmen, an Italian, Turk, German, American and a Brit; PfP countries are repre- Top-notch speakers sented by a Serb and an Algerian represents the NATO Defence College has a very fl exible Mediterranean Dialogue. Those are mostly mi- structure. There is just a handful of staff taking litary professionals and defence civilians, plus care of management and logistic support. There members of diplomatic corps. Many individuals are no teachers. The NDC invites external lectu- have served foreign operational and staff tours,“ rers coming from the highest structures. Thanks COL Čížek explains. ”The education has a stra- to the prestige the College enjoys, people are tegic nature. We review the security environ- highly interested to give a lecture there. Stu- ment, defence and operation of international of dents always evaluate the lecturer. In case the international organisations. We had the Head of result is negative, the College does not invite the NATO’s Financing Unit over here for a lecture individual anymore. “It is a very good system. earlier this week. I am confi dent that if the Defence University in The speaker offered a range of information Brno invited brigade commanders and specia- that we would not learn anywhere else. He dis- lists from command headquarters, Ministry of cussed possible future developments in NATO’s Defence, the General Staff and governmental funding. He outlined the way for the current agencies more often, it would only do good to funds to be used for providing vital capabilities. the school,“ Colonel Jaroš says. “But there is Only the highest level is pursued here, that is a different work style here than back home. Eve- how to secure the necessary funding. How to in- rything is exactly planned. And that is observed. vest the budget is already up to other authorities There are virtually no ad hoc tasks, thanks to to decide. which everything is much calmer. There is more Lectures on the current developments in time to think about various doctrine and policy Northern Africa and the relating lessons learnt related matters.“ were also absorbing. The discussion was about Each of the groups has a leader from a NATO interdependence of systems that worked until nation and that is the function that COL Jaroš 36 37 Preparation of the 9th PRT contingent came to a head in the Hradiště Military Training Area through the Cooperative Training Effort mission rehearsal exercise the exercise as close to the reality on the ground Rapid Deployment Brigade, Colonel Miroslav specifi c systems. That fully meets our require- in Afghanistan as possible in every detail. They Hlaváč. ”As a matter of fact, we focus on the ments. Only the entry door is not too large, but used a base map plus overlays with roads in biggest threat: improvised explosive devices. that is determined by the nature of this piece of Logar, as well as coalition bases and individual Comprehensive attacks are also problematic. All equipment. We have to have some time to learn districts. of these are the worst contingencies possible. In- to operate the medical version.“ Camp Altimor is the largest U.S. military in- deed, as military, we always have to prep oursel- One of the medics indicates to other soldiers stallation in the area, while the Czech 9th PRT ves exactly for those.“ to provide fi re cover for them. Along with his contingent is stationed at Camp Shank. All of A pair of L-159 aircraft attack and elimina- colleague, they grab the stretchers and bent that is intersected by roads such as Utah, Jamai- tes the insurgency mortar fi re post. Having been slightly they run towards the medical Pandur. ca or New York. To that end, the organiser chose taking cover by now, warfi ghters may launch Other soldiers fi re as much as they can so as to the most suitable roads in the military training a counterattack. The radio headset also gives tie the enemy. area corresponding both with their nature and a worse message: the requested MEDEVAC will For Sergeant David M., this will not be the distances. not arrive. The weather in the incident location fi rst operational tour in Afghanistan. His role ”This fi eld training exercise has been prima- has deteriorated so, that the helicopter may not will be to serve as a gunner on MRAP vehicle rily designed to verify harmonisation and check land. Wounded warriors are to be evacuated lent to Czechs by U.S. forces. ”We have prepped preparedness of the 9th PRT contingent prior to from the battlefi eld on the ground. A Pandur for the mission for quite some time, and we all their operational deployment in the territory of APC in medevac variant approaches the front go to Afghanistan on voluntary basis. Afghanistan. We are running such a large fi eld lines. It is a debut for the vehicle, as the fi rst In case someone would not be willing to go training exercise because we are trying to play two units of these vehicles have only been in downrange, they have the option not to. I will all conceivable contingencies. For the PRT for- the inventory of Žatec-based airborne battalion be there as a member of the 1st Mobile Obser- ces, we are staging not only the opponent but for a couple of days. In addition, a Pandur ve- vation Team. That is also refl ected in the type also coalition forces operating in the area, in- hicle in command and control version has also of training we are doing here. In the fi rst week, cluding the U.S., Afghan National Army and the joined the exercise to undergo its fi rst ordeal by we practised tactics, tactical drills and had live Afghan National Police units. Operating shoul- fi re. Likewise, a reconnaissance variant is being fi re. That was followed by a tactical exercise, as der-to-shoulder with those forces is often quite presently fi nalised. a part of which we operated the way we would complicated particularly owing to the language “The APC is designated for service as a eva- do downrange,“ Sergeant David M. explains. barrier and cultural differences. Americans and cuation vehicle for four prone soldiers. In emer- ”All of our drivers have been to Germany to get Afghans are played by personnel who have re- gency, we can also accommodate eight seated a driving licence for MRAP vehicles at a U.S. cently returned from an operational tour in Af- wounded soldiers inside. The crew comprises installation there. The rest of us would only gain ghanistan. They have the most current experi- a driver, commander and a medic. The interior familiarity with MRAPs on the spot. I will ope- ence, which shows in the degree of fi delity they is equipped very much to the same standards rate a cal 50 M2 Browning heavy machine gun. CCzechzech MMTATA HHradištěradiště I have shot some with this one last time I was deployed. It is an excellent weapon, proven in combat over decades.“ Our soldiers fi nalise the assault eliminating the last pockets of resistance. They are fi ring the new CZ 805 BREN assault rifl es. They had turning into Logar a two-month training to learn how to operate them. They have had such an extensive hand- s-on experience that they should have no pro- blems using them operationally in Afghanistan. In addition, they are taking a reserve stock of the A fl aming mushroom lined with a screen of grey smoke popped old Mod.58 rifl es, which will be stored at Camp up on the horizon. A couple seconds passed before a massive Shank. In case a specifi c operation would claim using calibre 30, these rifl es will be available. detonation reached us. A Pandur AFV heading the convoy The contingent commander is confi dent though literally staggered to the roadside, evidently damaged. this will not happen. ”Tactics used by the insurgency changes and develops continuously. We have therefore been in contact with units currently deployed in the territory of Afghanistan. We are getting the most Before automatic weapon fi re broke out in of the Czech Republic in 2011, the Cooperati- current info from them on the situation on the full, a report on the radio confi rmed the front ri- ve Effort, which took place at the beginning of ground. That is what primarily informs our tra- ding armoured vehicle has really been destroyed. December last year in the Hradiště Military Tra- ining, play and scenario of the whole exercise, Casualties must be recovered as fast as possible. ining Area. making it as current as possible,“ Colonel Mi- Another Pandur vehicle therefore arrives to the The core of over eleven hundred soldiers roslav Hlaváč underscores. ”I am happy with right of the damaged vehicle to provide cover and three hundred vehicles comprised the 9th what I have seen here so far. I think the 9th PRT for casualty treatment. Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), which contingent has made a great progress. It is fair to Squads of warriors swarm out of vehicles. had a mission rehearsal exercise prior to dep- conclude today that all its members are ready to But the opposing forces well covered behind loyment in the Logar province in Afghanistan. accomplish their mission in Afghanistan.“ mounds of turf already attacks with RPGs sup- “We divided the unit training into three phases. Exercise Cooperative Effort completed the ported by an inaccurate mortar fi re coming in Roughly fi rst three months were dedicated to Insurgent mortar fi re intensifi es. Soldiers are play individual episodes with. We also want as regular ambulances are. We are able to pro- predeployment training for the 9th contingent from a long distance. individual training. Then we focused on small forced to lay down and take cover. Escorting the for the situations we are playing here to refl ect vide medical aid to one acute patient while on the Provincial Reconstruction Team. In January, The whole movement route is thankfully mo- units. All of that is fi nalised by the phase we are convoy in conjunction with U.S. forces, the Af- the real operational deployment as much as the move. But when the vehicle is fully loaded, they were only reassigned into the chain of com- nitored by a Raven UAV from the above, pro- at. It is a rehearsal for a force comprising three ghan National Army unit incurs the greatest los- possible. we do not have much extra space for possibly mand of the MoD Joint Operations Centre. viding the commander with instant situational hundred warriors altogether,“ the PRT team ses in terms of manpower and equipment. The As the warriors now move on the roads here, handling them through,“ Warrant Offi cer Petr awareness. commander Colonel Antonín Genser describes. commander requests air support. the roads have the same names as those in Af- Sedláček demonstrates. ”This capability can be A contact with opposing forces occurs at three “Our objective was to make the exercise as re- Big white stars painted on the side doors of ghanistan. They also meet local representatives embedded into a combat formation with other o’clock. That is where the commander concen- alistic as possible to refl ect the situation on the the Czech Land Rover vehicles give somewhat who have a completely different style of con- wheeled armoured personnel carriers, but it does trates the heaviest fi repower at. Through what ground downrange. Our primary mission will be awkward impression. The vehicles playing the duct than we are used to. The point is to ready not have any weaponry. The platform is identi- today is already a classic episode, the largest to provide a safe and secure environment for the Afghani National Army are designated authen- the soldiers so that they do not possibly get sur- cal to the combat version of Pandur; the vehicle exercise came to a head of the Armed Forces PRT’s civilian component to operate.“ tically. The exercise organisers sought to make prised by anything,“ says the commander 4th only differs with the medical body with role- by Vladimír MAREK 38 39 Air Force

There is always a fi rst time for everything. The last Tuesday of Major Jaroslav Tomaňa, an experienced military pilot who have logged approximately a thousand February 2012 went down in history of the Czech Air Force. hours fl ying the JAS-39 Gripen over the last se- The Czech Armed Forces JAS-39D Gripen multirole fi ghter (tail ven years. number 9820) with a pilot of the 211 Tactical Squadron in the Connected… ””Hit!“Hit!“ cockpit scored a successful connection with Swedish Air Force Tp. A demanding task is preceded by a demanding preparation. That is true one hundred percent for 84T (C-130E Hercules) air tanker at Ronneby, Sweden. any air force in the world. Air-to-air refuelling is no exception. ”Air-to-air refuelling defi nite- ly ranks among the complex tasks, particularly at the initial stage of training that brings pilots Two Czech pilots performed the historically example the cooperation that is shaping up with through theory without any prior fl ight practi- fi rst air-to-air refuelling for the Czech Air For- the US Air Force. ”We are working intensely to ce,“ Major Jaroslav Tomaňa explains and recalls ce. “This day marks a major step forward for reach agreement with the U.S. on bringing U.S. there a nearly twelve-hour block of ten lectures the Czech Air Force capabilities to substantially Air Force personnel with a Boeing KC-135 Stra- providing indepth familiarity with all aspects if higher level of quality standards,“ said the Chief totanker over here in July later this year. refuelling missions. During the training, they of General Staff Czech Armed Forces, General If this fails, we would like to get through to were shown videos with required procedures, Vlastimil Picek. the German Airbus A-310 tanker,“ argues the but also footage with pilots not responding to the This premiere also has an extraordinary im- chief group inspector of the 21st Wing and ex- situation in a correct way. ”Some videos were portance for Brigadier-General Jiří Verner, the plains it would in fact be a reciprocal activity really scary,“ the pilot from Čáslav AFB descri- Deputy Joint Force Commander – Commander for the fl ight effort by the 212th Tactical Squad- bes risk of air-to-air refuelling. On the second Czech Air Force: “In-fl ight refuelling capabili- ron with L-159 ALCA subsonic combat aircraft day, they were up to the practical part they had ty is a precondition for the Czech Air Force to in support of the U.S. Air Ground Operations all been yearning for, comprising training Czech be involved in NATO-led operations. We have School (AGOS) located in Germany. pilots with Swedish instructors in the JAS-39D made another step towards full interoperability ”I recently got an email from our British col- Gripen double-seater. On the fi rst mission that of the aircraft with other NATO partners.“ leagues offering us specifi c timeframe for AAR took two hours and fi ve minutes, the Gripen as a part of the training they will be doing. Jo- crew successfully connected to a Swedish Air Two to become six ining them or pilots from other NATO nations’ Force C-130E Hercules tanker seven times. Major Jaroslav Tomaňa and Captain Petr air forces is one of the options we have as well,“ The fi rst four connections were practise, so Dřevecký became selected for air-to-air refuel- Major Tomaňa says and cautions to stay with the to say dry ones, and real refuelling was perfor- ling. Not only have both of them served as quick feet on the ground this historical success of the med in the other three instances (so-called wet reaction alert pilots in the NATO Integrated Air Czech Air Force notwithstanding. ”We cannot connection) approximately three thousand lbs of Defence System (NATINADS), but they are simply say that we would be starting training our fuel. ”The fi rst fl ight in the double-seater with also fl ight training instructors, responsible for pilots in air-to-air refuelling training from tomo- the Swedish instructor in the backseat was a de- training the 211th Tactical Squadron personnel rrow on. We have just made the initial step; we monstration fl ight. When we approached the tan- equipped with JAS-39 Gripen fi ghters. are at the very beginning and have much work ker, he took over and indicated for me in voice “There are presently three Gripen instructor ahead in this respect, ranging from essential na- both the visual reference points on the C-130 and pilots at the 21st Wing of the Čáslav Air Force tional legislation, from certifying Czech JAS-39 individual procedures during refuelling. Then Base. Me and Petr got selected in the end and for refuelling from tankers types operated by he handed over to me after this demonstration. once we complete the training we will teach NATO nations NATO, to funding this expensive I performed four connections and the instructor air-to-air refuelling to other pilots at the Čáslav training. corrected me. Under his guidance, I aligned the AFB,“ MAJ Tomaňa says and specifi es that ad- Before we start regular refuelling from tan- aircraft to hit the refuelling drogue. That invol- ditional four pilots of the Čáslav AFB would un- kers to Gripens we are still to undergo a very ves changes in the magnitude of ten or fi fteen dergo air-to-air refuelling by the end of 2012. complex procedure on the ground. But never- centimetres. You are correcting your position There are opportunities to perform this speci- theless I think it is realistic for the Čáslav 21st based on visual references watching the tanker. fi c training. The Čáslav AFB personnel therefore Tactical Air Force Base to have as many as six Piloting must be really subtle. It is nothing easy seek to seize the slightest opportunity, for the AAR trained pilots by the end of this year,“ says at all,“ MAJ Tomaňa says and leans his experi- ence on he following facts: “The refuelling bas- ket’s internal diameter is just over half a meter. The tanker fl ies around 450 kilometres per hour and the Gripen makes an approach 5kmph faster than the tanker, which equals to usual walking speed! There is a whole number of risks before the basket gets pinned right“. MAJ Jaroslav Tomaňa and Czech Air Force The training of Czech pilots in airspace in CAPT Petr Dřevecký, Gripen proximity of Ronneby proceeded from the easi- fi ghter pilots from Čáslav AFB, est to the most diffi cult activities. The most chal- lenging part included refuelling in turns up to refuelled in fl ight for the fi rst maximum twenty-fi ve degrees roll. In reality the in the history of the Czech Air Swedish tanker aircraft was making a left turn and the Czech Gripens were doing both dry and Force wet connections. To complete the picture, the following positive reference by the Swedish in- structor, the very AAR training was up in a sin- gle-seat aircraft. Major Jaroslav Tomaňa and Captain Petr Dřevecký fl ying the JAS-39C were assigned a refuelling slot. Both of them managed to get connected with the C-130E Hercules seve- MAJ Jaroslav Tomaňa ral consecutive times. ”About eight connections 40 41 Air Force Medicine

with the tanker were made in each fl ight. I have Interview with the Director of the Institute of Aviation Medicine in Prague, scored about twenty-fi ve in total. Of course I missed several times too. It is completely new MUDr. Dušan Bartoš, CSc. for us, and so it is natural to make mistakes. It is about building experience. I feel good about the training I have undergone. Although those are at the end of the day short intervals of time – to give you an idea: pumping roughly three thou- Unique institute with sand pounds of fuel lasts something less than four minutes – it is an unforgettable experien- ce. Air-to-air refuelling qualifi cation has a great importance for pilots. It is another leap forward in our profession,“ MAJ Tomaňa describes his mission out of the ordinary feelings. In this respect, here are some interesting facts relating to air-to-air refuelling. For instance, the Stratotanker (having a different refuelling sys- tem than the Swedish C-130E Hercules tanker, the so-called boom-and-receptacle instead of the There is a new pothole in front of the Institute of Aviation drogue-and-probe system) has ten fuel tanks in Medicine (IAM) building. It was produced there by the CAFR total – three in each wing (8,660 l, 7,825 l, 1,650 l), one on the lower deck between wings (27,670 editors waiting for MUDr. Dušan Bartoš, CSc. There we are, his l), on lower deck in front of the wings (21,980 working schedule as the IAM Director and as an ophthalmologist l), another behind the wings (24,285 l) and last to be able to look forward with one on the fl ight deck (8,265 l). Located under their right eye and left up with is extremely busy. But it was defi nitely worth it: the dialogue the empennage, the refuelling boom is operated their left eye in the fi nal phase by an operator. The boom length is from 8.5 to of air-to-air refuelling … is packed with interesting information, not only for the broad 14.3 metres. The refuelling operator lies prone, The Čáslav AFB fi ghter pi- aviation community, but also for general public. watching some devices in an overhead mirror. lots come out lucky this time. Because the operator needs a visual contact with All connections were perfor- the refuelled aircraft, he is placed at the very med excellently in terms of back of the one-thirty-fi ver, where no seat can the procedure required. “Hit!“ The news of the day that will go down in histo- Czech Armed Forces’ Air Force, be fi tted given the plane’s shape. The operator – Major Tomaňa hears from ry is the air-to-air refuelling of JAS-39C Gripen but indeed in all NATO armed looks through a window in the fuselage to check the headset of his helmet to supersonic fi ghters fl own by Čáslav AFB pilots. forces. There are no so-called the boom is in the right position and works the mark another successful con- In connection with longer missions fl own, pi- remissions. JAS-39 Gripen pilots computers to get the refuelled aircraft connected nection. He instantly accelera- lots speak about a different type of medical must be completely fi t individu- to the tanker. Air-to-air refuelling is a real hurry. tes and goes forward with the fi tness. How will the IAM respond to what is als. That is why they are regular- For smaller planes, the fuel transfer speed is ap- Gripen. He assumes a stable truly a milestone for the Czech Air Force? ly and comprehensively subject proximately 570 to 1,700 litres per minute whi- position for refuelling. In case We will work with them very closely. We to the most sophisticated exami- le the big ships such as B-52 bombers take as of a miss, he would instant- have been involved in training supersonic fi gh- nation techniques at our medical much as 3,400 litres of fuel per minute. ly decelerate and break away ter pilots using our expertise, particularly our institute. from the tanker according to training expertise with MUDr. Petr Došel, who No way looking at the basket specifi c procedures. is in frequent touch with Čáslav AFB fi ghter How frequently are the military The pilots of refuelled airplanes use visual re- They that Čáslav AFB pi- pilots. In relation with air-to-air refuelling, it is fl ight personnel assessed for their ference to keep their machines in the right positi- lots are now qualifi ed for AAR vital to respond to a range of new realities. From ability in terms of health to perform count here that the person can be your on. In case of the JAS-39, it involves one benefi t takes their operational capa- the medical viewpoint, for instance, pilots must their profession? long-standing colleague or a friend of your fri- and one disadvantage. The good thing is that the bilities another notch higher. take in adequate amount of appropriate amount Once in a year. With a little exaggeration: wi- end. In the air, everybody is just with himself of pilot uses a telescopic probe. When you do not Maximum endurance for the of suitable liquids and food in regular intervals. thout our round stamp, they cannot get airborne. herself, so you have to be healthy as required. refuel and the tube is stowed, the aircraft is ae- JAS-39 Gripen aircraft to re- The intake of carbohydrates and proteins is par- Our assessment includes special examination With a little exaggeration, we are sort of a bogey rodynamically clean. In other words: it does not main airborne, with three ex- ticularly important. Everything must be well in the IAM training expertise unit. We take re- for our clients. hinder the fl ight with any extra drag, and does tra fuel tanks, is about three balanced and adequate to mission demands. We strictive measures in case of medical problems But let me put it more precisely: a positive not consume more fuel. The disadvantage is that hours. But the more extra fuel have the knowledge in this fi eld plus we will affecting fl ight activities. In reality, that invol- bogey. They realise very well what they would the probe is not ideally positioned from the pi- tanks on pylons, the lesser we- also make use of the lessons other NATO air ves temporary inability, downgraded rating, lose if they would not pass the IAM. I should lot’s viewpoint, i.e. left up or on the edge of the apon payload available. forces have gained. I suppose the Čáslav AFB or indeed permanent inability to perform their note the verdict about this or that inability to pilot’s peripheral vision. “I cannot head for the With air-to-air refuelling, will contact us soon. We will do our best to help profession. perform fl ight activity is not a decision for a sin- basket. Even if I tried, I would never hit it right. there is virtually no limit to them determine optimal regimen for missions For fl ight personnel and other specialists, we gle individual to make, but a commission of ex- Making the approach slowly, I am following the for the aircraft to stay airbor- lasting several hours. are the key institution deciding whether they perts. The individual may also use a remedy – an reference signs. When the basket gets close to ne. This is rather about pilots’ limits than those must be matched with reasonable answers and Otherwise there is no need to make any chan- would lift off or be grounded. But we can only appeal to a higher professional authority. me, I just have a fraction of second to wink to of the aircraft. ”Missions lasting four hours or then make the decisive step – introduce the right ges to the methodology used for testing their admit healthy persons to fl ying. That is our re- The clients attending the IAM Prague do not the left to nail it,“ the Gripen pilot describes. more may be a reality,“ the Čáslav-based tacti- solutions to practice. ”We will soon get in touch ability in medical terms. The existing practice sponsibility. At the end of the day, all airmen are include fl ight personnel only, but also other pro- ”The refuelling basket comes in fast towards the cal squadron pilots say. What does it involve? with experts at the Institute of Aviation Medici- fully covers the demands of examining pilots to the makers of their destiny. Their attitude on fi t- fessions, such as air traffi c controllers, paratroo- canopy and you feel like it is going to hit you in Physiology: in general terms, the pilots’ pro- ne Prague. In our training, we have a long-stan- be completely healthy for fl ight activities. Exa- ness and regimen is the basis. pers, divers, fi remen, police offi cers, paramedics a second, which could have fatal consequence. fessional ability for combat operations lasting ding cooperation with Deputy Director IAM for mining supersonic fi ghter pilots is the maximum and rescuers. But in the last moment, the fl ow of air passing several hours. The seemingly easy questions are training expertise activities MUDr. Petr Došel. we are able to perform at the Institute of Aviati- What if we would whoop it up for eleven mon- by the aircraft takes the drogue and diverts it as follows: Will it be necessary for the pilots to We will ask Doctor Došel, along with additio- on medicine Prague. ths and then tighten our belts just to make it Do their health criteria differ? into a position beside the cockpit which is alrea- eat something? Will the pilots need to take in nal experts, for collaboration in training other through the IAM? As to their ability in terms of health, different dy good for possible contact,“ he adds. If you some amount of liquid and liquid will be most pilots on air-to-air refuelling,“ Major Tomaňa Do the personnel fl ying Gripen fi ghters demand That is not our concern. Health is the decisive criteria apply to those groups. As a matter of get connected successfully, the refuelling basket appropriate? What will the long breathing of the concludes. other diagnostic data as opposed to helicopter factor for us. No one can expect us to make any fact, every profession has different regulations edge is about 30 centimetres from the canopy. oxygen mixture that is completely dry do with and transport pilots? benevolent steps. Either you pass, or you do not. or ordinances defi ning the requirements. Those In the air, where ”close proximity” normally pilots? How should the pilots get ready for such Yes. Medical requirements for supersonic I have worked in the IAM for twenty-nine years place different emphasis on partial aspects as- counts in tens of metres, it is truly very close. Pi- long missions physically and mentally? Not by Pavel Lang fi ghter pilots are the tightest. Those are strictly already, and I am no exception either in a sense sociated with the performance of the job. The lots would probably give anything in the world only those but a whole range of other questions Photos by Jan Kouba defi ned in military regulations, not only for the that you have to tell people bad news. It does not highest criteria are for supersonic aircraft pilots, 42 43 Medicine

I do not concur with you on the point that the health of Czech citizens deteriorates continu- ously. Contrarily, life expectancy increases both with both males and females. We have no reason to be pessimistic in our branch. Why? The age of fl ying population decreases, and a young and therefore healthier fl ight personnel generation predominates.

The Czech military medical service has also been able to draw lessons for number of years from deployments for operations abroad. Do any of them apply in aviation medicine? The IAM Prague staff includes several members who served operational tours mostly as medics on foreign deployments, primarily in the territory of former Yugoslavia. We have close contacts with the Czech Armed Forces members forming the deployments for the Air Adviser Teams to mentor Afghani personnel on Mi-17 transport helicopters and Mi-24 gun- ships at the KAIA Kabul International Airport, who go to us for regular medical checks. We also fi nd very valuable the cooperation we have with foreign colleagues whom we have met every year in the world aviation and space medicine congresses since 1993. It is no secret that we visit our counterparts, medical organi- sations in the United States, specifi cally in San Antonio and Dayton. In addition, we organise numerous reciprocal visit with our partners in NATO. It is pleasing to know we still have so- mething to offer. The IAM has a public image of a specialised organisation with a high credit. We build on erudite personnel and state-of-the- art equipment.

There are a growing number of cases when aircrews are blinded on approach with a laser beam from the ground. Could you say as an ex- pert with long-standing experience in ophthal- mology what danger that entails? My answer expresses three various perspecti- ves on the subject. As a human, I regard it a true evil, even sheer barbarism. As an ex-military, this is sadly nothing new to me. I attended a spe- cialist NATO conference in Turkey in 2000, which had laser weapons on the agenda. Alrea- dy there we learned there had been localities in the world where aircrews could get blinded on approach. Those were not isolated incidents, but hundreds of cases annually. The examples given included Rio de Janeiro, Las Vegas, Sin- gapore or Beijing, especially because there were entertainment centres there. It did not take long and these deplorable acts also got into the Czech Republic. And what is my comment as an followed by subsonic, transport, helicopters and It is the case. We are the only organisation in Not in the foreseeable future. If any chan- Except for some systems, such as the cent- If I may commend myself a bit in this respect, ophthalmologist? Pilots attacked by laser beam other specialisms. the Czech Republic authorised to assess the avi- ges come, they would be quality related, in the rifuge, we have the necessary equipment the- I must admit that special examinations at the suffer an evident change in their central retina. ation community’s ability to perform their pro- context of technology progress in medicine, in- re. Special equipment perfectly fits the speci- IAM are found attractive, including in foreign As a matter of fact, vision sharpness reduces by No fi gures relating to the IAM activities have fession in the whole Czech Republic, both with cluding modern trends. Diagnostics accelerates ficity of what we do. We honour the existing countries. Our services are demanded not fi fty to sixty per cent. One of the effects is the been voiced so far. Would you reveal some? members of the Armed Forces and in the civili- based on new examination methods. That is the trends in aviation medicine. Those are unique only by NATO partners, but other countries as impaired spatial vision. There is no need to ela- Our clients comprise roughly twenty thousand an sector. By the way, this is a position making path we will follow in the years ahead. We seek facilities and our integrated system is unique well. We already have collaboration in place borate on the danger it may pose for an airliner members of fl ight personnel, of whom about fi ve a number of our colleagues in foreign countries to continue things that work well and improve in the Czech Republic. I would just point out with German, Austrian, Lithuanian, Estonian with more than two hundred passengers onbo- thousand are aviation professionals and fi fteen jealous. In countries such as Belgium, the Nether- them progressively, for example the cardiovas- hypobaric and hyperbaric chambers, flight and Latvian air forces. We are committed to ard during a landing manoeuvre. No sane person thousand are organised in the Light Aircraft As- lands, Norway or Denmark, similar institutions cular and oncologic program. In addition to that, trainer, disorientation trainer showing vari- become the leading institution in the Central can do that. sociation or the Aeroklub of the Czech Repub- are divided into military and civilian sections. we do glaucoma screening and diagnosis and able flight illusions that may come in speci- European region. lic. We perform close to one hundred thousand Here we have everything under a single umbrella, plus ocular hypertension. fic flight phases, including on landing, or the out-patient treatments on annual basis. if you will. It is very effective and costs less. special facility for activities with night vision The health of the Czech population worsens Do you plan to expand the range of special goggles. Any modernisation must also be ju- every year. Does it also show in this specifi c ca- The IAM mission is to serve as a medical facility Do you consider changing the scope of treat- facilities in the IAM Prague training expertise dged from the viewpoint of economy. It is co- tegory of fl ight personnel, where a sound heal- by Pavel Lang with coverage for the whole Czech Republic? ment provided? unit? rrect to say that it is a very expensive matter. th is truly the essential precondition? photos by Jan Kouba 44 45 Medical service methodologies, including the mass fatality re- an airliner carrying one hundred and twenty pas- Behind the scenes of the Post ception plan, which the Prague-based Central sengers would crash was a double nightmare for Military Hospital has as the only medical facili- me. First that lives would be lost in the accident, Mortem Team ty in the Czech Republic. and second because of the lack of coordination The following is a sort of a curriculum vitae on identifi cation of mass disaster victims. Fi- of the DVI team, whose mission is to return to Two military experts in the nally, there is an effective solution in place for persons killed in an accident or disaster their these highly sensitive issues. All involved ser- identity and rid their surviving family members DVI team vices and agencies have a clearly defi ned role of the stressing doubts over the loss of their CAFR discovered that nominees to the DVI to play on the site,“ Colonel Sokol emphasises closest. team also include Military Medical Service spe- and underscores importance of the whole matter. The DVI team comprises of three groups: cialists, specifi cally two members of staff of the “The fact that military experts have been assi- Ante Mortem (AM) – experts performing colle- Military Forensic Medicine Institute (MFMI) gned to man the Czech DVI team naturally rai- ction and assessment of all available information Prague: MUDr. Václav Horák and Colonel ses the Armed Forces profi le. It is another proof and reference samples on missing persons in the MUDr. Miloš Sokol, Ph.D. – consultant of the of our high professionalism and readiness,“ the place of their residence plus from their partners Institute. Military Forensic Medicine Institute consultant and families; Post Mortem (PM) group and the ”Yes, you are correct. There are obvious re- relishes. Identity Establishment group. In total, a typical asons for that. Our tasks include post mortem Following the signature of the directive of DVI team may comprise ten to fi fteen experts examination of persons who died in air acci- the Police President, Doctor Miloš Sokol and plus additional specialists invited as needed. dents, including both personnel of the Czech Doctor Václav Horák are to become external Those are usually not only police specialists, but Air Force and commercial carriers plus pas- experts of the Czech DVI team on standby for also other experts such as forensic doctors, den- sengers,“ COL Sokol explains and goes on to deployment into a specifi c disaster location. tists, genetics, anthropologists or psychologists. say that he had supported activities to form This will not involve the Czech bowl only, but ”The mission of our PM group is to perform a Disaster Victim Identifi cation team from the any crisis area worldwide. In the structure of examination of the bodies in the accident site very beginning and was subsequently heavily the Disaster Victim Identifi cation team they and then autopsy with specifi c focus on identi- involved. are specifi cally assigned to the post mortem fi cation. That is also why we were divided into “This is what brings our cooperation of many (PM) group to work on the accident site. “We two subgroups with different procedures and years to a head. It is critical for a variety of re- are ready for emergencies of this kind. The supporting equipment. Although they operate asons to perform victim identifi cation as fast as activation order may come anytime. We have relatively autonomously, they are interdepen- possible and to highest quality standards. First the necessary expertise to work both in fi eld in dent. Both in the fi eld and in the autopsy room, for ethical reasons, when the body of the demi- our stationary facility. The relevant know-how it is critical to obtain as much information as SSolvingolving thethe PPuzzleuzzle sed following the PM examination is handed we have is quite considerable and we defi nitely possible intrinsic to the person identifi ed, so-cal- over without undue delay to the survivors for have something to offer to our colleagues on led markers,“ Colonel Sokol lets a peak behind burial and also with a view to follow-on legal the DVI team,“ the MFMI consultant says. the scenes and specifi es that those are however of Death Colonel MUDr. Miloš Sokol, Ph.D.

Through involvement of military doctors in a special team with the mission to identify multiple fatalities in a mass accident or emergency, the Czech Republic is at the threshold of an important achievement and the Czech military medical experts will not be left aside. A specialist team will be formed to identify victims in mass disasters, internationally referred to as Disaster Victim Identifi cation (DVI). The Czech MoD would be represented in the DVI by the staff of the Military Forensic Medicine Institute of the Central Military Hospital Prague.

From time to time, there is news on global as individual states form them based on their media of an emergency claiming a high victim own vocational needs, technical limitations and toll. An airliner crashed in the Russian Federati- in the context of costs. Over many years of their on, a ferry sank at Estonia, terrorists set a bomb existence, the DVI teams gained many unique in the United Kingdom, Spain and Afghanistan, experiences identifying victims of mass acci- tsunami raged in Thailand and so did hurricanes dents. Many of those lessons were recently sha- in the United States. The Czech Republic is no red in the congress centre of the Prague Central concept and organisational solution to the esta- acts, such as succession procedures, liquidation It should be noted that the Military Forensic supporting ones. The primary identifi cation me- exception either. We may recall the road acci- Military Hospital in an international conference blishment and activity of the DVI team in the of insurance contracts and the like,“ the MFMI Medicine Institute is not just two tables with ne- thods include DNA analysis, fi nger printing and dent of a coach at Nažidla in Southern Bohemia named Theory and practice of DVI teams. The Czech Republic. That will bring to a successful consultant explains. He later openly admits that cessary tools and equipment including X-rays, forensic dentistry. ”These methods used have with twenty fatalities, railway crash at Studénka specialist audience was highly interested to hear conclusion the many years’ effort by the staff of the establishment of the DVI teams would fi nal- and cooling, or indeed refrigerating boxes sto- in reality equal relevance and any one of them with eight dead or fi re in Prague which claimed presentations by Swiss experts, Mr. Winiger and the Criminalistics Institute Prague, the Prague ly make him sleep much better. “The previous ring bodies of the demised. The institute is may decide the person’s identity on its own,“ the nine victims. Tragic disasters with a high toll Mr. Wochermayr, on the use of the special teams Central Military Hospital and the Institute of practice was not optimal. The DVI team has known for a broad spectrum of specifi c opera- consultant of the Military Forensic Medicine In- necessitated the establishment a team of experts following the disasters in Thailand and Japan. Forensic Medicine and Toxicology of the Gene- been established ad hoc in the Czech Republic tions it performs, from toxicological examinati- stitute adds. to provide victim identifi cation. Most advanced How is the Czech Republic doing in this re- ral Faculty Hospital Prague and the 1st Faculty so far, based on current needs. When I joined the ons to forensic expert opinions. Over the whole European and overseas states have the so-called spect? The signature by President of the Czech of Medicine the Charles University in Prague. forensic medicine lab at the Institute of Aviation fi fty-seven years of its existence, a “handful“ of by Pavel Lang DVI teams available. But they are not identical, Police will crown the development of the Their activities presently produce essential Medicine Prague twenty years ago, an idea that employees there have done a highly valued job. Photos by Jan Kouba 46 47 Training

Mr. Jiří Šedivý, declared it clearly in a ceremony progress so far,“ General Žižka adds and says he launching the AAT PTC at the Ostrava airport: is convinced that the AAT PTC vision will not “There are multiple nations training the Afghans be hampered even after realisation of some re- today and every one of them has a slightly diff- organisation in the Czech Armed Forces. ”The erent syllabus, which affects operating and mis- realignment will mostly affect command and sion performance. Training procedures applied control structures. We have no plans to reduce by individual AAT teams must be harmonised transport helicopter capabilities.“ as soon as possible. Bringing standards for Rus- Brigadier-General Bohuslav Dvořák, Director sian-made Mi-17/171 helicopters in harmony of MoD Force Development – Operations Divi- will undoubtedly increase effectiveness of tra- sion, implies that deployments for Czech Armed ining the Afghan Air Force fl ight and ground Forces Air Adviser Team in Kabul are planned personnel.“ at least till 2014. ”Our joint goal is to prepare The joint Czech and Croat instructor prede- the Afghan Air Force for taking over their ope- ployment training was also praised during the rational assignments. Once we succeed in doing VIP day (May 10, 2012) at the Zadar airbase. so, our mission will be accomplished. We will “What we are doing together is in the spirit of achieve much higher training standards for our NATO’s Smart Defence. We are delivering so- Afghan colleagues through a joint effort, and the mething that NATO currently demands. The faster good conditions will develop for transiti- positive reactions we receive from our NATO on of security into the hands of Afghans them- partners assure us that is the right and effective selves,“ General Dvořák argues and points out way forward. Additional countries have already the AAT unit includes two multinational expert indicated their interest in the training course. groups: Czech-Croat on Mi-17/171 transport Harmonising the training of Czech and Croati- machines and Czech-Hungarian for Mi-24/35 an helicrews is the best proof of cooperation in gunships. “We are committed to see Mi-24/35 NATO. This is a reality that is very pleasing for squadron members joining the predeployment us,“ the Croatian Defence Minister Ante Kotro- course as well. We have a vision and some dis- manović said exclusively for CAFR on his visit cussions have already taken place. But the situa- to the servicemembers in training at Zadar air- tion is not easy, especially from the viewpoint of base in company of the Chief of General Staff funding we have currently available,“ Brigadier- of the Croatian Armed Forces, Colonel-General General Dvořák underscores. Czech and Croat Mi-17/171 helicopter aircrews underwent Drago Lovrić. It is not a secret that the AAT PTC course is The Czech side also shows satisfaction. “In sort of an initial step on the way to achieving a joint prepping at the Zadar airbase in a premiere run of the Air my perspective, this joint preparation is highly much higher ambitions the Czech MoD has. “We Advisor Team Predeployment Training Course positive and I have no doubt it provides a very regard this Czech-Croat project as a cornerstone solid basis for the upcoming AAT deployment. for a much more ambitious goal, which is the Czech and Croat Mi-17/171 pilots have worked Multinational Aviation Training Centre (MATC) closely together at the Kabul International Air- for training Mi helicopter family fl ight and port for several years and this initiative is the ground personnel,“ Major-General Žižka adds In tune for missions best step to achieve further progress. I have seen that the project will at the same time tie together the pilots in action today and I have no worries multiple strands of work pursued in compliance whatsoever. They will be a well-coordinated with the development concept of the Czech Air team,“ states Major-General Miroslav Žižka, Force helicopter component as well as internati- the First Deputy Chief of General Staff Czech onal fl ight and ground personnel training initia- Armed Forces, and speaks highly of the fact tives, including the standardisation Air Advisor in Afghanistan that the predeployment course ahead of their Team Predeployment Training Course. mission in Afghanistan is found interesting by The Czech contribution to Afghans howe- Concept-wise, the course has the full backing both NATO and Partners. “Negotiations with ver goes beyond this unique helicopter project. of the U.S., which assigned their experts and Hungary and Lithuania have seen the greatest ”Pending on the endorsement by the Parliament, So far, the city of Zadar, Croatia, has been only known as a famous tourist fl ight instructors for the joint training by Czech- Croat Mi-17/171 aircrews. The cost, specifi cally center. Hundreds of Czech citizens enjoy the miracle of the Adriatic Sea EUR 1.56 million, has been shared among Nor- and the Velebit mountain range here every season. In May earlier this way, Denmark and the Netherlands (each count- ry allocated 0.5 MEUR), as well as Sweden and year, the seaside gem of Dalmatia also hosted Czech Air Force service Finland. The Ministries of Defence of the Czech personnel at the Zadar – Zemunik Donji airbase, who performed joint Republic and the Croat Republic agreed a tech- nical arrangement to provide mutual support and fl ight training with Croats ahead of their deployment as an Air Advisor servicing by the host nation free of charge. This provision signifi cantly reduces costs associated Team (AAT) tasked to trained fl ight and ground personnel of the Afghan with the stay of one country’s service personnel Air Force at the Kabul International Airport. in the other country. The obligation on the part of the Czech Republic is to cover the cost of a week-long stay of Croat unit in the Czech Re- public throughout the duration of the six courses ”If we are to fi ght together, we must train to- Republic, a series of training courses named the the Zadar – Zemunik Donji airbase in Croatia. over two years. The Czech Armed Forces has gether“ – that is the motto of the Czech-Croat Air Advisor Team Predeployment Training A unique training program, tentatively planned allocated close to four hundred thousand Czech initiative designed to prepare Mi-17/171 he- Course (AAT PTC) was prepared to the effect of for two years, divides into six training courses. korunas for this purpose. licopter aircrews and ground specialists from harmonising procedures for operating Mi family The fi rst one was completed in mid-May earlier both nations in the run-up to their deployment of helicopters and for an increased effectiveness this year by what primarily were the members A pleasing reality as another AAT rotation responsible for training of training delivered by the instructors. The pilot of the AAT deployment slated to take over the An appreciated attribute of this newly conce- Afghan Air Force (AAF) personnel at the Kabul project started in April with an initial academic operational assignment in Kabul in July/August ived project is the permanent support by senior International Airport. Based on bilateral agree- part at the Ostrava Mošnov airport and continued timeframe. The second edition is scheduled for defence offi cials of both countries. The First De- ment between the Czech Republic and Croat with a two-week practical training performed at commencement in the autumn. puty Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic, 48 49 Training

we will send again a Czech helicopter unit to Af- His experience is welcome. Although there include additional currency lessons. Individual ghanistan next year,“ Brigadier-General Dvořák were some individuals on the AAT PTC course, AAT PTC editions will therefore be adjusted to elaborates. who had already served a tour in Afghanistan, the specifi c situation in the area of operations. LTC Straka has a lot to say to them. The reason Our joint training must enable the personnel to Tactical missions on simulator is that nothing can be underestimated. ”Flying assume responsibilities under the operational Sixty-three hours. That is the academic porti- in high threat environment requires permanent assignment as fast as they possibly can. In Ka- on of the premiere predeployment training cour- one hundred per cent concentration and perfect bul, the process already has a lot of dynamism. se involving Czech and Croat heli crews, which preparation. Once downrange, there is no diffe- You are confronted with everyday reality down started with a drill at the Helicopter Training Po- rence between training or operational missions. there,“ says Major Miloslav Synek of the MoD int (HTP) Ostrava CZ training centre at the Os- Each aircrew develops so-called risk assessment Force Development – Operations Division. trava Mošnov airport. First there was a string of prior to every task, considering all factors of the Critics may argue that the importance of tra- lectures that truly dissected specifi cs of the area mission in question, ranging from the weather ining camps may have little to no effect in case they would operate in, and peculiarities of the- to intelligence. It is a scoring system. Summing the trainees are seasoned military instructor pi- ir operational assignment. “The aircrews tested the points up, you fi gure out the degree of risk lots. “I believe these courses have a high value. their theoretical knowledge on a fl ight simulator associated with your fl ight, and take measures It is the best prepping system. I have familiari- that features state-of-the-art Mi family simu- accordingly to minimise the slightest danger. sed myself with the syllabus and I would say it lation technology. It can provide high-fi delity Every factor affects the way the fl ight will be is developed to very high professional standards. factsheet rendering of any fl ight conditions and machine performed,“ Lieutenant-Colonel Straka explains I can tell based on my experience there are dif- operations, including emergency situations or and concludes that one hundred per cent security ferences in the way mentoring is delivered to The NATO Summit in Chicago in May brown-out landings,“ says Lieutenant-Colonel may not be guaranteed on combat operations. Afghan Air Force personnel. I have served in earlier this year saw the Alliance endor- Rudolf Straka, instructor pilot of the 22nd Air It may be of interest that the contents of the the 5th Czech Armed Forces AAT at KAIA and se the establishment of the Multinatio- Force Base Náměšť, who has a high degree training course runs will not be identical. “We I would defi nitely appreciate such kind of pre- nal Aviation Training Centre (MATC) for of familiarity with the airspace around Kabul will make an in-depth evaluation of the pilot deployment preparation. Another benefi t is that Mi family fl ight and ground personnel. from the tours he has previously served with the course edition. The second cycle, which we plan you get to know each other and have an unders- The development of the Czech contri- Czech Air Adviser Team. to start in September later this year, will already tanding of whom you will be working with on bution to the Smart Defence initiative The preparation proceeded from what were will build on the Aviation Training Cen- apparently simple to the most comprehensive tre (CLV) in Pardubice. tasks. ”Tactical missions were no exceptions either. The aircrews got an operational task and elaborated on it thoroughly. Then they perfor- med required fl ights on the simulator. Every- thing refl ected the reality on the ground in Af- machine then takes off following the runway enhance our readiness to perform the missions,“ ghanistan, including identical names of forward centreline and once travelling at about one hun- CAPT Rajtmajer says. operating bases in the mountains. The demands dred and twenty kilometres per hour it starts to Nearly three hours’ mission is over and Mi- of training sessions progressively increased. The climb and turn left. 171Sh machines land in turns on airfi eld surface. scenarios included unexpected fi re by opposing The situation repeats a couple of minutes ”We picked troops at a forward operating base forces from the ground or emergency situations the Air Adviser Team for four months,“ argues later. The only difference is that the chopper is and lifted them to their destination. On landing during fl ight,“ LTC Straka elaborates. helicopter pilot Major Peter Smik, who recently now operated by another Czech-Croat aircrew: and take-off, we were covered by helicopter returned from Afghanistan. Major Josef Kořínek and Captain Dalibor Ivel- gunships,“ MAJ Kořínek explains getting off the ja. Over the next two hours, they will also fi rst cockpit and they leave together with his Croat High-fi delity rendering of practise take-offs and landings at various angles colleague for the debriefi ng. and with maximum take-off weight and then CAFR gets a couple of minutes from a door Afghanistan train emergency situations in mission areas. It gunner. “I will go on a deployment in Afghani- From Ostrava to Zadar, or from the fl ight si- is not a particularly diffi cult task, but aircrews stan for my fourth time already and always as mulator into the cockpit of Mi-171Sh helicop- achieve certain degree of automatism rehear- a door gunner. This will be my eighth foreign ter. A week’s practise on the fl ight simulator in sing it. In addition, pilots behave as if they in- operational tour,“ shocks the congenial military the Czech Republic is followed by a two-week structed Afghans. Every little detail performed professional on the introduction and underscores academic and fl ight training in Croatia. Why the successfully moves them another step closer to that he nevertheless may not afford the slightest Zadar airbase? “Because of certain similitude the goal of the AAT effort – to prepare Afghan laxness. “You have to be fully concentrated eve- with the environment and meteo conditions in helicopter crews for operational fl ights. It goes ry single moment and in any situation. I am ano- the area where the Air Advisor Team will dep- without saying that all activities performed by ther pair of eyes for the pilot. I am not onboard loy. The surroundings of the Zadar airbase offer trainees are closely watched by US instructors, just to pull the trigger on the machinegun, but, an array of training mission areas. Proximity of who are current or former military pilots with as a member of the aircrew, I also perform other mountain ridges provides opportunities for in- rich operational experience from various parts activities. Firing that is just the icing on the tensive training of landings on small-sized zo- of the world. cake. It just takes a couple of seconds, plus you nes, plus there is also an air-to-ground shooting The fl ight effort gets ever more demanding shoot on the move, and it is defi nitely not about range available nearby,“ Lieutenant-Colonel day by day and comes to a head with tactical having the target on the reticle for minutes. My Michael Križanec, commander of the Croat heli- training missions. In nutshell, they end up per- success in the air is conditioned on my ability copter squadron, offers some of the reasons and forming tasks nearly identical to those they will to foresee, but namely on experience that only specifi es that the each pilot is planned to com- be confronted with in Kabul in several months’ develops in practice. You have to have a perfect plete seven fl ight hours. time. “We commenced Mi-17 mentoring activi- command of the weapon and have an extensive His words drown in the noise produced by ties with Lieutenant-Colonel Petr Kratochvíl in shooting record. This course exactly answers spinning rotor blades on two starting one-seven- Kabul in November 2010. We were there four what is required for foreign deployments.“ oners on the apron of Zadar airbase. Over the and a half month and each of us logged some Czech and Croat ground specialists led by next ten minutes, aircrews perform engine test one hundred and thirty hours. That is why I ini- Captain Ondrej Pecha are approaching the ma- and check all systems onboard the helicopters. tially asked myself, what benefi t the AAT PTC chines. According to their specialisms, they start When cleared by the tower, they start taxiing to may bring to me. But one always has to impro- another prefl ight preparation. The afternoon the takeoff point. It is nine o’clock sharp as Mi- ve. Pilots are no exception. In Afghanistan, it is missions will take off at three p.m. 171 with number 226 and Captain Robert Raj- an all-out fl ying: in a mountain environment, tmajer and Major Krešimir Matan in the cockpit with high temperatures and in dust, with the ma- lifts off and performs a hover, still in ground chine at maximum weight, in areas with a high by Pavel Lang effect, about fi ve meters above the runway. The level of threat. No doubt this joint training will photos by Jan Kouba 50 51 Operations

Ten years have passed from when the Armed Forces of the Czech The task took the whole night and was accom- Across the dessert plished at fi ve in the morning on the next day. In the second half of April, training took pla- Republic joined Operation Enduring Freedom The last six soldiers, who travelled with the ce to practise shooting mounted weapons and vehicles and materiel on sea, joined the con- sniper rifl es. The range was located one hundred tingent. The concerns that the ship could be kilometres from Camp Doha, of which fi fty ki- attacked by pirates, which frequently happened lometres led through the dessert. Temperature then at the Horn of Africa, fortunately did not in the shade reached forty degrees Celsius, and In the Kingdoms materialise. At the moment, the contingent was way over fi fty in the desert. Majority of the complete with the strength of 251 personnel, in- motor pool, including BRDM armoured vehic- cluding eight female soldiers. les, made it to the range without problems. The exception was the Tatra AV-15 recovery truck, In spate which had a failure on its injection pump, and of the Mythic The Czech military camp was built in the fol- had to be towed back. Both the Tatra crew and lowing days. Containers were placed in the han- the mobile shop personnel did a heroic deed gar around the walls. The service personnel built trying hard to repair the failure for fi ve hours in accommodation cabs from the timber and other the scorching desert. materiel they brought in the middle of the hangar. What an exotic experience it was for Central Essential offi ces and materiel storage were built Europeans is corroborated by the following en- Scheherazadea amidst the containers. A medical post was created try made the chronicler: “We were all surprised in one of the corners using the POP-2 fi eld aid that life is found quite deep in the dessert. On truck. The medical facility also had an in-patient the movement, we saw plenty of tent shelters In the immediate response to the 11/9 attacks, ward with ten beds. Once construction works and particularly huge herds of sheep, goats and were fi nished, it was just necessary to install camels. The convoys passed by the animals se- the U.S. mounted the Operation Enduring Freedom. communication lines, power lines and make other veral times without ever making them look dis- It has been a series of military actions performed on necessary adjustments. In the motor pool area, turbed. After the training, soldiers spent the night containers with materiel were placed, vehicles in an expedient camp they built with full combat vast territory to fi ght terrorism. parked and maintenance shops established. defences. Scorpios, snakes and lizards posed the At that time training was getting in full swing biggest threat. A sandstorm broke out before the The fi rst Czech force First debarkation in the in the contingent as well as preventive training morning came, and covered everything with soft then to join the Operati- courses for Allied forces instructing them how sand. The transfer back was smooth.“ The aerial bombardment of the Ta- on Enduring Freedom in history of the Czech Armed to proceed in case of the threat of weapons of The CBRN unit was reorganised several ti- leban by U.S. Air Force on 7 October the territory of Kuwait was mass destruction. Later on, they expanded their mes. In the beginning of March 2003, the 1st 2001 is considered the start of OEF. a CBRN defence unit at the Forces activities with monitoring chemical and radi- Czechoslovak Chemical, Biologic and Radio- Two weeks later, U.S. soldiers per- beginning of March 2002. The The transfer of the main force into Kuwait ation situation in the territory of Kuwait. In an logical Defence Battalion was formed with then formed the fi rst ground operation in the CBRN unit was assigned to become took place on 19 March 2002. After arriving abandoned female prison close to Camp Doha, Brigadier-General Dušan Lupuljev as the com- Afghan territory. From the very beginning, the a part of the Combined Joint Task Force – Con- from Kuwait airport to Camp Doha on coaches, a demonstration was held for CJTF comman- mander. Brigadier Lupuljev was also perfor- Czech Republic declared its intention to meet sequence Management (CJTF-CM) and perform the service personnel were accommodated in ding offi cers and members of the U.S. and Ger- ming his duties on Thursday March 20, 2003, at the commitments to NATO and contribute to missions in relation to management of conse- relative austerity of a big non-air conditioned man CBRN forces showing the Czech contin- fi ve hours thirty-four minutes in the morning. At the endeavour in the compass of its possibilities. quences following the use of WMD. hangar that was previously used a food depot gent’s activities, tactics and capabilities plus the that moment, the US CENTCOM, the superior There were initial plans to deploy a force com- On March 7, 2002, an advance team of twen- and slept on foldable beds. They had a chance employment of the Hot Zone Extraction Team. command of the Czech CBRN unit, ordered the prising the Czech 601st Special Forces Group. ty personnel were the fi rst ones to depart to to familiarise themselves with the Camp Doha “Last night we had the fi rst thunderstorm. Operation Iraqi Freedom to begin. Allied forces The special forces personnel were immediate- Kuwait, from Prague via Ramstein, Germany, premises and see the regimen there. Lightings in the sky and then a solid downpour crossed the border between Kuwait and Iraq ly activated and started predeployment preparati- and Aviano, Italy. Their mission was to establish On the next day, wake-up signal awaited sol- brought everybody inside the hangar to the gate shortly after that. The fi rst Czech reconnaissan- ons. The force command coordinated modalities contacts with the U.S. command at Camp Doha diers at half past four in the morn. Right after to watch the spectacle. It came as a surprise that ce team got into the Iraqi territory on 17 April with the UK, under whose command the Czechs and CJTF-CM and make all the necessary pre- the breakfast, coaches took the soldiers into the raindrops were hot. Water poured down in 2003. The battalion helped distribute water and were to operate in Afghanistan. But at the end parations for the arrival of the main force. They the Shu’aibah cargo port. The ship carrying the streams through the ceiling of the hangar, and other vital humanitarian aid in Basrah and its of 2001, with a view to the limited strength of had to open a bank account for instance to be vehicles and materiel was however delayed, so the staff in the local military shop hurried to environs and supported building the Czech 7th NATO’s contingent planned to operate in Kabul, able to run logistic support properly. They also they could do nothing but wait. Soldiers killed carry away and cover goods, water in roads had Field Hospital. Its operational assignment was the deployment was cancelled. needed to rent vehicles for transportation in the time by eating a cold lunch. The contingent nowhere to drain. Obviously, the locals were not however drawing to an end at that time. It retur- Kuwait, get ID and access cards issued for all chronicler wrote down then: “Even though we ready for stuff like that,“ the contingent chronic- ned back to the Czech Republic with most of its contingent members, provide accommodation knew how their MREs looked like, nobody has ler wrote down on 11 April 2002. “Only several equipment at the beginning of June 2003. and get everything ready for debarking practically tasted it before. What was interesting days on we learned from the local press that the Operation Enduring Freedom nevertheless their vehicles. The unit repre- was the variety of choice, and it was quite tasty storm had caused enormous fl ooding, resembling continued in the following years and thousands sentatives also frequent- as well, but we agreed in the end nothing compa- our hundred years’ water. For the fi rst time in of the Czech Armed Forces servicemembers joi- ly coordinated red to canned pork with bread.“ At noon, Sochi the history of this country, a lake covering eight ned the endeavour. with with the ship with Russian crew sailing under Maltese square kilometres formed with up to two metres offi cials of the fl ag put in the port. Fifty minutes later, a Czech of water. The water damaged houses and swept Czech Embassy Tatra truck rolled out of one of nine cars off the road by Vladimír Marek in Kuwait. the three decks. The fi rst de- in the al-Jahra district. barking in the history of the The press wrote that Czech Armed Forces started. the elders recalled Debarkation was complica- a stream had been ted by high waves that often running in that pla- suspended the debarking ce sometimes du- operations. Moreover, 132 ring the rains.“ vehicles and 82 containers with materiel need to be transferred to Camp Doha and stored there.

52 53 Training

that services and materiel provided at the Vidsel airbase are paid with money. The costs count in millions Czech korunas. The amount of funding required corresponds with the demands of fl ight effort. The Swedes are also able to prepare a higher level of training in live fi ring, for instance using manoeuvring drones, but that would sub- stantially increase the cost. So, the parameters of a week-long exercise at Vidsel are given. Not only it should the most effective step but it also supports meeting the essential qualifi cation re- requirements, but the key ones were: towed fl a- quirements for the fl ight personnel assigned to res and sleeves! In lay terms: in order for the perform air policing missions. Czech Armed Forces contingent on the exer- “The selection of pilots to attend the live fi re cise, it is essential to provide three Beechcraft exercise in Sweden was primarily based on their MQM-107B towed drones, whose underwing assignment to the quick reaction alert systems,“ containers deploy four towed targets: Servicing says the Commander 21st Air Force Base Čáslav Mission SM-3B or fl ares. Sidewinder infrared Colonel Petr Lanči and adds: “It is the NATO seeking missiles home onto the activated fl are Integrated Air Defence System for Gripen pi- jets. The drone takes off from a ground station lots, and the pilots of one-fi fty-niners serve in and its fl ight route is preprogrammed. After the the NaPoSy national reinforcement system. In mission, which may last as long as three hours, the second half of 2012, we will provide air po- a recovery parachute is activated for the drone licing to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia as a part to safely land. The distance separating MQM- of the Baltic Air Policing mission. The personnel 107B and SM-3B during live fi ring is roughly serving at our base must be adequately prepared fi fty metres. to perform such missions. Live fi re exercises Flares are not copies of enemy aircraft. The- involving the use of with air-to-air missiles and ir size is much smaller, they roughly to a jumbo cannons are a precondition for their operational jug kettle. Hitting such a target is close to mi- tours.“ racle for outsiders. As a matter of fact, Čáslav AFB pilots have accomplished that miracle here Arming the Sidewinders back in 2006. Out of eight Sidewinder missiles To prepare such a tactical live fi re air exercise fi red, all eight hit the target, and what is more, is not easy at all. ”The Vidsel range has a qui- it was a bull-eye hit in six cases. The second te busy schedule. Individual slots for live fi ring aspect relates to the Mauser BK-27 cannon that are taken well in advance. We had to defi nite- FFiringiring aatt thethe ArcticArctic C Circleircle arms the JAS-39C Gripen multirole fi ghter and ly decide for April 2012 at the end of summer the double-barrel ZPL-20 Plamen cannon on the last year,“ MAJ Michenka explains. The speci- L-159 ALCA subsonic combat aircraft. Besides fi c phase is the transfer of trainees and materi- them, one of the key roles is played by a Swe- el to the destination located at the very end of dish Learjet 60 airplane towing a strikingly red, the Kingdom of Sweden. ”You may not omit Loading Czech Air Force aircraft with AIM-9M short-range roughly fi ve-meter sleeve serving as a target a single detail in the exercise. Everything must for the attacking aircraft, on a line close to one be based on a precision coordination with your air-to-air missiles is over. The ground personnel of the 211th thousand metres long. It goes without saying counterparts, what they are able to provide and and 212th Tactical Squadron has rendered mission-ready three JAS-39C/D Gripen supersonic multirole fi ghters and L-159 ALCA subsonic combat aircraft. Tactical air exercise Lion Effort 2012 in the territory of the Kingdom of Sweden has entered its fi nal phase. In several days spent over ranges close to the Arctic Circle, twenty pilots from Čáslav AFB are to prove their high professionalism, and readiness to perform air defence missions in particular.

Located over two thousand kilometres north support facilities for the JAS-39 Gripen aircraft,“ of the Czech Republic, the Vidsel Test Range is says Major Petr Michenka of the Joint Force He- not a completely unknown destination for the adquarters in Olomouc and points out the facili- personnel of the 21st Air Force Base. Six years ties available at Vidsel and the Lulea AFB near- ago, they had a premiere fi ring missions at Vid- by, where Swedish operate their Gripens from. sel in live air-to-air fi re exercise with AIM-9M Neither operation of L-159 machines should be Sidewinder missiles, and Mauser BK-27 and a source of concern. The ALCAs frequently ope- ZPL-20 Plamen cannons. rate from airfi elds abroad and qualifi ed technical “From the opportunities available around Eu- personnel of the 212th Tactical Squadron have rope, we again chose the Vidsel test range. Be- rich experience from tactical exercises. sides meeting all our requirements for air-to-air If they got into trouble, they should be able fi re, it also has requisite logistic and technical to manage on their own. The Czechs had several 54 55 Training

what we must have on our own. Nevertheless, Speaking about AIM-9M missiles, let us the missile, cover strip from the proximity op- accelerates rapidly and once airborne it climbs him: Good job! My fi rst air-to-air Sidewinder of twenty rounds, using both podded Plamen you have to be prepared for contingences, or shortly entertain the subject of ”activating“ the tical fuze and a safety pin from the rocket engi- in a right turn to the assigned fl ight level. The shot was successful. I can it live it out fully cannons simultaneously. The he makes the rol- changes that must be dealt with operatively,“ missile. ”What we fi rst do after taking the mis- ne,“ CAPT Schönbek elaborates and goes on to calm at Vidsel does not last long. only when the fl ight is over. It is a very impor- laway, returns to the starting position and runs says Major David Kudrna, Deputy Commander siles and munitions over from the carrier is a vi- say once the missile rocket engine safety selec- Major Tomaňa goes into action a couple of tant experience,“ says the military pilot who a new attack. This repeats in turns for about 21st Wing – AFB Chief Engineer, and goes on sual check. The Sidewinders must fi rst be com- tor is switched from safe (green) to arm (red), is minutes later. has logged nearly one thousand hours fl ying thirty minutes. Then the unloading safety burst to specify that ground transportation from their pleted, i.e. fi tted with fi ns and canards and then weapon is ready to fi re. With RM12 powerplant producing maximum the Gripen and served in the NATINADS for and departure from the range. “In live fi re, the station was provided by the 14th Logistic Sup- functionality of the control and guidance section The Czech Armed Forces Air Force has had thrust of 80.5 kN, the Gripen gets airborne in seven years already. opponent is attacked from any possible positi- port Brigade headquartered in Pardubice and must be checked. Sidewinders in inventory for ten years. “We couple hundred metres with afterburner on. The Once they make their egress, additional air- on. Here the safety parameters must be strictly the fl ight route Kbely–Čáslav–Lulea (Vidsel) Once everything is the way it should be, they make sure the AIM-9Ms are serviceable by machines take formation and head north-west to craft enter their fi nal attack cones. First to come observed, which means not to pose a threat to and back by the 24th Air Force Base Transpor- are placed into special transport cages and trans- checking and testing the missile’s condition the range nearby. in is the JAS-39D double-seater with Major the two aircraft at any time. I must not get be- tation. Twelve units of AIM-9M, seven hundred ferred into an ammunition depot,“ Captain Ma- throughout its life. Each level of maintenance The control post takes over the L-159 and Martin Pelda and First-Lieutenant Milan Nyko- hind plus it must always be below me. We at- and twenty cartridges for the Gripen’s TP-28 rek Schönbek, the Čáslav AFB Senior Chief We- has an amount of works prescribed to it. We assigns heading and fl ight level for the pilot dym in the cockpit, followed by a one-fi fty-ni- tack the target looking down,“ 1LT Bruštík lets and 3,200 TP-T cartridges for L-159 were trans- apons Engineer, describes. As a part of prefl ight also use special systems for testing. When those to lead him towards the aerial target. No other ner. Both aircraft have one AIM-9M Sidewinder a peak into the tactical scenario, accentuating ported in containers on the ground. In the fi nale, preparation, the missile is loaded on underwing operations are performed correctly, the system manoeuvres are allowed. First there is a radar on their pylons. that effectiveness is not hampered neverthe- JAS-39D (tail number 9819), two JAS-39C ma- pylon: left on the Gripen and right on the one- functions can be guaranteed. We naturally have contact with the drone, and the visual contact less. First-Lieutenant Čejka concurs with that. chines (9235 & 9234) and three L-159s (6053, fi fty-niner. Why? Not for image, but for safety, procedures to follow in case of malfunction,“ comes at about two naval miles to go (at about Attacks on the sleeve ”We may practise fi ring both on simulators and 6049 and 6065) made a transfer fl ight to Vidsel. in order for the pilot not to get off the cockpit the missile preparation fl ight commander Cap- 3.6 km). Captain Králík continues to follow the Ninety cartridges for Gripen and two times on another airplane in the airspace. The pro- ALCAs made a refuelling stop in Sweden. over the missile that would for any reason not tain Jan Kramer explains. fl ight trajectory of his SM-3B fl are. The distan- two hundred for L-159 – that is the quantity of cedures are identical; the graphic symbols are The kind reader may ask why only twelve go off. ce between him and his burning enemy shortens ready-to-fi re munitions for the afternoon missi- the same. But live air-to-air fi re is different ne- Sidewinders are fi red, when the Czech Armed There is a strictly defi ned procedure for eve- Missiles into fl ares fast. His headset tells him shortly: Clear to fi re! ons that will see forint the Mauser BK-27 and vertheless. There are different parameters than Forces have many more of them in depots. For rything, which must be observed one hundred The morning mission begins with a take-off One point eight, one point seven, one point six, ZPL-20 Plamen cannons. Target? Strikingly red in standard use, but the better you have to per- sure, money is the only reason. The Czech Air percent, including arming the missile before the of today’s opponent of the Čáslav AFB pilots: … – the controller counts down the distance, fi ve-meter sleeve towed by a markedly yellow form. In a couple of seconds you have to make Force paid for three drones and three by four machine leaves the apron. ”In the end, an air- a drone with four fl ares under wings. Shortly and clearly accentuates the 1.6 fi gure. Since that Learjet airplane. “The sleeve has an integrated use of everything you have learnt so far in rea- has been twelve from everlasting. craft technician removes the front cover from after that, the controller clears a pair of aircraft moment till the distance of mile, it is a straight acoustic recording device that evaluates shooting lity. Mentality is also important. Some may feel to start engines and take position on the runway fi ght: the pilot versus the fl are. accuracy using a computer, and gives evaluation constrained. What is difference? I would say it threshold. Captain Marian Králík sits in the coc- Ideally positioned to fi re the Sidewinder, the for each burst separately,“ Major Michenka ela- generally compares to shooting a laser and real kpit of L-159, and the Gripen carries Major Ja- pilot pushes the red button on the stick. He holds borates and adds that once the mission is over, weapon,“ the pilot explains. roslav Tomaňa. For both of them, it is premiere it a couple of seconds to be one hundred percent the two airplane crew hands over to each pilot Our conversation vanishes in the roar of air-to-air fi re with AIM-9M. The one-fi fty-niner sure. Then he quickly rolls right sixty degrees. his score of fi ring accuracy. a Gripen taking off. Captain Jiří Čermák is just

“I saw the Sidewinder go off the right wing. It ALCA pilots First-Lieutenant Tomáš Bruštík heading above the sea to prove his professional did not do anything special with the aircraft. and First-Lieutenant Stanislav Čejka are the fi rst ability fi ring live with a 27-mm Mauser cannon. I did not notice whether the missile hit the fl are, to take off. The aircraft climb to two kilometres He comments his mission an hour later: “Wea- because I rolled away. Only then I took a quick get into formation and head east, specifi cally to ther has been ideal, the machines held and the peak and saw a cloud of black smoke. a range located close to two hundred kilometres results of fi ring were excellent, because every- The hit was confi rmed to me by MAJ To- from Vidsel. In reality, that involves a restricted thing went down to the target. Today’s air-to-air maňa, who was a mile behind me,“ the pilot area of one hundred by forty kilometres over the cannon fi re was my premiere, and it came out says after landing from a sixty-minutes’ missi- Gulf of Bothnia in the Baltic Sea. well. Feelings? Happy with the fl ight,“ he asses- on and reveals his feelings: ”I observed strictly By the way, today it is completely snow-co- ses. Other sixteen pilots stood the test in tactical what I supposed to. The debut went out well and vered and frozen. The sleeve for their attacks is air live fi re exercise in Sweden the same way he I am happy with that. I should admit it is a nice ready! did. To give a complete statistics: out of eleven feeling.“ After being controlled onto the target, pilots Sidewinder air-to-air missiles fi red, eleven hit Combat mission at the Vidsel range monitor the air picture and check for the ”op- the aerial target! continues. ponent“. Everything is the way it should be. Shortly after the one-fi fty-niner, MAJ To- In the next phase, they acquire the target with maňa in Gripen with tail number 9234 is clea- their radars and start attacking, each aircraft red hot. He also performs a precise fi ring and from its assigned side and according to strict- hits the burning fl are. ”The controller did not ly defi ned procedures. Initially, there are about tell me the result and so I hanged in the balance fi ve dry runs, then hot. The ALCA performs an by Pavel Lang for a while. Finally, after a minute, I hear from attack and fi res at the target with a short burst Photos by Jan Kouba 56 57 NATONATO Exclusive fi ndings about the Czech Republic’s activities in the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Programme

this represents roughly 90 million Czech koru- nas for the Czech Republic to fund operation and maintenance of the aircraft fl eet plus procu- rement of fuel, and CZK 65 million to fi nance The Czech contribution surveillance operators or for example radar tech- the NAEW&C system modernisation projects nicians only transferred from NATO ground cen- on annual basis,“ Mr. Josef Múčka, Deputy Di- tre to the airborne early warning and control ca- rector of the MoD Defence Policy and Strategy pability,“ describes Colonel Vladimír Vyklický Division discusses the Czech Republic’s fi nan- of the Airspace Operations Control and Support cial contribution negotiated in the accession to NAEW&C Section of the Air Force Branch the MoD Force talks and specifi es the data is relevant to when Development – Operations Division. According Canada was still a participant in the NAEW&C to COL Vyklický, the Czech Armed Forces will programme. The Czech Republic has scored another achievement in the NATO General Manager of NAPMA (the NAEW&C the Czech Republic’s airspace and Czech Air For- be happy to maintain the current number of its “After Canada’s withdrawal, its share will be Program Management Agency) and Major-Ge- ce bases are also used for their aircrew training. service personnel on tours with the component distributed among nations participating in the Airborne Early Warning and Control (NAEW&C) programme. neral Stephen D. Schmidt, Commander of the The NAEW&C system is one of NATO’s in the years ahead. “To pursue further develop- programme. Our fi nancial contribution is ne- In 2011, the Czech Republic became a new NAEW&C NAEW&C Force. Those offi cials also later had strategic operational support capabilities. “From ment, we would prefer to have a Czech staff offi - vertheless not expected to increase, because the a call with the Minister of Defence Alexandr the viewpoint of operational employment, the cer at the NAEW&C force command in Mons,“ NAEW&C programme’s O&M budget will be participating nation after having completed nearly two-year Vondra, who said to mark the occasion: “Having NAEW&C very effectively complements con- COL Vyklický comments. adequately reduced to approximately EUR 250 accession process, and then strengthened the contingent of acceded to the NAEW&C program, we became tinuous air picture acquired by ground sensors The comment should be mentioned in this million. As to the modernisation program, there involved in developing a unique capability that and provides air operations command and con- connection by Major-General Stephen D. are still discussions underway to reach fi nancial the Czech Armed Forces service personnel serving at the NE- both strengthens NATO’s defence posture and trol capability in the absence of a NATO ground Schmidt, Commander of the NATO Airborne settlement with Canada.“ readiness but also adds security for our country air operations command post. It provides an Early Warning and Control Force Command. This begs the question how will the invest- 3A Component Main Operating Base (MOB) in Geilenkirchen, and bolsters its position as a responsible and re- extremely valuable benefi t over enemy con- ”I highly value the fact that the Czech Republic ments the Czech Republic has made be remitted. Germany. In February earlier this year, the meeting of the liable NATO nation“. trolled territories where it impossible to obtain has fi lled the posts assigned to it in the NE-3A “The NAEW&C has a substantial industrial di- data from ground sensors. NAEW&C onboard Component structure one hundred per cent,“ mension, which guarantees for the participating NAEW&C program steering authority was held in Prague, Czech Over Europe on daily basis systems provide communication with air assets the U.S. Air Force General said exclusively for nations nearly one hundred percent return of Republic, for the very fi rst time. The NAEW&C programme offi cially com- and their command and control posts. Under CAFR. their invested national share in the form of indu- menced in 1978 when the Multilateral Memo- specifi c conditions, the AWACS is also able to Operational tours served by Czech professi- strial participation in the programme. randum Of Understanding (MMOU) was signed detect some types of ground targets. The NE-3A onals in the NAEW&C programme will defi ni- Negotiations on the form and scope of Czech The above-mentioned facts are so signifi cant Gajdoš, surveillance controller Captain Michal by Defence Ministers of thirteen NATO nations aircraft may also operate in naval mode locating tely entail benefi ts for the Czech Armed Forces. industries’ participation have already commen- that they deserve elaboration. To start with, it Repka, passive controller Chief Sergeant Major (Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Federal Republic targets at sea. The whole NAEW&C aircraft After their planned fi ve-year tours of duty, they ced. The Czech business are planned to become should be noted that the Czech Republic beca- Jiří Tichánek and radar technician Sergeant Ma- of Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Ne- fl eet has recently been in an extremely high ope- will be able to come back and deliver a pro- involved in the industrial cooperation program me a full-fl edged participant of the NAEW&C jor Richard Vágner. therlands, Norway, Portugal, Turkey, US and the ration tempo,“ says Mr. Dušan Mackanič of the gressive know-how. “The experience they have soon. Concrete contracts are expected to be si- programme (also known as AWACS – Airborne The good thing is that all the posts are in the United Kingdom). The United Kingdom withd- Strategic Development Department of the MoD gained will also be valuable for the Czech Air gned already in 2012, or 2013 at the latest,“ says Warning and Control System to the general pu- fl ight personnel category, both in the cockpit rew from the program later on and formed own Defence Policy and Strategy Division. Force command and control system. They have the Director of the Strategic Development De- blic) upon completion of the ratifi cation process (fl ight crew) and in the cabin of NE-3A (missi- AWACS fl eet. Last year, Canada also announced In addition to operational missions, the a unique opportunity to gain familiarity with the- partment the MoD Defence Policy and Strategy by all seventeen signatories on 14 December on crew) with unmistakable rotating radar dish it would withdraw from the programme. On the NAEW&C system is used to provide security se specifi c subjects from a different perspective Division and specifi es that it will be possible for 2010. above the airplane’s fuselage. It should also be other hand, Spain, Hungary, Poland and Roma- to high visibility events, ranging from heads of than from the positions at the Control and Re- Czech businesses to win orders from the Boeing Five months later the national fl ag of the mentioned that Major Milan Vojáček recently nia recently joined the programme. The Czech states meetings to Olympic Games and World porting Centre (CRC),“ COL Vyklický argues. corporation and the IAMCO consortium, which Czech Republic was raised at the MOB Gei- successfully accomplished the tests to become Republic became the eighteenth participating Championships. The system was also involved Spotting the seven-o-sevener with the dish is realise the NAEW&C systems upgrade and ma- lenkirchen in attendance of the Czech Chief of an NE-3A captain. nation in this unique NATO programme (2010). in providing additional security to the NATO nothing out of the ordinary in the Czech Repub- intenance programs. Defence, General Picek. The NAEW&C airbor- The NAEW&C force command is headquarte- Summit in Prague in 2002. lic. Apart from static displays, for example at the Not everything counts in money however. ne centre opened its door for the Czech Armed Next Challenge? Instructor! red in Mons, Belgium, and reports to the Supre- CIAF airshow at Hradec Králové or at NATO Upon joining the NATO early warning and Forces service personnel already in the course of In addition to involvement in training and me Allied Commander Europe. The operational Full manning Days in Ostrava, the noise of four Pratt&Whit- control programme in full, the Czech Republic accession talks in 2009. operational missions performed by the Geilen- force can be divided into two components: the The current number of the Czech Armed For- ney turbofans can be heard in proximity of the declared to its NATO partners its will to deliver Shortly after the Czech Republic joined the kirchen component, the Czech Republic has fi rst comprises seventeen NE-3A aircraft com- ces service personnel as well as their positions Czech Air Force Bases quite regularly. on its collective commitments and contribute to program, speaking in rowing slang, the Czech also scored hits in the diplomatic sphere. An monly owned by NATO and stationed at the in the NATO E-3A Component are regarded “An AWACS airplane may train at Czech Air NATO capabilities. “The NAEW&C program is coxless four became an eight. The original boat excellent example of that is the recent three- Geilenkirchen airbase. The fl ight and ground optimal for the moment. ”In the early stages of Force bases on the condition that they inform re- one of NATO’s hallmarks. It is an indispensable crew – pilot Major Milan Vojáček, the bowman, day meeting of the NAPMO BoD (NATO Air- personnel serving at Geilenkirchen airbase re- accession talks, the Czech Republic already dec- levant command posts of their intention a day in capability that is extensively used in NATO Navigator Captain Jindřich Sněhota, number borne Early Warning & Control Programme cruit from the programme participating nations. lared its personnel contribution would be maxi- advance. Relevant authorities then decide whe- operations. Having joined the programme, the two, tactical director Major Stanislav Hebr, Management Organization Board of Directors) The second component comprises seven E-3D mum ten servicemembers. We accommodated ther the required training can be performed in Czech Republic is making a contribution to the number three, and surveillance operator Senior in Prague, whose agenda, in addition to routine aircraft owned by the United Kingdom and sta- the requirement by NAPMA by fi rstly sending given timeframe or not. The training of NE-3A development of this unique NATO capability Warrant Offi cer David Švagerka, the stroke – in- administrative and operation matters, included tioned at RAF Waddington, which are operated a pilot, which is the position, besides naviga- crews will defi nitely be more intensive after the that strengthens the overall defence posture and creased on the fi rst day of August 2011 with ad- the development of operational capabilities and by the Royal Air Force. tors, that most nations strive for. By subsequent implementation of the relevant datalink at the readiness of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisa- ditional specialists of the Czech 26th Command, funding the NAEW&C programme. The mee- For operational and training missions, the fi lling the posts in the mission crew onboard national Control and Reporting Centre,“ COL tion,“ Mr. Múčka underscores. Control and Surveillance Brigade and the 53rd ting was attended by the top offi cials of this NAEW&C uses its Forward Operating Bases NE-3A aircraft, we have replaced nearly iden- Vyklický explains. Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare Bri- prestigious NATO programme headed by the (FOB) in Trapani, Italy, in Konya, Turkey and tical positions the Czech Republic fi lled in the Based on the cost sharing matrix, the pro- gade. Specifi cally, the incomers were weapons Mr. Gilbert W. Mace, the Chairman of the NAP- Aktion, Greece, plus a Forward Operating Loca- Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) loca- portion of the Czech fi nancial contribution to by Pavel Lang controller / air battle manager Captain Milan MO BoD, Brigadier-General Ludwig Leinhos, tion (FOL) in Orland, Norway. It is no secret that ted in Messteten, Germany. Generally speaking, the NAEW&C amounts to 1.224 %. “In reality, photos by Radko Janata and Marie Křížová 58 59 Summer 1995

Operations

at that time. On Saturday, 5 August 1995, early in the morning, Petr Valeš was taking over as a duty NCO. He called Luděk Zeman to come down The Balkan Crucible from the observer post and replace him. A couple of Croats dashed into the position at that instant. Perhaps they wanted to take cover there. Twenty years have recently passed since the Czech military ”Together with two other colleagues of mine, joined the effort of the UNPROFOR mission in the territory I was sitting at the entry to the bunker. We

of former Yugoslavia. The Socialist Federative Republic of French decorations bestowed on four Czech soldiers Yugoslavia broke up at the beginning of 1991. The fi re of war blazed out in the whole Balkans at that very instant. What originally had been political differences broke out into an armed Last family photo confl ict that claimed hundred thousands of victims.

Political and economic instability led to the and running ten checkpoints. They also had to disintegration of state structures. As early as in set up mobile observation teams and observa- the autumn 1991, the United Nations began its tion points. The battalion oversaw storage of active engagement in the region. The UN Secu- weapons withdrawn from the frontlines. Day- rity Council Resolution dated 27 November to-day activities included patrolling, provision 1991 mandated the UNPROFOR mission. Pea- of security to the Croatian community of Pod- cekeeping Forces training centre in the town of palac and delivering humanitarian aid, which Český Krumlov was the place at that time where involved safeguarding and supplies of materiel development was coming to a head of a Czech into the provisional camp for displaced persons UN rapid deployment battalion. at the Dolni Lapac community. Czech soldiers ”First we lacked a clear vision what to train also escorted convoys carrying humanitari- the battalion personnel for and how. The in- an aid and displaced persons from Krajina to structors built on the experience that similar Croatia. establishments had in Austria, Finland, Norway, Opening the Serbian-Croat front between Denmark and Sweden and complemented it Zadar and Benkovaca in January 1993 left the personnel carriers and threatening they would overheard a conversation in Croatian and so we with lessons gained interviewing our personnel operations of French and Kenyan battalions lar- shoot everybody, they forced the Czechs to dri- decided to fi nd out what was going on. As soon who had returned from observer missions,“ Mr. gely paralysed. Our unit then became the Sector ve against Croatian lines. as we ran out, a mortar shells came in and our Tibor Horvát, who was responsible for training Commander’s operational reserve force, who When they fi nally discovered the French at bunker sustained a direct hit. It was the very fi rst in Český Krumlov, recalled after years. ”Areas used them for withdrawing French soldiers trap- Golesh community besieged by Serbs, artillery shell that hit the post Tango 23 area on that mor- were identifi ed for our forces to possibly dep- ped between warring parties in the area of Gole- shells began hitting ground around them. Petr ning. I felt something hit my thigh. First I thou- loy, including Cambodia, Western Sahara and sh, Drač and Karin Plaža. Pavel did not hesitate a second and immediately ght a stone hit me. I was trying to take cover the former Yugoslavia. First of all, we needed contacted a French liaison offi cer on the radio, inside the bunker as soon as I possibly could. to get some information about those countries. Rescuing the French who served as an observer in the Croatian staff. But the explosion cut electricity off, there was We started up in libraries, and also received as- Currently serving as a Deputy Chief of De- Luckily he managed to stop the shelling that darkness all around. Only when the lads brou- sistance from the Military Geographical Institu- fence, Major-General Petr Pavel was a member way. There were French pinned down by mortar ght in some torches, I realised I had a fragment te. In case of Yugoslavia, one of the fi rst aids we of our contingent at that time. Together with fi re in another location, on a narrow beach strip in my thigh,“ Sergeant-Major Roman Čelanský used was a roadmap. twenty-eight volunteers, he set out for a week- between the rocks and the sea at Drača. They li- recalled. He then discovered there were many The Czechoslovak peacekeeping forces were long rescue operation. ”None of us was really terally had nowhere to move. Two of them were more of them. The doctors extracted two frag- built on voluntary basis then. In collaboration thinking long whether we would go or would shattered by artillery shelling. The more thankful ments from his calf and additional three from his with district military offi ces, the peacekeeping not. Situation was rather unclear and called for they were when our group arrived. Fifty-three thigh. Other soldiers also were also injured. Ser- force training centre set up a database of appli- a quick solution. We were driven by basic hu- French soldiers were eventually rescued. They geant Jiří Suda was hit in his back. Sergeant Jiří cants who were interested in taking part in the man and military instincts. It was soldiers, our also loaded two dead bodies into the APC. Four Hubáček had his leg and hand wounded. When mission. comrades, who were in danger. We could easily Czech offi cers, including Major-General Pavel, other soldiers took his helmet off, he realised he fi nd ourselves in a similar situation a week la- received high French decorations for accomplis- was given a second life. There was a hole as big Heading for the Balkans ter,“ General Pavel said. hing the mission. as a fi st in the helmet. But Luděk Zeman and In January 1992, the Government of then A unit moving on armoured personnel car- Petr Valeš suffered the worst. Luděk Zeman had Czech and Slovak Federative Republic manda- riers searched the forbidding terrain and tried to Croatian memorials his both legs torn off above knees. The extent of ted the Armed Forces to take part in the UN- evade locations with ongoing hostilities. When Several Czech and Slovak soldiers sadly rest his injury was practically incompatible with life. PROFOR peacekeeping mission in the territory our soldiers attempted to gain some information in Croatia forever. They have their little memo- Petr Valeš lost his arm, and he had additional of former Yugoslavia. The developed and tra- at HQ UNPROFOR, they learned nobody knew rials there. Some of them died in road accidents. heavy fragmentation wounds in his back region. ined battalion with commanding offi cer Lieu- anything there. Everything allegedly got confu- Sergeant-Major Igor Rigo was killed by a mort- Both of them died of their injuries on spot. tenant-Colonel Karel Blahna only underwent sed following the Croat offensive. ar shell in Kuzmanovac, Croatia, in April 1993. Czech soldiers remained active in the minor reorganisations. On March 13, 1992, a fi f- ”I certainly was afraid then. I think every- He ran out of bunker regardless of mortar shel- UNPROFOR mission even after the division of teen-member advance party headed by Major body experienced fear there. While the inten- ling in an attempt to rescue his dog. The shell Czechoslovakia at the beginning of 1993. In the Vladimír Trněný entered the territory of Croatia. se fi refi ghts I was encountering there made an exploded right at the bunker entry. spring of 1993, the Czech contingent’s personnel Their task was to make preparations for the ar- impression of an exercise to me, I also saw the Perhaps the most tragic event for the Czech Ar- strength redoubled from fi ve hundred personnel rival of the whole unit. The rest of the fi ve hun- suffering the war was bringing about. Although med Forces in Balkans happened at the beginning in the spring of that year. The UNPROFOR mis- dred-strong contingent arrived at the beginning one does not fully realise it on spot, you have of August 1995. UN peacekeeping forces notwi- sion ended in 1995. Foreign operations by the of April. to have some fear in such situations,“ General thstanding, the Croatian forces launched a mas- Czech Armed Forces, which took place later on, Along with the French and Kenyan con- Pavel explained. sive offensive called the Storm. Roughly fi fteen were already led by NATO and the EU. tingents, the Czechoslovak battalion formed Our soldiers experienced the hardest mo- members of a platoon led by First-Lieutenant Sector South. It operated in the area of Plitvica ments perhaps when Serbs used them as hu- Jaromír Alan were at post Tango 23 on the bor- by Vladimír Marek lakes. Its initial missions included establishing man shields. They jumped onto their armoured der of the so-called Republic of Srbska Krajina Photos by A-Report 606 6161 Portrait

A research team from the tables is what I personally regard an extraordi- to make the breakthrough. The threat of the nary acknowledgement. Not only that the fi gure slightest mistake is impending throughout. You Military Geographical and has affected my life, but it has many practical commit an error and the international scientifi c Hydrometeorological Institute applications across scientifi c branches,“ Mr. community will not accept you anymore. And it Vatrt says, who is the creator of most of the applies twice as much for a smaller country like in Dobruška gave to the world software technology and database support for the Czech Republic,“ Mr. Vatrt adds. a unique constant: the W using geopotential models in practice. He holds 0 many expert functions, for example in the Czech Manifold applications in UNESCO National Oceanographic Committee or the Czech National Geodetic and Geophysical a number of fi elds Committee. In addition, he is also active at the “We obtained a numerical parameter that de- Technical University in Brno, where he lectures termines the mean sea level with mathematic on physical geodesy and geophysics. accuracy of several hundredths of millimetre,“

Mr. Vatrt explains the substance of W0 constant A Ten years’ path and continues: ”Up to now, it was not possible The path to the top was immensely diffi cult to unify the elevation points in the history of ge- for Viliam Vatrt. He did not have the backing odesy. The way it was done was that individual of a numerous international team of recognised countries or several states had a fi xed common scientists, supported by generous grants. ”We point on the seashore to measure the water sur- started in two, me and Professor Milan Burša of face on sustained basis. The average value of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, this measurement then determined the zero level and were later joined by RNDr. Marie Vojtíš- of the local sea in the location. Today we do not ková, my colleague from the Military Geogra- even have to know the water surface elevation, phical an Hydrometeorological Offi ce. We also it only suffi ces to know what is the potential on consulted on some of the issues with external this mean transformed area of sea. More precise- collaborators in international institutions,“ he ly, to know the numerical value of our constant.

recalls the origins of the historical discovery If we use the W0 constant for calculating the ele- and specifi es that the amount of grants obtained vations, all elevations in the world will have the ((Extra)ordinaryExtra)ordinary from a grant agency made it possible to cover same origin.“ a research and development worker. From the the costs of two expert symposiums a year. Al- To complete the picture: before deriving and

rank of Lieutenant, he made it to Lieutenant- though Mr. Vatrt is reluctant to say it explicitly, introducing the W0 constant into practice there Colonel. He took off his uniform eight years his narrative gives the impression that he takes was not any parameter with such a value for ago and reorganised himself into a defence ci- the recognition as a sort of satisfaction for be- a single global elevation system. eeight-digitight-digit nnumberumber vilian. His specialist and professional activities ing initially cold-shouldered by his colleagues Geodesy, astronomy, air transportation – tho- progressively culminated. In 2002, he presented in scientifi c circles. “They did not believe we se are just some sectors where the W0 constant his unique discovery – the W0 constant – in an would be able to achieve such a discovery. After can be used practically. Two outstanding exam- Sixty two million six hundred thirty- international forum and it then got into the worl- initial presentation in the United Kingdom, we ples: fi rst relates to enhancing air traffi c safety, d’s tables of constants. The scientifi c community started to be continuously contacted by scientifi c especially when landing in aggravated weather six thousand eight hundred and fi fty- accepted it not only as a single origin of measu- institutions of worldwide renown with various conditions or when the airport technical facili- six – for an overwhelming majority of ring elevation above sea level, but especially as questions. They regarded our parameters faulty ties fail. The second is connected with applica- the world’s new constant. and expected it would just be a question of time tions in astronomy, where extraordinarily accu- people, a commonplace and dull eight- The value of the constant was reconfi rmed before we clear the scene. That has not happe- rate timing must be known at observatories that digit number. But when you add ”metres last year. Although the derived unique parame- ned. We worked tenaciously to achieve our goal use the atomic clock. ter of 62,636,856 does not rank among classifi ed and we prevailed. We managed to convince them ”Building of a single elevation system will

squared per second squared“ behind information, it was basically unknown for a long about the uniqueness of the W0 constant. The start soon in various locations around the world. time. Sadly! “There is no one to blame for it. Czech Republic is the fi rst country in the history It goes without saying that I want to be a part of the fi gure, the scientifi c community gets Those are complex math formulas that do not to have been recognised for this constant world- it,“ Mr. Viliam Vatrt clarifi es his vision for the astonished. Why? Because 62636856.0 m²s² have the potential to arouse sympathy with men wide. That is the key message. As a land surve- years ahead. of mould,“ Mr. Vatrt states and admits the boom yor, however important result you may arrive at, is an obtained constant, so-called W0, by Pavel Lang around the W0 constant was caused by the me- you still need the recognition of the whole world which sets the basis for developing dia. “It was a coincidence. There was a mention about obtaining the constant in a TV report on a uniform global elevation system, a completely different subject. This was how it got out and extensive publicity emerged. Every- which has not been in place to date. In thing was triggered by an inconspicuous piece other words: it enables to bring all local of information. Of course I am not angry about those who set it in motion,“ the fi fty-eight-year- elevation systems developed on various old researcher smiles. continents to a single standard! The Dobruška-based researchers got their sa- tisfaction at the end of the last year. The Friends of Military Geographical Service association, chaired by Mr. Bohuslav Haltmar, proposed Viliam Vatrt as a nominee for the “Czech Head Behind deriving and introducing the unique a prestigious denomination of his constant: the school? My dad was a military professional 2011“ award in the Invention category. On 18

W0 constant into practice is a Czech – a resear- Potential of the Geoid. Mr. Viliam Vatrt has and so I wanted to continue the family traditi- November 2011, Mr. Vatrt took over the award cher of the Military Geographical and Hydro- worked for the Czech MoD for thirty-four years. on,“ Mr. Vatrt explains and adds that he made in a ceremony attended by the most senior of- meteorological Offi ce in Dobruška, Ing. Viliam Before that, he studied at the Military Grammar a decision for good to pursue geodesy and car- fi cials of the Czech Republic, as the only one Vatrt, DrSc. By this outstanding achievement, School in Moravská Třebová and subsequent- tography at his alma mater in Brno. In 1978, he from the Czech MoD and Armed Forces! “After he has ranked himself among the creators of ly what was then the Military Academy in started his military career in then the Military more than ten years of hard work, it was a very world’s constants such as the speed of light in Brno. ”I was keen to go for maths and physics. Topographical Institute in Dobruška as an inde- nice feeling. Czechs gave to the world a unique vacuum or the famous Newton gravitational That was the primary reason for me to choose pendent programmer and analyst. He served in parameter. I highly value the national prize,

constant. International scientifi c tables include a grammar school. And why a military grammar various specialists posts, from land surveyor to but the fact that the W0 constant in the world’s 62 63 Training Science Against Terrorism MMemorableMemorableemorable DDaysDaysays oofoff thetthehe CzechCCzechzech MoDMMoDoD Operations against active shooters in schools, as well as tactics Major-General František Malenínský, the Depu- ty Chief of General Staff – Inspector General of used against targets armed with a knife. Those were just some the Czech Armed Forces. Minister of Defence Alexandr Vondra MMarcharch 88thth – First combat engagement of subjects of the practical workshop held as part of the 4th edition Service personnel of the 311th Chemical, signed an order on May 24, 2012, Czechoslovak soldiers in the eastern front in the fi ght Biologic, Radiological and Nuclear Defence against Nazi Germany and its allies in 1943 of the Coping with Extreme Situations conference prepared by Battalion in Liberec also attended the practical promulgating eleven memorable days CASRI (the Czech Armed Forces Sports Research Institute) in workshop. “We offered to conference partici- of the Czech Armed Forces, which MMayay 99thth – First major combat engagement of the pants the possibility to use man-portable devices ”Nazdar Company“, a unit of Czech volunteers in the collaboration with the Education Branch of the Police Presidium that test tightness of gas masks“, First-Lieute- commemorate important anniversaries nant Jakub Paul explains. “For this specifi c de- French Foreign Legion during offensives in Artois of the Czech Republic. The conference was held under the monstration, we have used the CS agent, rather of the Czech military history, from region in 1915 auspices of Minister of Defence Alexandr Vondra and Minister known as so-called police gas, which is used for incapacitation.“ As a part of the practical work- Hussite fi ghts up to World War II. “The MMayay 227th7th – Assassination of the Deputy Reich of the Interior Jan Kubice. shop, an Israeli company showed for the fi rst Czech Republic has undoubtedly had its Protector Reinhard Heydrich, carried out in 1942 by time in the Czech Republic a rifl e designed to Czechoslovak airdrops fl ying from the Great Britain shoot around corners, the so-called Corner Shot. heroes, and it is our duty to remember The conference was attended by 220 experts knowledge and skills to be applied in extreme- It may be used anywhere – in combat to engage these outstanding people,“ Minister JJulyuly 22ndnd – Victory of Czechoslovak Legions in the from nineteen countries with many attractive ly demanding conditions. Sharing experience terrorists in cover, against victim-borne IEDs or Battle of Zborov in 1917 and substantial contributions. Lieutenant-Colo- among scientifi c experts from all around the in dark premises where the shooter may be hid- Vondra said ahead of signing the order nel Zdeněk Flasar of the Czech Defence Uni- world is very valuable in this sphere and I trust den. “It is an excellent weapon,“ MG Malenín- JJulyuly 114th4th – The fi rst clash between the Hussite versity spoke on the subject of “Some aspects of these lessons will also be refl ected in the work ský said after testing the weapon. “Soldiers may and added: ”The armed forces is a vital fi ghters and crusaders in the battle of Vítkov in 1420 physical security of critical facilities“, Associate of military and law enforcement professionals.“ therefore stay out of harm’s way and it can save attribute of state sovereignty and as Professor Rudolf Horák, also of the Defence “As a part of its research efforts, CASRI also many lives.“ SSeptembereptember 115th5th – Successful efforts by University, gave a presentation named “Indivi- develops methods helping to increase the quali- President Masaryk said: “Nations not Czechoslovak airmen on the day when the Battle of duals in crisis situations“. Major Hynek Pavlač- ty in training the Czech Armed Forces military honouring their heroes will be in the Britain culminated in 1940 ka from the Training Command – Military Aca- professionals, and I think therefore that such by Jana Deckerová demy in Vyškov had an attractive presentation similar international meetings of experts pur- need of them soon.“ SSeptembereptember 221st1st – Victorious battle by on “Cooperation of law enforcement agencies suing topics relevant to armed forces improve a Czechoslovak Division at Doss Alto in northern Italy and private sector on training target audiences the quality of work and help share experience,“ in 1918 endangered by emergency situations“. says Miloslav Stehlík, the head of CASRI psy- Dr. Paul Losiewicz of the Prague Offi ce of chological lab and one of the principal conferen- SSeptembereptember 223rd3rd – Declaration of general the U.S. Offi ce of Naval Research Global also ce organisers. “Some presentations were really mobilisation of the Czechoslovak military in 1938 delivered an interesting and substantial contribu- enticing and highly informative. We, the Armed An excerpt from the order of the Minister of Defence tion dealing with ongoing and planned research Forces of the Czech Republic, cooperate with dated May 24, 2012, reads: “Functions to honour me- OOctoberctober 66thth – Forces of the 1st Czechoslovak in the sphere of traumatic injuries and the post- other armed forces and security services both in morable days are organised based the decision taken Army Corps in USSR entered the territory of the traumatic stress disorder. “I highly value the fact the framework of foreign deployments in Koso- by the head of the relevant organisational component Czechoslovak Republic in the Dukla Pass area in 1944 that the conference agenda covers the roles that vo and Afghanistan, or in the home front. The- of the Ministry of Defence, usually in the form of mus- the human factor plays in the challenging assign- refore, I believe it is highly valuable for people OOctoberctober 224th4th – in 1941, soldiers of the ter ceremony and reading out the remembrance order ments of armed forces and security services,“ to have the opportunity to share our experience Czechoslovak Infantry Battalion 11 joined the Deputy Defence Minister Michael Hrbata said with crisis situation management, law enforce- or other appropriate function in honour of the memo- in his opening remarks. “Even the best weapons, ment services training tactics, and, fi rst and fo- rable day.“ defenders of the Tobruk port in northern Africa technology or information systems are of little remost, joint procedures used in dealing with the OOctoberctober 228th8th – The Czechoslovak Independent use, if we do not have specialists with relevant increasing occurrence of terrorist threats,“ said Armoured Brigade Group successfully attacked German forces in Dunkirk in the north of France in 1944

64 6565 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES LONDON

27 Jul – 12 Aug 2012

ROSSED

KEEPING OUR FINGERS C A FOR FORT Y-FOUR ASC DUKL MEMBERS OF 66