11/2013/2013 REVIEW

CCapableapable LLogisticianogistician 22013013

1 Contents

Someone does this Czech Armed Forces: and the other does that… 2 Epilogue to the Baltic mission 8 Under the baton 20th Anniversary of experienced sergeants 10 PRT Logar wrapping up in Afghanistan after fi ve years 12 Not only the Czech Republic, but the Czech Armed Forces Sending Instructors to Mali 14 also mark the twentieth anniversary of its independent Training with impact 16 existence. During that time, the armed forces underwent Disagreement out of question 18 major developments – from abolishment of conscription, Flight hours instead of money 20 replacement in senior commanders’ posts and equipment Badge for combat-proven warriors 23 to entry into NATO and engagement in international First time with Sokol 26 operations. Not all changes were to the good, but one At the end of tether 28 thing is for sure: the Czech military is today an all- Beware of mental traps 30 volunteer force; it gained new experience and won Afghanistan is never a routine... 32 international recognition over the two decades. Up to Afghans now 36

The metamorphosis is perceived both by the world and people at home: a matter of recent years only. Czechs had joined UN peacekeeping opera- and establishment of two new states at the end of 1992. At that time, Czech Two paths, one direction 38 whereas in the fi rst half of 1990s less than a half of Czech citizens had con- tions in Africa even before the 1989 Velvet Revolution. The so-called black and Slovak soldiers were passing the toughest stress test so far, which took Zona 2013 40 fi dence in the military, today it is trusted by over 60 per cent of the popula- continent became a great reservoir of extremely valuable lessons for many place under the acronym of UNPROFOR in the Balkans in the territory of tion and the Czech Armed Forces is one of the state institutions that enjoy years. As a matter of fact, service in UN peacekeeping operations as part of the disintegrating Yugoslavia. Although it is just individuals, Czechs carry When you can’t even see the target 42 the highest public support. multinational teams is extremely physically and mentally demanding, and on serving tours in the southeast of Europe. During two decades, over eight- Interestingly, according to the STEM opinion poll agency, the military is the duty is served without weapons. In the role of UN observers, Czechs een thousand Czech military personnel served tours in UNPROFOR/UN- Two two six, cleared for takeoff! 44 one of a few institutions that receive almost the same appreciation in across served tours from 1989 on missions in Africa, specifi cally in Angola, Na- CRO, IFOR, UNTAES, SFOR, AFOR and KFOR. Czech military profes- Reserve Offi cers’ Seminar 49 all cohorts. Confi dence in the armed forces is completely independent of mibia, Somalia, Mozambique, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and Demo- sionals also joined the operation in the territory of Iraq. In 2003-07, Czech age or education of people and political orientation does not play the deci- cratic Republic of Congo, where they have been posted to date. military medical personnel and military police were deployed there. Pocked-Sized Forensic Institute 50 sive role either. The Czech Armed Forces’ good reputation may undoubtedly But the operation that laid the groundwork modern Czech military tradi- Today, the Czech Armed Force’s largest deployment is in Afghanistan. be credited to its aid to the civilian population during natural disasters – es- tions was nevertheless the engagement of Czechoslovak NBC defence unit Czech servicepoeple joined Operation ISAF already in 2002 with a fi eld To see and not to be seen 52 pecially following catastrophic fl ooding. The highest number of personnel in the confl ict with the Saddam Hussein regime. That 169-strong unit oper- medical facility and later with a surgical team. Czech were deployed in and equipment were deployed in 2002 in the basins of Vltava, Labe, Ohře ated in the territory of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait from 15 December 1990 till several locations in the country – besides Kabul and Logar and Wardak Waiting for the Red Line 54 and Dyje rivers: 6,500 personnel and 1,099 vehicles and other hardware. 22 April 1991, when the force components started to withdraw back home. provinces, they also operated in Badakhshan, where they provided security The Man without a Face 56 Five thousand soldiers with four hundred vehicles provided aid in Moravia Off the total number of personnel who took part in Operation Desert Shield to the German Provincial Reconstruction Team, in Helmand, Uruzgan and in 1997. Most recently, the Armed Forces joined consequence management and Operation Desert Storm, career soldiers accounted for 56 per cent and Paktika. Czech helicopter forces pitched their tent there for two years with The Workhorse of Paratroops 58 efforts following fl oods in August three years ago. Nearly eight hundred the remainder were conscripts, who became soldiers under contract in the the assignment to provide air mobility to personnel and transport materiel, personnel with 240 vehicles operated along Nisa river. instant of deployment. support to quick reaction forces and medical evacuation operations. Train- Reward for bravery 60 While the Czech military personnel gained a good reputation at home During the Czechoslovak deployment’s operational tour in the territory of ing the Afghan National Army Air Force personnel on Mi-24/35 and Mi-17 The First Lady Chaplain 62 thanks to the aid it has provided, they primarily obtain new experience on Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, the fi rst signs of the crisis the Czechoslovak fed- helicopters was led by AMT/AAT deployment in Kabul. KAIA is also deployed operations. Engagement in foreign operations is defi nitely not just eration was undergoing started to show to eventually result in the break-up the station for Czech CBRN personnel performing NBC reconnaissance throughout Afghanistan and assisting on training new Afghan National Army CBRN defence specialists. Operation ISAF also saw the involvement Published by MoD CR of the Czech 601st Special Forces Group based at Prostějov, who operated Communication and Promotion Department for twelve months in Nangarhar province until 2011, and Military Police Tychonova 1, 160 01 Praha 6, Czech Republic training unit responsible for training Afghan National Police in Wardak. www.army.cz Observations and new lessons were also gained abroad by members of the Identifi cation number: 60162694 Czech Air Force, as a part of the Baltic Air Policing in Lithuania, where Address: Rooseveltova 23, 161 05 Praha 6, Czech Republic they provided airspace coverage to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia as a part Phone: +420 973 215 553, +420 973 215 786 of NATINADS in 2009. The deployment with JAS-39 Gripen aircraft con- Editor-in-chief: Jan Procházka tinued in 2012. Layout: Andrea Bělohlávková Translation: Jan Jindra Hand in hand with the changes that have occurred as a part of defence Cover photos by Vladimír Marek reforms and transformation go armaments replacement programs and mod- Distributed by IMH Prague, Production Section ernisation of older but well-proven equipment. Over 170 acquisition cases Rooseveltova 23, 161 05 Praha 6, Czech Republic and development projects to modernise the inventory of the Armed Forces of Oľga Endlová, tel. +420 973 215 563 Editor‘s point of contact the Czech Republic have taken place to date. The most important ones were Printed by: EUROPRINT, a. s. the acquisition of Pandur wheeled armoured fi ghting vehicles, Iveco light ISSN 1804-9672 Editor-in-chief multipurpose vehicles and the Tatra medium offroad trucks. As to aerospace Registration number: MK ČR E 18227 Jan Procházka technology, major programs have included the JAS-39 Gripen multirole fi ght- Published July 2013 telephone: +420 973 215 553 ers on lease, acquisition of CASA transport aircraft and two Airbus A-319 CJ mobile: +420 724 033 407 aircraft. The CZ 805 BREN assault rifl es replacing the obsolete Sa-58 rifl es in e-mail: [email protected] the army inventory should not be omitted either. Graphics designer Andrea Bělohlávková www.army.cz telephone: +420 973 215 786 Photos by Jiří Hokův and Vladimír Marek e-mail: [email protected] NATO

concentrated on seventeen functional areas. But In Slovakia, the Czech Armed Forces took part the highest priority was attached to those vital for resupplying forces: water, ammunition, POL, in the largest logistic training exercise in the recovery, equipment maintenance and naturally past two decades: Capable Logistician 2013 movement and transportation. Fighting fi re In the so-called functional area ammunition, that is in a fi eld ammunition depot, fi re broke out during exercise Capable Logistician 2013. There was a danger that the munitions would be destroyed, and potential explosion posed hazard for the surrounding area too. The depots com- manders immediately took necessary measures that included calling in helicopters with buckets for fi ghting area fi re. Most of the ammunition storage and safety systems were transported into the area over four hundred and seventy kilometres on a convoy of Tatra trucks with semitrailers led by the chief of staff of the ammunition base in Týniště nad Orlicí, Major Jaroslav Unger. Major Unger also became deputy commanding offi cer second to the Austrian commander of this functional area. Thus, Czech logisticians also practiced transpor- tation of materiel into areas of deployment. ”The mission of this site is to practise inter- operability among various national armed forces in reception, storing and distribution of ammu- nition. Apart from us, Slovaks, Austrians and French forces have been involved in building Someone does this and running this site. But there are additional armed forces we work with to transport and secure ammunition. The Military Police of the Slovak Armed Forces helps us provide security to the depot, other armed forces then support and the other does ammo distribution on land or by air,“ Major Un- ger expands. ”According to experience I have gained so far, ammunition handling procedures are the same in individual armed forces. There- fore, we chiefl y fi netune the way storage docu- that… mentation is kept. Every armed forces has spe- cifi c national habits in this regard. Our objective is to introduce a single standard for ammunition storing as well as accounting.“

The scenario for exercise Capable Logistician 2013, Exercise Capable Logistician 2013 was steered by the Multinational Logistics Coordi- Transport including airlift which took place in the Lešť military training area, nation Centre based in Prague and headed by The fi re was fortunately extinguished early. was notoriously known. It could be copied from Czech Armed Forces Colonel Miroslav Pelikán. Another task in this functional area was to dis- ”Out of the original fi ve founding nations, the tribute the ammunition using helicopters. The dozens of crisis situations that recently occurred in MLCC already has eleven member states and logistic support forces had a close cooperation accession of additional is under discussion. throughout the exercise with Czech and Slo- various parts of the world. Large raw material deposits Considering that a team of merely fourteen ex- vak Mi-171Sh and Mi-17 helicopter aircrews. were discovered in border areas of two countries perts based in Prague, in addition to many other ”Helicrews had a chance to practice carrying specifi c activities, managed during its short ex- under-slung cargo as fi refi ghting water buckets. neighbouring on one another with ethnically mixed istence to prepare what has been the largest mul- We sling loads that either does not fi t into the population. The disputes over the materials and over tinational logistic exercise so far, then no doubt cabin, or is loaded in an area we cannot land be- we are on the right track,“ commented the Chief cause it is too small or canted,“ helicopter pilot the border have escalated into an armed confl ict. The of General Staff Czech Armed Force Lieutenant- Captain Rudolf Jakl explains. ”That piloting is General Petr Pavel. indeed more diffi cult. By having the load under UN Security Council requested that NATO deployed According to the Director of Multinational the helicopter on a sling, it makes the machine military forces and separated the belligerent parties. Logistics Coordination Centre Colonel Miroslav move. It is like when you drive a tanker truck Pelikán, exercise Capable Logistician was the and the liquid spilling in the tank changes the To this extent, the scenario has been proven in dozens largest NATO logistic fi eld training exercise in centre of gravity.“ of Allied exercises. But it was not manoeuvre units to the past twenty years. Nine years ago, the Bo- To the nearby heliport, munitions are trans- letice training area in the Czech Republic was ported using standard forklift truck, but also exercise this time, but logistic task forces whose mission the venue to exercise Collective Effort 2004, but with a remote controlled robot in the inventory CL2013 surpasses CE2004 by its size as well as of the Austrian armed forces, which provides is to provide material support to those combat units. by the number of troops involved. In the course additional ammunition handling safety. ”Trans- of Capable Logistician 2013, logistic forces porting ammunition slung under helicopters in 2 3 NATO

complement our portfolio with such capability Factsheet in the years ahead.“ Exercise Capable Logistician saw the involvement of 1,750 soldiers and Smart Energy logistic experts with over 600 vehic- An interesting part of this functional area les, tanks and aircraft from thirty-fi ve was the demonstration of NATO’s Smart En- countries. Additional three hundred ergy project owned by the NATO Headquarters persons attended the exercise as ob- in Brussels. Although some of the systems in- servers, specialist and distinguished stalled here have already been combat proven, visitors, including the whole NATO almost of all them are technology demonstra- Military Committee. Out of twenty- tors. Besides mobile photovoltaic panels, they two international organisations re- involve mobile windmills and a system that gen- presented in exercise Capable Logis- erates water from air humidity. It uses mobile tician 2013, there were thirteen from solar panels as the energy source. the NATO Command Structure (NCS) ”Our task is to increase the weight of alterna- and NATO Force Structure (NFS). tive energy sources in support of military opera- Representing the Czech Republic, tions. We seek various untraditional ways. All 140 personnel with over 40 tanks the equipment here are technology demonstra- and vehicles plus two Mi-171Sh heli- tors from individual nations that have joined our copters were involved in the exercise project. The Dutch mobile photovoltaic system was already tested in Operation ISAF in Af- ghanistan. Germany and the United Kingdom ”We perform a vehicle recovery here. It is noth- also contributed their technology,“ says Ms. Su- ing extraordinary for us. We regularly practise sanne Michaelis, the leader of the project. ”We recovering our T-72 M4CZ tanks and infantry come up with comprehensive solutions. For in- fi ghting vehicles that are much lighter. First of stance, the tent shelter we have shown here has all we recced the place and decided to pull the a state-of-the-art insulation that saves energy. As front part of the vehicle,“ commander of the a matter of fact, it needs neither air-conditioning T-72 recovery tank Roman Ferecký explains. nor heating. Energy accumulation and storage is ”The bog the machine got stuck in was quite another chapter. Military camps on operational deep; it would be diffi cult for us introduce the deployments are often supplied from power gen- recovery cable down there. That was why we erators. But there are time intervals when the en- drove our tank as far as we possibly could. Then ergy is not used in full. Our aim is to accumulate we started the winch to move us into the spot we it for later use. We try to identify the most effec- had selected. We stopped there and lowered the tive batteries.“ blade for support. Then we already recovered Susanne Michaelis does not hide the fact that the vehicles using the winch. I have personally some systems they are working on have not met just coordinated and controlled the action.“ performance parameters needed for practical ap- Another task the Czech recovery tank was plications yet. But we have to start somewhere called up to perform together with Bundeswehr and make progress on the issue. ”As to our de- personnel was pulling a disabled tank using vice for generating water from the air, it natural- a cable. It was a German Army Leopard 2A4 ly depends on air humidity. We would probably tank that weighs over fi fty tons in standard con- have a problem in Sahara. Here in Slovakia, fi guration. Buffalo recovery tank rode in the conditions are average in general. We are able front and the Czech personnel providing braking to produce up to nine litres an hour and supply power for the tank on pulled on the cable when two platoons with drinkable water. This way of going downhill. “Safety comes fi rst, including generating water naturally only makes sense in on this exercise. That was why we agreed to areas where there are no other sources available. go fi ve kilometres per hour maximum. We had We are confi dent we will achieve lower energy to stop at times and examine the terrain. It may consumption with our systems down the road. not seem at the fi rst sight, but such transporta- The use of hydrogen, for instance, represents tion is extremely dangerous. The disabled tank a big challenge. We expect this exercise to in- may skid and hit the recovery Buffalo tank. The cargo nets is quite commonplace on foreign foremost we gain new experience. We are ob- by U.S., German and French contingents. The source to bear enough water, they drilled a well crease the interest in our program. If additional technology may fail too and then you have to deployed operations. It is used for transporting taining a larger picture about how business is Dutch soldiers are on standby with their treat- forty meters deep. That logistic unit was suc- nations joined in, it could generate new ideas provide enough braking power to stop the tank it into hardly accessible areas. Fixing is done done in our occupational specialism in other ment plants for the contingency of a failure. We cessfully deployed in Iraq with a similar device. and new solutions.“ in motion at all. The terrain was really diffi - by a specially trained person. It is essential to nations’ armed forces.“ pump water from the local pond; then it goes “We do not need to stockpile items that can Although Smart Energy resembles ecologi- cult, steep downhills, big holes. A higher speed place the cargo in the centre of the net to strike The French armed forces brought along through the treatment plant. Then it is tested be procured relatively fast, and, contrarily, we cal projects, it could also furnish a considerable would be risky,“ says the driver of the Czech the right balance. The minimum payload car- a unique mobile X-ray device that scans all mu- again. Army experts guarantee that it is po- should maintain a stock of commodities whose military aspect in the future. Forces increasingly recovery tank, Corporal Martin Dohnálek from ried is three hundred kilograms,“ Major Unger nitions coming into the depot so as to eliminate table and does not represent any hazard. The procurements takes some time. Water, for exam- deploy in hardly accessible areas without any Přáslavice. adds. ”Our fi eld ammunition storage effort ob- potential terrorist attacks that would have cata- quality of our job is proven by the fact that we ple, is easy and quick to acquire. We are able to infrastructure in place. It is easier to produce ”Exercises like these are very attractive for us served a NATO manual that contains all param- strophic effects in this case. passed all the tests fi rst time,“ MSG Elftmann procure water in a relatively short period of time, individual commodities on the spot rather than because they offer opportunities to test what we eters mandatory for such storage sites. It was says. ”Not to speak about the fact that no sav- or produce it on our own. We therefore sought transport them in a complicated manner. can achieve through practical cooperation with essential to calculate danger areas. It is vital ing measures have been implemented so far to demonstrate here the various possibilities other nations. We are able to communicate with to provide area protection as well as security Life-giving water and the water we have purifi ed is used, in ad- how to obtain water,“ Colonel Pelikán explains. foreign armed forces’ drivers or tank command- and safety for individual container shelters to Just a couple of kilometres on, several wa- dition to normal consumption, for laundering ”The Czech Armed Forces also had the opportu- Inadequate semitrailers ers. There are Germans, French, Americans, store the munitions. We have to protect the ter treatment systems operate under the lead and washing; we are able to supply water to as nity to draw some lessons. Certain inertia shows An infantry fi ghting vehicle got stuck in Poles and others here. We are all connected by site from the air, not only against air assets but of Master-Sergeant Jason Elftmann of U.S. many as fi ve thousand personnel.“ on our part, as we planned in the past to oper- a deep marsh in another part of the military our profession.“ also against incoming rocket attacks and mor- Army. They are one of the most vital assets Another way to acquire water is by drills. The ate in the central European theatre. Today, our training area. The engine driving the winch on Observations and lessons learnt on the exer- tar shelling, which is what happens frequently for deployed forces. “Our mission is to pu- Dutch armed forces brought along a well drill- NATO Allies also have saltwater purifi cation the recovery tank went on full throttle. The cable cise will be subject to a detailed analysis, which in Afghanistan. There are multiple benefi ts rify and treat water, control its quality, store ing system. They managed to hit water already systems. Nine-fi ve percent of water purifi ed for tightened for a moment and the marshland began should also identify shortfalls of our equip- the very exercise provides for us, but fi rst and and supply it to the forces. That is performed twenty metres under the ground. In order for the coalition forces is saltwater. We would like to to release the vehicle centimetre by centimetre. ment and areas where we lag behind others. It 4 5 NATO

is already apparent that tank transport trailers truck back on its wheels. Our main challenge Lieutenant Fiorentino instructs the crew that if commanding offi cer of all MP components in- fall into that category. They are designed for here is naturally the language. But we applied they are coming for diesel, they need to go to volved in the exercise, as the German, Belgian up to fi fty-ton payloads, but the standard today a pretty good solution in the end. We compiled the neighbouring Hungarian depot. That one and Danish contingents comprised national MP are trailers with sixty to seventy tons payload. the report in numerical codes. Overwhelming is led by Captain Gergely Besenyei. ”During elements. His responsibilities included coordi- Even our modernised tanks reach that limit with majority of soldiers training in this exercise are the exercise, we are proving interoperability of nation and control over their activities to prevent their weight. That naturally causes some trou- able to say numbers in English. As to commu- technology and systems individual armed forces duplication of effort in some instances. bles. NATO tanks are even heavier. In case such nication among mechanics, no problems were employ for storing POL, but also interoperabil- ”In the course of this training exercise, we hardware would be damaged in our territory, we identifi ed. On the exercise, we have experienced ity of our soldiers. We have three American sol- were able to prove all procedures ordained in the would be probably unable to provide them with specialists able to make themselves understood diers over here to expand their familiarity with new doctrines, either in development, or chang- requisite support. Transporting the T-72 recov- without words.“ how our storage facility works. We do not have es that can possibly take place in the develop- ery tank, which meets the fi fty-ton limit, into At the same time, Lieutenant Batěk admits any problems pumping diesel fuel from various ment. Now I refer to the basic level – military the exercise area, the service personnel had to that the armed forces currently best prepared types of tanker trucks. We use fl exible hoses fi t- police offi cers who perform their duties directly replace fi ve tyres. and equipped for improvised fi eld expedient re- ted with European standard connectors. Those in fi eld; that primarily involved inspecting tanks pairs is the Norwegian military. They have pur- are used by a majority of armed forces involved and vehicles plus maintenance of discipline and sued this area on a sustained basis. Their shops in this exercise. If not, we have a range of adapt- order. We have proven all of that and concluded Interoperability tests are equipped with a gamut of material and minor ers available,“ the Hungarian commander says. we have those capabilities and are fully op- In exercise CL13, the German and the Czech items, including various glues, tapes, screws, The mission for tanker trucks is obvious: to erational,“ the MNMPBN commanding offi cer recovery tank are a part of a multinational tubes and clamps. They also have an intriguing distribute fuel to individual units. The Czech added. company-size force with the mission to provide system for reclaiming vehicles stuck under ice. tanker truck crew led by Sergeant Lenka An- LTC Gottfried is scheduled to end his assign- recovery and repairs of equipment, whose com- Without any engine, using only human power tonová is no exception in this regard. “We have ment as the commander of the multinational MP manding offi cer is Lieutenant Robert Batěk of and pulleys, they are able to recover vehicles only resupplied French forces by now. First of battalion in December later this year, when he the Czech Armed Forces 142nd Maintenance weighing up to twenty-fi ve tons. Many other all, all diesel fuel distribution documents must will hand over to his Polish successor. Battalion based in Klatovy. That post should be nations brought along to the exercise technical be made out. With that in hand, we go to the unit fi lled by a Lieutenant-Colonel ranked offi cer, novelties that only exist in the form of technol- we are to resupply with POL and the unit con- but it does not mean at all that Robert Batěk ogy demonstrators, such as the French PPLD fi rms it after pumping. There is much more pa- Joint Logistics would not have the necessary experience. Con- recovery truck. The French also showed a very perwork here than in the Czech Armed Forces,“ The time when all logistic support on de- trarily, he is a military hardware maintenance interesting Leclerc recovery tank. the fuel tanker truck commander smiles. Lithua- ployed operations was provided by the big na- and repair expert. He has been through twenty Service personnel of the Czech 142nd Main- nian military also set up a smaller POL distribu- tions and the smaller ones benefi ted from that years of service in the NCO rank corps, a range tenance Battalion deployed three sites in this tion in vicinity. to an extent, is now defi nitely over. There is no of operational deployments and tours in NATO exercise for repairs and maintenance of tracked other choice then to green-light so-called joint structures. Moreover, he has excellent language and wheeled vehicles. Two of those systems projects in logistic as well. ”Logistics is increas- skills. His unit has one hundred personnel divid- only exist in single piece in the Czech Armed Multinational MP ingly at the centre of attention and all trends ac- ed into three platoons, and representing fourteen Forces’ inventory. Sergeant First Class Andrej centuate enhanced multinational cooperation. nations. They have thirty-seven vehicles and Olšanský worked with the CALDO welding sys- Battalion It is the question of collective responsibility tanks available. ”We came up with interoper- tem that can burn through any tank armour plate From the very start, exercise Capable Logis- for the cooperation, which has failed to be im- ability tests to evaluate the ability of individual however thick it may be, but also concrete walls tician saw the participation of the NATO Mul- plemented on operations so far. NATO Nations servicemembers to operate equipment in the in- or rocks. The system may be employed in com- tinational Military Police Battalion, this year and Partners relied on national logistic support. ventory of other nation’s armed forces. All the bat for example for clearing ways for convoys. with Czech Lieutenant-Colonel Roman Gott- There was a lack of trust between NATO and the thirty-seven pieces of equipment we have here Prior to 1989, all operators of that high-per- fried as the commanding offi cer. Seventy-one nations that it would be possible to share capa- have undergone fi eld tests. Our primary objec- formance welding unit were strictly registered, MNMPBN members altogether joined the exer- bilities. Because of that, it was one of the ob- tive is to provide quick fi eld repairs on the spot. because they are able to penetrate even the most cise, of whom there were seventeen Czech MPs. jectives of our exercise to prove that something After such provisional repair, it is up to the tac- protected strongboxes. History of that project goes back to 2002. The like that may work quite successfully. Each of tical commander to decide whether he would Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Croatia our functional areas was attended by ten or more continue using the piece of equipment or have agreed then in the Prague NATO Summit that national armed forces. I am confi dent that indi- it transported into the closest stationary depot Field POL depots they would contribute to the development of vidual nations will share their capabilities both to properly replace the damaged components. Another vital commodity for operational de- deployable combat support forces by building on bilateral and multilateral level,“ Colonel Pe- In addition, we have to support the exercise as ployments is petroleum, oil and lubricants. For a multinational military police battalion. The likán underscores and does not hide the fact that such, ranging from repairs, transportation or the needs of exercise Capable Logistician, fi eld implementation agreement was signed by senior the exercise was a success in his view. recovery of vehicles. Our soldiers have again POL depots of American, German and Hungar- Military Police offi cials representing individual The opportunity to expand one’s familiar- proved here to have the ”golden Czech hands”,“ ian armed forces were built in the Lešť training nations in June 2007. In September 2012, the ity with the newest equipment in the inventory Lieutenant Batěk smiles. ”The repairs we had to area. Whereas the American depot was charac- MNMPBN successfully passed fi nal certifi ca- of individual nations is said to be invaluable. do in a fi eld expedient manner include overhaul terised by a high mobility and building speed, tion and achieved full operational capability in Outcomes from the exercise will become one of of high-pressure hydraulic or fuel pipes. Then the German site stored air fuel and Hungarian exercise Sharp Lynx 2012 in Wedrzyn, Poland,. the feedbacks to possibly be refl ected in NATO we put them to a pressure test. It is not by coin- provided diesel fuel for vehicles. “Keeping the full operational capability and standardisation agreements and Allied publica- cidence that our maintainers have achieved the The German depot has the capacity exceed- potential operational deployment requires a con- tions. ”Our logisticians, not only from the 14th highest values.“ ing one hundred and fi fty thousand litres of fuel. tinuous and comprehensive training. That was logistic brigade and its battalions, participated in Together with his subordinates, Lieutenant ”We have used this fuel storage system in Oper- one of the reasons why we decided to involve the exercise and based on what they could see Batěk prepared two test sites, one for tracked ation ISAF in Afghanistan on standard basis. My the multinational military police battalion in the here, they already raised specifi c requirements. and the other for wheeled vehicles for soldiers depot crew has already served three rotations in exercise Capable Logistician. We have by now We will have no choice in the future but to in- to practise various activities. ”All tanks here had ISAF. The fi rst facility comprises a fi eld lab, focused on combat support and force protection crease our focus on operations in which we will the chance to practice pulling a damaged Leop- where we are able to operatively control qual- of operational deployments. Here we had to ad- have to provide logistic support over strategic ard tank with cables, or push it onto the transport ity of accepted fuel. Two technicians serve shifts just our focus slightly and play the role of some distances. That is indeed what we have accentu- trailer. That is an activity that not all armed forc- there, who have undergone a six-week training. sort of a component supporting units provid- ated in relation with the development of the Eu- es consented to. But we are using that technique The next site is where we organise fuel unload- ing support on operational deployments,“ LTC ropean Union Battle Group the Czech Republic normally in case the winch is out of operation,“ ing and pumping. Then we have mobile tanks Gottfried points out. ”Our primary mission here is building together with other Visegrad Four Lieutenant Batěk explains. ”As to wheeled ve- for storing fuel and for keeping substances that has been to check on observance of discipline states for standby in 2016. We therefore attach hicles, we had an imitated road accident. It was do not meet mandatory standards for a variety of and order, provision of security and safety to a high priority to the strengthening of strategic a rolled-over Tatra 148 truck. We always ordered reasons. The last component is the distribution all units in training both on movements and at lift and sustainability of deployed forces beyond two vehicles to the accident site. One pulled and point,“ says the depot commander First-Lieuten- checkpoints.“ thirty days plus some additional matters,“ Colo- the other pushed. It was because both machines ant Alessio Fiorentino. In exercise Capable Logistician 2013 Lieuten- nel Pelikán said. were to continue in the combat activities, so we A Czech Tatra tanker truck has arrived at ant-Colonel Gottfried was both the commander could not afford damaging them as we rolled the the storage facility in the meantime. First- of the multinational MP battalion, but also the by Vladimír Marek 6 7 Operations

“People in the southern part of Mali react to our presence very positively,“ confi rms the commanding offi cer of the Czech unit in Mali, Sending Instructors First-Lieutenant Marek Štěpánek. “We have not encountered any negative attitudes. People are very open and friendly to us,“ he adds. Asked what is hardest here for soldiers, he answers smil- ing: “The local climate is by far the most diffi - cult part. The heat is sweltering. The equipment to MALI also suffers, particularly car tyres that wear very fast.“ ”When we go out and take bottled water, “Cooperation with Czech soldiers is absolute- we can make tea with it straightaway when we ly seamless. I highly value their manner, preci- come back,“ team leader Staff Sergeant Martin sion and their high professionalism in perform- Šelmovský adds. “And when it rains, heat com- ance of service duties,“ said the Commander of bines with high humidity and insects carrying the European Union Training Mission (EUTM) malaria and other dangerous diseases. We have General Francois Lecointre of France in refer- already had one case of malaria. We were lucky ence to the Czech soldiers deployed in Mali in to contain it early and transported the soldier to the meeting with the Czech Chief of Defence, the German military hospital at Koulikoro base. Lieutenant-General Petr Pavel, who visited the He returned after three days and he has been OK Czech deployment in Bamako together with his so far,“ 1LT Štěpánek adds. ”Transport here is deputy Major-General Aleš Opat in the middle of also interesting,“ the commander describes an- June. The delegation also included Senator Josef other Malian specifi city the Czech deployment Regec, member of the Czech Senate Committee have struggled with. “We provide security to con- for Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security. voys transporting VIPs and hazardous cargo, such In the discussions with General Pavel, Gen- as ammunition and weapons transfers in Bamako eral Lecointre confi rmed the situation in the and on to the Koulikoro base. We have to be alert south of Mali was more stable and safer than in not to get involved in road accidents, which hap- the north. ”Of course it is worse in the northern pen here on daily basis,“ 1LT Štěpánek points part that is harder to control given the environ- out. ”The locals ride scooters and motorbikes and ment there. Thanks to the EU Training Mission, are absolutely unpredictable. You never know Malian armed forces however did achieve some where they may pop up. All of a sudden they ap- progress. It will take some more time, before it proach from the right and left and do not bother Offi cial name: Republic of Mali is fully operational and self-reliant, but we are General Petr Pavel met with Commander EUTM General Frnacois Lecointre of France at the HQ in Bamako. themselves with any rules,“ one of the drivers on 2 the Czech unit smiles. ”Three- to four-day trips Area: 1,240,192 km over distances exceeding six hundred kilometres Population: 14,517,176 (2011) 2 are more challenging. Travelling here takes time Density: 11.7 inhabinants / km factsheet as local roads are indeed far away from European Capital: Bamako 1,926,748 inhabitants (2012) standards,“ First-Lieutenant Štěpánek concludes. Offi cial language: French „ The European Union Training Mis- As to the security of the Headquarters, Czech Currency: West African CFA Francs (XOF) = 100 centims sion was established based on soldiers perform that prestigious assignment Administrative structure: 8 regions and capital district UN Security Council Resolution without problems. ”We work with Malian troops ISO country code: ML/MLI/466 2071 of 2012 and request by the and a security agency to check persons enter- NATO country code: MLI Government of Mali. UNSCR 2071 ing the HQ area on foot or in cars. We also hold calls upon all member states, re- a quick reaction team duty for the contingency gional and international organisa- of an attack. In case of an attack, our mission would automatically be subordinate in such cooperation with the Czech soldiers. We are tions including the African Union is to prevent the opponent from penetrating contingency. meeting twenty-year-four-old Umark Culibali and the European Union to provi- the area,“ describes to commander of the unit, Malian troops involved in providing secu- at the entry gate. He is just checking an incom- de assistance to the Government whom all military personnel serving at the HQ rity to EUTM HQ also speak highly about their ing vehicle and smiles in reply to our greeting. of Mali and Malian armed forces “They speak French, but we also teach them in the form of training, materiel some Czech, and they are doing pretty well,“ and equipment. one of the Czech soldiers comments. „ The EUTM mission in Mali was ten- Their leader, twenty-six-year-old Sergeant tatively mandated for 15 months. Adama Secu Samake, who has been in the mili- „ Thirty-four strong Czech unit has tary for three years and had a combat experience operated in Bamako, the capital from the north of Mali in Timbuktu, sees a posi- ONe of the primary mission of the Czech unit is to provide escort to convoys and VIP transfers. The CZech of Mali, since the middle of March tive development in the security situation of his servicemembers use their LRD Kajman vehicles or commerical cars from HQ EUTM. 2012. Their tour will last six mon- country as opposed to when he fought in the ths till September, when they will northern part. ”Including thanks to the training on a good track,“ General Lecointre concluded he outlined the near-term future of Czech sol- be relieved. provided by EU military personnel, our armed on the more optimistic note. diers on the African continent and added that „ Led by commanding offi cer First- forces, our armed forces progressively improve. “Maybe not geographically, but Africa the shape of the mission and possible expansion Lieutenant Marek Štěpánek, the With your help, we are going to make it,“ he is closer in reality to us more than we have will be subject to discussions on political and force comprises service person- concludes and adds it is an honour for him to thought, because problems in the African region military level in EU Brussels in the second half nel of the 43rd Airborne Battalion serve with the armed forces and thus do some- may spill over to the European continent very of this year. General Pavel was also pleased to home-based in Chrudim. Many thing for the security of his country. Uttered by fast,“ General Pavel underlined meeting the note that opposed to Afghanistan, where Czech of them have served operational him, those words absolutely do not sound like Commander EUTM. “I think therefore it is good servicemembers have also been deployed, the tours in Afghanistan, Kosovo and a phrase and substantiate the service of Czech for us to take part in missions here, and we will security situation does not compare. “It is much Bosnia and Herzegovina before. soldiers in the country of Mali. seek to stabilise this problematic region,“ Gen- safer here. The operating environment and the „ Their primary mission is to provide eral Pavel added. ”On the second rotation sched- population here are by far not that hostile and security to EUTM Headquarters, uled in September, we plan to include several soldiers are not faced with immediate threat,“ personnel and convoy escorts. by COL Jana Růžičková, instructors to assist on training Malian troops,“ General Pavel concluded. General Aleš Opata commended the troops for a good job. Public Diplomacy Section of the General Staff 8 9 Training

The British Military Advisory and Training Team (BMATT) in Czech Republic trained focuses knowledge and methodology necessary nearly ten thousand soldiers during its twelve years’ history for training soldiers. Flexible approach The menu also includes a peace support op- erations planning course, training planning and Under the baton assessment and a shooting course. ”That is natu- rally not centered on some sort of static train- ing at the range. We seek that students learned essential techniques and knowledge for them to be able to train a unit to the standards enabling effective combat fi re on operations. When sol- of experienced sergeants diers get ambushed, they must be very effective in what they do,“ Colonel Cuthbert underscores. ”But we do not train purely military skills only. A huge mushroom of fi re popped up on the horizon, Understanding between the British and Czech Only course graduates learn a lot about ethics of Ministries of Defence. In 2008, BMATT was international operations. soon to be replaced by a thick smoke screen. But it took expanded with fi ve Czech soldiers. The MoU We seek to instil in them the principles of at least ten more seconds for the shockwave to arrive. was extended for another period of fi ve years conduct, sexual abuse prevention, familiarise in 2010. The seventeen-member British team No mistake could be made. A coalition aircraft was presently comprises fi ve commissioned offi cers, four senior and eight junior non-commissioned downed. The quick reaction team was activated at once. offi cers. The fi ve-member Czech team has one offi cer and four senior non-commissioned offi c- Soldiers managed to identify the point of around. The course students, mostly junior com- ers. BMATT instructors trained about ten thou- impact quite quickly. But before they arrived manders, only watched the British instructors sand soldiers in twenty years. the area, insurgents moved over there as well. lead the training session. The training repeats The BMATT mission has been to help cen- A fi refi ght broke out immediately. While one with the same scenario on the following day. tral and eastern European countries develop team of blue forces repelled the opposing forces Students themselves then take over the role of their militaries, particularly by training in- with fi re, the other sought to provide fi rst aid to the instructors. Thanks to such a consistent ap- structors. The Brits provide military training the downed aircrew. proach, observations gained during the course courses, assistance on training and specialist That was a fragment of a training session really get under their skin. consulting. Their training sessions are one of the led by the British Military Advisory and Train- most sought-after and the Czech Armed Forces ing Team (BMATT) based in Vyškov. Instruc- servicemembers show considerable interest in tors did not hide that they had been inspired by From Caucasus to Morocco attending those courses. The team has various latest lessons learnt in Afghanistan. But in this BMATT has been active in Vyškov since active cooperative formats with thirty-three mil- case, only role-players were fi ghting for the pi- October 2000. The inception of the team itary forces of countries in Africa, Asia and Eu- lots’ life amidst tyres on fi re and smoke this time was preceded by signing a Memorandum of rope. ”Infl uence of our instructors extends from Caucasus through Balkans, North Africa to Mo- Up to eight such travels are realised annually. them with local habits and a plenty of other rocco. It is not just about those countries sending Those may involve assistance, courses or direct things. The courses we organise in foreign coun- their soldiers into the Czech Republic; in case it training of forces, recently mainly predeploy- tries have contents similar to those in Vyškov. appears more effi cient, we send small training ment before deploying downrange Afghanistan. But we are very fl exible. If requested by the host teams into countries interested. The teams train The British team is funded from multiple nation, we may adjust syllabi to local condi- domestic servicemembers on the spot. Our aim sources. The costs of personnel sent to a course tions and requirements.“ British defence attaché is for servicemembers of those militaries to im- are borne by the country they come from. The Colonel Andrew Shepherd had an opportunity prove their specialist expertise and the capability Czech Republic provides training facilities, of- some time ago to see a demonstration of com- to send forces into diverse foreign missions. We fi ces and lecture rooms including equipment bat with bayonets on. ”I noticed the dummies are using British methodology and tactics, and free of charge. At the same time, Czechs provide imitating the opposing forces had been made we teach newest lessons we gain from personnel training support including weapons, military of refuse – a simple idea that enables course returning from foreign deployments. transportation and role players in case needed. participants to organise similar training back at We train the trainer. The training we provide They also bear the cost associated with running home without any problems. And with practical- is shared on by our students. The key empha- the Czech section of the team. The remaining ly zero costs. The contemporary defence forces sis is laid on leadership,“ Commander BMATT part of the unit is covered by the United King- are in need of exactly that rational way of think- Colonel Andrew Cuthbert explains. ”We would dom. The UK pays wages to the instructors and ing,“ he described his impressions. Just in 2012, not exist without the support the Czech Repub- the associated allowances, housing and trans- BMATT organised a junior commanders’ course lic provides us with. That is simply central for portation costs, medical care on training and for Georgia, instructor training course for Mo- us. And I would like to thank you very much for abroad plus per diem. The Czech Republic in- rocco and Kazakhstan, training leading course that. We have quality training areas, good offi ces vests roughly two million Czech korunas to the for Kosovo, provided predeployment training and lecture rooms available at Vyškov.“ project on annual basis. The British budget is to a Ukrainian battalion and prepared Romanian also in millions, but GBP. and Czech forces ahead of their deployment in For example, the list of training courses of- Afghanistan. Two hundred Czech soldiers un- Seven training courses fered at Vyškov on regular basis includes a sen- derwent this type of training. According to Brit- BMATT organises the total of seven types ior offi cers’ seminar. It just takes three days and ish instructors, Czechs servicemembers mostly of training courses, and majority are instructor is rather a familiarisation type of event. Contra- rank in the upper third in the fi nal evaluation. courses. Lecturing is done solely in English. rily, the junior commanders’ course lasts four Czechs are often evaluated as the best course Each course is attended by twenty-fi ve to thirty- weeks and is held twice a year. It is designed students at all. And that is absolutely not based fi ve participants from twelve to fi fteen coun- to develop leadership skills with junior com- on some courtesy criterions. Evaluation is very tries. Up to three hundred students are trained in manders. Students spend most of their time in precise and strict in this case. Vyškov that way on annual basis. But there are the fi eld, which is quite demanding, particu- many more trained by our four-member travel- larly in wintertime. Ever longer is the instruc- by Vladimír Marek ling teams directly in their countries. tor course that lasts six weeks. That primarily photos by Vladimír Marek and BMATT 1010 11 Operations Operational assignment accomplished and new professional experience – that was the Baltic Air Policing EPILOGUE to the Baltic mission A muster offi cially concluded the four-month deployment by a Czech Armed Forces’ task force for the Baltic Air Policing mission. That was a mission that signifi cantly differed from the standard land deployments through its nature and particularly the operational assignment. The epilogue was written by those who took part in the mission.

From the fi rst day of September 2012, the three Baltic States started nine years ago and diffi cult it is for those who lose that capability that I was just serving a QRA duty when CAOC owning supersonic capability – there are seven For their outstanding performance in the Bal- Czech Air Force JAS-39C Gripen aircraft as- fourteen NATO air forces set up thirty-one rota- or resign on it for any reason. Uedem scrambled us up,“ says the fi ghter pilot of them at the moment in NATO – is provided tic Air Policing mission and excellent represen- signed to the NATO Integrated Air Defence Sys- tions that took part in the endeavour. Belgians His other viewpoint of the Baltic mission is with two hundred and fi fty hours logged fl ying by other Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty. tation of the Czech Armed Forces abroad, First- tem (NATINADS) provided security to the air- with F-16AM aircraft started fi rst and today the closely associated with professional readiness of the Gripen. A couple of moments later he lets Mission performance by the Czech task force Lieutenant Martin Pelc was conferred the Cross space and territorial waters of Lithuania, Latvia QRA at Shiauliai airfi eld Lithuania is provided the task force members. “It only confi rmed my show how much he values the fi vefold coinci- was also valued by political and military author- of Merit of the Minister of Defence 3rd Class, and Estonia. Same as during their premiere in by the Danes with F-16s maintain the alert. conviction that high-quality people ensure per- dence. “It is about additional professional expe- ities of all three Baltic States. Not only was it and Colonel Petr Lanči, First-Lieutenant Kamil the Baltics from 1 May through 31 August 2009, formance of the missions we are assigned. We rience. During your premiere intercept, you are an expression of NATO’s solidarity, but it also Kopáč, Warrant Offi cer Václav Voves and Ser- the Czech task force primarily formed by the have pilots who were respectable protectors of under a great pressure to get everything right. reconfi rmed the high credit the Czech military geant Radek Loukotka were decorated with the ground and fl ight personnel ”Tiger” 211th Tacti- Next challenge? Iceland! the area of responsibility, maintainers and other You know the procedures, but you need to be in professionals enjoy in the Baltic States. That fact Czech Armed Forces meritorious service badge cal Squadron based in Čáslav, again proved their The Baltic Air Policing mission can be ground specialists who maintained the aircraft control of the adrenaline as well. As the score undoubtedly also makes proud the commanding 3rd class. A token of appreciation for exemplary quality. Over approximately a four-month de- judged from several perspectives. Colonel Petr serviceable almost under all conditions, and the increases, you are much calmer. Self-confi dence offi cer of the fi rst Czech Armed Forces deploy- performance of service duties on foreign opera- ployment, they performed fi fteen alpha scram- Lanči, Commander of the 21st Tactical Air members of staff and supporting components, grows, you are able to foresee better,“ says the ment in the Baltic Air Policing and the com- tional deployment in the territory of Lithuania ble take-offs to intercept targets in their area of Force Base and Commanding offi cer of the who provided an outstanding specialist support QRA pilot and sternly introduces his aerial tar- mander of the 211th Tactical Squadron, Lieu- was presented to Major Jan Ondrysek, Major responsibility. Czech Task Force, discusses two aspects. ”We and service,“ Colonel Lanči underscores and gets in the Baltics: “Russian Antonov, Ilyushin tenant-Colonel Jaroslav Míka. “We benefi tted Martin Pelda and Master-Sergeant Jan Kodras. In all instances, they met the fi fteen-minute have left a very remarkable and positive foot- points out ”double“ employment both at home and Tupolev airplanes.“ from the fact that it was an identical operational All deployment members were decorated with takeoff limit on order by the Combined Air Op- print in the Baltics; not only as professionals in Čáslav and in Shiauliai, which was fully per- He declines to provide details of the alphas assignment we had three years ago. In the long- Czech Defence Minister’s Service abroad med- erations Centre (CAOC) in Uedem, Germany. capable of doing their job well and adequately formed by a single unit, the 211th tactical squad- he performed. Understandably, details cannot term preparation for our second deployment, we al. The distinguished persons also included Mr. They logged 326 fl ight hours and performed 298 equipped, but also as military personnel of ron of General František Chábera equipped with be made public. First-Lieutenant Kopáč nev- could build on previous lessons, knowledge of Tomáš Kostúr, sales manager of the Sieza s. r. sorties in the Baltic States, which is above the a country that has substantial air defence capa- fourteen JAS-39C/D Gripen fi ghters. It holds ertheless generally discusses one night alpha the area of responsibility and of logistic support o. company, who received a commemorative average compared to other NATO contingents. bilities to ensure own national sovereignty as true at the Čáslav AFB as well that an end to scramble, in which a pair of QRA Gripens could of personnel and aircraft. Air policing operation badge in appreciation of their long-standing co- Those are fi gures that astonish the aviation well as that of our Partners,“ he says and un- something marks the beginning of something not approach the target optimally as they were procedures do not change as well as the fact operation through supporting the Čáslav airbase community and attest to excellent professional derscores how important it is for an independ- new. Another effort is coming up soon: “Iceland already in proximity of the border of the area of that we remain under control of the Combined with technology systems. and personal qualities of all those involved. As ent and sovereign state to have own air force Air Policing in 2014,“ Colonel Petr Lanči adds. responsibility, and demanding tracking of the Air Operations Center in Uedem, Germany. Air “Your military air mission in the Baltics was a matter of fact, air policing provided to the deployable for NATINADS operations and how target above the airplane they originally took off policing process in NATINADS is standardised, the second regular test of our tactical air units’ to. only the mandate in foreign countries differs.“ maturity in terms of technology and readiness The alpha man It may come as a surprise to some that Selection of fl ight personnel for the Baltic Air of its servicemembers to operate outside the do- First-Lieutenant Kamil Kopáč has served a unique portion of alpha scrambles in the Baltic Policing mission was not unusual in any respect. mestic soil. It should be emphasised, that it was NATINADS QRA duty for eighteen months. He airspace did not make First-Lieutenant Kopáč to Those fl ying QRA at home are also deployable again a very successful test,“ Defence Minister had one alpha during that time to a commercial throw a party. ”I should admit that the lads from over foreign country’s territory. ”It is no exag- Vlastimil Picek underscored in his remarks. airliner that had failed to communicate with the the squadron kidded me about that for some geration that piloting Gripen fi ghters is a choice Words of praise addressing the Czech BAP air traffi c management while in the Czech air- time. But no parties took place. Lithuania was profession. Twenty pilots are trained for quick deployment were also voiced by the Deputy space. Although lasting two months, his mission soon followed by routine ambience of QRA du- reaction alert and it does not matter what air sta- Chief of General Staff – Chief of Staff, Major- in the Baltics substantially changed his stats. ties back home at Čáslav AFB.“ tion they perform that mission from,“ the com- General Bohuslav Dvořák: ”You accomplished He had fi ve Alpha Scramble take-offs to in- mander of the “Tiger“ 211th Squadron explains the operational assignment without any prob- tercept targets that did not follow fl ight plans, and underlines that logistic support must be in lems and again to excellent standards. Moreo- and always took off as number two (wingman). Double mission line with the demands of the mission. ver, you learnt a range of additional professional It reality, those were both military and commer- lessons. Flying over water or sorties intercept- cial airplanes of the Russian Federation. Flying concurrently ing other countries’ combat assets represented into their Kaliningrad exclave or back, Russians Article three the North Atlantic Treaty lays Decent conclusion a unique experience that you would hardly gain frequently deviate from the route or have their down that NATO nations are obliged, separately Leading offi cials of the Ministry of Defence, over the domestic territory, where you normally transponders switched off. That is an onboard and jointly, to develop their capacity to resist an the General Staff, Joint Force Command, Mem- take off to commercial airliners.“ device that enables automatic airplane identifi - armed attack. In terms of fi ghter aircraft, that bers of the Parliament, mayors, military com- cation in the airspace for the needs of air traffi c specifi cally translates that each NATO nation manders and other distinguished guests thanked management and also identifi es basic param- is entitled to the same standards of its airspace the task force members for a job well done in by Pavel Lang First Deputy Minister Picek accompanied by airbase commander Colonel Lanči eters of the machine. “I regard it a coincidence security and that defence of the countries not a ceremony at the Čáslav airbase. photos by autor and Jan Kouba 12 13 Operations

PProvincialrovincial ReconstructionReconstruction TTeameam LLogarogar wwrappingrapping uupp iinn AfghanistanAfghanistan afterafter fi vvee yearsyears “The Czech Provincial Reconstruction Team The Logar Provincial Reconstruction Team’s soldiers in Wardak. The funding came from the (PRT) started to operate fi ve years ago in Logar. civilian component (CIVEX) comprised experts Czech national budget and donations by non- Since then, around twenty-fi ve hundred Czech selected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the governmental and humanitarian organisations men and women in uniform and thirty-nine ci- Czech Republic. ”Our job was to design and re- and charity collections. vilian experts have served here. I am proud to alise specifi c reconstruction programs focusing ”Whereas the civilian element focused on re- have the contributed to the development of the on security, water management, agriculture, in- construction projects, the military component’s province together with our Afghan partners frastructure, education and community projects. primary mission was to provide security to the and coalition forces,“ said the commanding of- Throughout our endeavour in Logar priorities civilian experts. Given the security situation in fi cer of the 10th Logar PRT contingent Colonel of the PRT civilian element were to support the the province, it was vital to provide an armed Josef Kopecký. The U.S. forward operating base local government, media and economic devel- escort off-base. We also assigned a quick reac- Shank became a temporary home for them. The opment in the province,“ Ms. Magdalena Pok- tion team permanently on high combat readiness PRT closing ceremony was held Thursday Janu- ludová, the leader of the civilian component, alert to respond in the province should the need ary 31, 2013. explains. ”Over the last six months, we focused arise. Last but not least, the Czech EOD (Ex- The fi rst part of the ceremony took place in on completing ongoing efforts. I am glad to have plosive Ordnance Disposal) team searched and the morning, making farewell with the Ameri- fi nalised all projects and handed them over to disposed unexploded ordnance and improvised can comrades of the 173rd Airborne Brigade the locals,“ Ms. Pokludová adds. ”One of the explosive devices. We also performed several Combat Team that forms the Task Force Bayo- primary missions the PRT had was to support resupplying convoys between Camp Shank and net. They were stationed at Camp Shank same as and enhance capabilities of the Afghan National Kabul,“ Colonel Kopecký highlighted. Czechs. ”I hope, Colonel Rohling, that you and Security Forces. We have been actively involved The core of the last 10th PRT deployment your warriors will remember us as good friends in mentoring and training Afghan National Po- comprised servicemembers of the 74th Light and reliable allies,“ Colonel Kopecký said. The lice and gunmen of the Afghan National Army,“ Motorised Battalion stationed in Bučovice, aug- main ceremony then took place in the afternoon says the Logar PRT commanding offi cers Colo- mented with personnel serving with the 72nd in attendance of the Governor of the Logar prov- nel Josef Kopecký. Mechanised Battalion, Headquarters 7th Mecha- ince, Mohammad Iqbal Azizi, and offi cials of The so-called Quick Impact Projects realised nised Brigade in Hranice and other units of the the Afghan National Security Forces. by the PSYOPS/CIMIC team were an integral Czech Armed Forces. The 10th PRT operated in ”We are very happy that Czechs, our partners part of the efforts supporting performance of Logar from August 2012 till January 2013. and friends, have generously taken part in re- the operational assignment. The Quick Impact The primary equipment used in performance construction and development of the province. Projects had a different nature than the big re- of the operational assignment were IVECO and Since the day you came to Logar, the province construction activities. The QIPs created a more Dingo light multirole armoured vehicles, Pandur changed unrecognizably,“ the Logar province favourable perception of Czech forces by local wheeled armoured fi ghting vehicles and U.S. governor Mohammad Iqbal Azizi said in his inhabitants. The 10th PSYOPS/CIMIC team MAXXPro MRAP type of vehicles. Czech warf- remarks. has successfully completed forty-three tasks ighters were armed with the new Czech-made Czechs made a good job in Logar. The Czech with a broad focus. That involved mathematics calibre 5.56mm CZ 805 BREN assault rifl es and PRT’s fi ve-year endeavour was also highly val- competition, procurement of equipment for the other small arms and light weapons. ued by the U.S. Task Force Bayonet civilian offi - children’s ward of hospital in Pol-e Alam, ma- cial, Mr. David Gallalee: ”The Czech Provincial terial support to independent media, agricultural Reconstruction Team has set the standard for the courses, reading, writing and sewing courses for international community how to design and real- local women, reinforcing ANSF checkpoints by MAJ Jindřich Plescher ize reconstruction and development projects.“ or renovation of a dining facility for Afghan photos by LT Robert Čihař 14 15 Training

“If we are to fi ght together, we must train together“ – that is the motto of company. Pilots and fl ight engineers from ”On the fi rst two days, they have a series of main gearbox. Another training block focuses on Czech, Croatian and Hungarian Air Forces were lectures analysing both current situation in the fl ying in mountain and dusty environments. The preparatory courses for Czech, Croat and Hungarian Mi-171 helicopter aircrews ahead up to sixty-three hours of indoor training divided area of deployment and the specifi cs of perform- simulator is capable of generating high-fi delity of their deployment in Afghanistan into subject-matter blocks. ing the operational assignment in multinational rendering of mountains, high temperatures and Outsiders would ask: ”Why in HTP?“ The aircrews,“ says Lieutenant-Colonel Jaroslav Fal- brown-out and white-out landings and takeoffs. reason is simple – there is no such sophisticat- ta, commander of the 243rd Helicopter Squad- The closing part centers on the most important: ed fl ight simulator of the one-seven-oner that ron based at Prague-Kbely, who serves as one fl ying tactical missions,“ LTC Falta and adds would have identical cab, and enable drilling of the course instructors and specifi es that the that helicopter aircrews receive a tasking order tactics and emergencies in the Czech Repub- next phase of training is done on the Mi-171Sh and elaborate on that in the prescribed way. Training with impact lic. The HTP staff represent another valuable fl ight simulator equipped with state-of-the-art Those mostly include transport missions into know-how. simulation technology. ”A multinational aircrew specifi c location that are named the same as in Training of helicopter aircrews follows the gets seated in the simulator and starts with a fa- Afghanistan. Detailed debriefi ngs comprise an Sudden enemy fi re from the ground hits one of on practical experience. I maintain the opinion well-proven method – from the simple to the miliarisation fl ight. Then the students rehearse integral part thereof. that every mentor, although they serve tours on more diffi cult. emergencies in fl ight, such as fi re on engine or ”The contents of predeployment courses is the engines of the Mi-171Sh transport helicopter. the Air Advisor Team repeatedly, benefi t from not identical. We modify it based on current situ- Czech-Croat aircrews are forced to tackle an emergency this preparatory training course.“ ation in the area of deployment. To achieve that, Major Kořínek would also like to contribute we are in permanent contact with AAT deploy- in fl ight. Thankfully it is just an activity at simulator at the lessons he has learnt in Afghanistan to the ments downrange as well as with experienced AAT PTC. Here is one of them: ”I would in- military pilots,“ Croat instructor Lieutenant- the Helicopter Training Point (HTP) Ostrava CZ training clude test pilot training into the course curricu- Colonel Michael Križanec says. facility at Mošnov airfi eld. lum as well. That is currently a topic the Afghan Former U.S. Army pilot Kevin G. is also Air Force has paid a considerable attention to.“ a highly valued instructor. He now shares his The Air Advisor Team Pre-Deployment ”Our Hungarians colleagues also joined com- To have a complete picture, we need to un- helicopter experience from operational deploy- Training Course (AAT PTC) continues, this time mon preparation for the deployment in Afghani- ravel a much more ambitious goal – the Multi- ments in hotspots with AAT PTC students. It is with its third edition. Joint training of Mi-17/171 stan and sent fi ve fl ight personnel into the third national Aviation Training Centre (MATC) for an incredible experience for aviation connois- transport helicopter aircrews prior to their de- edition of the AAT PTC course. Employment of Mi platform fl ight and ground personnel. And seurs to watch him in action. With his original ployment in Afghanistan to man additional rota- a Czech Air Force Mi-24/35 attack helicopter the Air Advisor Team Pre-Deployment Training Americanese full of idioms and acronyms, he tions of the Air Advisor Team (AAT) responsible for fl ight training in Croat airspace also repre- Course should provide the basis for MATC. It puts students under intensifying pressure in- for training Afghan Air Force personnel started sents progress.“ should be mentioned in this respect that MATC cluding by sudden changes in the area of inter- at Ostrava-Mošnov in January at the beginning It is not a secret that Czech and Croat mentors establishment was approved already by the est. “They have to learn to tackle extraordinary of this year and continued in February at Zemu- have been stationed at the Kabul International NATO summit in Chicago. Development of situations in extraordinary circumstances. Here nik Donji airbase close to Zadar, Croatia. Airport and Hungarians with Italians and Ameri- the Czech contribution into Smart Defence will we simulate conditions corresponding to the re- The premiere run in the framework of this cans perform basic training for Afghan pilots at build on the capacity of the CLV Flight Train- ality on the ground in Afghanistan,“ Kevin G. multinational activity took place in April and the Shindand airfi eld. Their tour normally lasts ing Centre in Pardubice, Czech Republic. By the comments. May 2012 and was followed by another edition four and a half months. Lieutenant-Colonel Petr way, the multinational aspect of the joint training Many a reader may question the rationale be- within less than a six months’ time. ”Our inten- Kratochvíl and Captain Robert Rajtmajer com- of both NATO and Partner nations at the HTP hind of these training camps, knowing the fact tion is to realise six training courses. The Czech menced mentoring activities on Mi-17 in Kabul training was a frequent subject of discussions. It that the students are not aviation rookies, but Government’s mandate for military professional in November 2010. Major Josef Kořínek com- goes without saying that additional signatories seasoned heli guys with a considerable log. in the AAT mission continues to be valid through pleted his tour as a part of the 7th AAT deploy- are soon to join the Czech-Croat initiative. “It is defi nitely not a waste of time. No one 2014. Such joint preparation is the best step to ment in December 2012. “In my case, it was here thinks that is the case. They drill situations achieve harmonisation of the standard operating a premiere tour in Afghanistan and the prede- in conditions that are not standard for them. procedures for using Mi family of helicopters ployment course undoubtedly helped me to get Mountains and sea after And when they leave the simulator in a sweat, and thus to rationalise activities of the instruc- familiar with the operational assignment fast. they know today they have experienced a situa- tors in training the Afghan Air Force fl ight and The situation on the ground quickly changes. It the sim tion they have never been in before. Today they ground personnel,“ says Major Miloslav Synek is a highly dynamic process. Any qualifi ed in- On the third week in January, seventeen AAT managed to stay out of harm’s way and that in- of the MoD Force Development Division – Op- formation you get in advance is extremely valu- PTC participants started the training course creases their professional preparedness, but also erations Division and describes some novelties. able for the pilots. The more so that it is based at the facility of the Helicopter Training Point mental resilience,“ LTC Falta opines and high- lights comprehensiveness of training. The used hardware is not a problem either. Although the Ostrava-based simulator of one-seven-oner is only identical to Mi-171Sh machines that are in the inventory of the Czech Air Force, the Croat confi guration only differs insignifi cantly. And fi nally, they would take off the Kabul airport with Afghan machines that will also have minor differences as opposed to the Czech ”original”. “It does not cause any complications. It does not really matter whether this or that device on the panel is positioned more to the right or left and whether a different radio is used. You get used to it in no time. It does not affect piloting the chopper,“ AAT PTC pilots explain in unison. After seven fl ight hours on the sim, their next challenge is two-week practical training in the cockpits of the Mi-171Sh helicopters at Zemu- nik Donji airbase at Zadar, Croatia. Their fl ight effort will come to a head with tactical training missions. In other words, nearly the same mis- sions they will be up to in Afghanistan.

by Pavel Lang Photos by Jan Kouba 1616 17 Training Czech, Croat and Hungarian helicrews underwent a joint academic training ahead of their deployment in Afghanistan Disagreement out of question

A calm navigation fl ight dramatically changes in a fraction of second. A red alert lights u before the Mi-171Sh helicopter captain, indicating a malfunction. Concurrently, he gets a voice information into his headset: ”Engine fi re!“ A thick smoke starts to invade the cockpit. The Czech-Croat-Hungarian crew is forced to tackle an emergency. Fortunately that did not happen in the air, but in a fl ight simulator in training centre.

The Helicopter Training Point (HTP) Ostrava with multinational aircrew in the cockpit. None CZ facility hosted what was already the fourth of them made a mistake, as they all followed run of the Czech, Croat and Hungarian Mi-171 their instructions, but certain misunderstanding staff, each AAT PTC run is also equipped with never enough drills for emergency procedures, and Mi-24/35 helicopter pilot predeployment onboard led to the accident. Fortunately nobody an instructor team, whose members possess mountain and brown-out landings as well as for training course. The course placed a specifi c suffered any harm. Such potential accidents may unique helicopter experience from operational mission planning and performance. Especially focus on standardising procedures for operating however be prevented by the means of joint deployments in crisis regions. Another benefi t is when the military professional is scheduled one-seven-oners and harmonising the mentor- training,“ LTC Čepelka concludes. that the specifi c contents on the training courses for deployment in Afghanistan in the matter of ing methodology. Trained fl ight personnel with The training was made possible by the fi nan- are shaped according the current situation in ar- months, where situation changes continuously,“ gunners and ground specialists took part in an- cial assistance provided as a part of the Multi- eas of deployment. ”Each and every course has Lieutenant-Colonel Čepelka argues. other rotation of the Air Advisor Team (AAT national Helicopter Initiative. But since the lack its value added in that we engage instructors who The time is right to look behind the scenes of - previously known as OMLT, then AMT) that of standardisation in the efforts of Air Advisor have just come back from Afghanistan. They the Air Advisor Team Pre-deployment Training has assisted on training members of the Afghan Teams (AAT) is regarded a broader issue, addi- imbue training with current observations from Course, which is driven by a short but complete- Air Force for fi ve years. ”They are slated for de- tional countries have indicated their interest in areas of interest in Afghanistan. In addition, we ly apposite motto: “If we are to fi ght together, ployment in the second half of this year,“ says joining the program both through participating have been promised to have U.S. instructors we must train together.“ The director for train- Lieutenant-Colonel Petr Čepelka, the head of in the training courses and by their willingness permanently assigned to us. That is a huge pro- ing at the Helicopter Training Point is Mr. Li- helicopter and transport air section of the MoD to support the project fi nancially. The Czech Re- fessional benefi t for the training program,“ LTC bor Ostřanský, known in the community as a Force Development – Operations Division, and public attaches a high priority to the AAT Pre- Čepelka argues an adds that they seek to con- former long-serving military helicopter pilot. underscores that this international mission re- deployment Training program, including given tinuously improve the way training is delivered ”There were sadly no joint training courses like hearsal format is extremely effective and sig- the prospect of future development of helicopter in conjunction with HTP Ostrava staff. these during my active-duty service. And they they proceed from seemingly simple to the most nifi cantly contributes to successful mission per- capabilities using the Mi platform. In that spirit, Plans for achieving further progress with would have come so handy for instance in fl ight complex assignments. Initially, the fl ight per- formance in Afghanistan. the Czech Republic came up with the initiative to AAT PTC are numerous and they would make missions in SFOR over the territory of former sonnel are up to forty-fi ve hours of academic The premiere run of the Air Advisor Team build the Multinational Aviation Training Centre a dedicated article. This time around, we will Yugoslavia. Team spirit is the key in aviation. training. Then every pilot completes about seven Predeployment Training Course (AAT PTC) (MATC), whose objective is to rationalise the mention only original maps of areas of interest The whole cockpit must speak a single lan- hours on the fl ight simulator. ”In the fi nal stage, was held a year ago and six additional editions air personnel training system, including both or involvement of experienced instructors from guage. Differing national rules for emergencies helicopter aircrews receive an operational as- have been planned to date. Same as the previ- helicrews and ground specialist maintainers. Afghan Air Force (AAF) in this joint training al- may eventually have even fatal consequences.“ signment they have to develop into a fi ne level ous three runs, this one also divides into two ready at the outset at Ostrava and then in Zadar Captain Petr Šamaj, a pilot of the 24th Air of detail. parts. After academic training hours comprising alike. The next step is tactical training for fl ight Force Base Transportation, who is getting ready Then they fl y their tactical mission that we subject-matter blocks and fl ying tactical mis- Near real-world tactical personnel on sims in foreign countries. Careful for his premiere deployment in Afghanistan, ful- enter into with emergencies. We start at altitudes sions on simulator, the course students moved readers have noticed that the AAT PTC already ly concurs. “Flight crewmembers tend to speak about two thousand metres above sea level and to the Zemunik airbase at Zadar, Croatia, for missions trains Mi-24/35 gunship fl ight personnel togeth- their mother language in emergencies. That is then we go ever higher. It is exhausting for them, a two-week (May 5-19) fi eld training in moun- The one-seven-one simulator based at er with Mi-171 aircrews. It is correct to say that why they are turned multinational and namely but most necessary. Nothing can be underesti- tain, dessert and over-water environments. Their Ostrava-Mošnov, including an identical cockpit, it again brings practical benefi ts, as emergency the U.S. instructor puts a considerable pressure mated in Afghanistan,“ Mr. Ostřanský explains fl ight effort came to a head there by fl ying tacti- is a sophisticated system for practising individ- procedures in particular are indeed identical. on us. You seek to get rid of your habits and and comments on the causes of helicopter ac- cal scenario missions. In other words, they were ual fl ight phases and emergency procedures for ”We are committed to getting the Mi-24/35 air- work together to maximum extent. cidents shown on large screen, which happened up to tasks identical to those they will be per- helicopter aircrews. It offers a high-fi delity ren- crews involved in these mission rehearsal cours- This very much facilitates harmonising op- recently in various parts of the world. forming in the Afghan airspace. ”The impulse dering of mountain environments, extreme tem- es to a greater extent ahead of their deployment eration procedures for us,“ says the experienced that initiated the combined training was a heli- peratures, brown-out, white-out, day and night in Afghanistan. We do so based on their positive military helicopter pilot. The practiced way of by Pavel Lang copter accident close to Afghan-Pakistani border landings. Besides the experienced simulator assessments – they benefi t from it. There are training is elaborated into detail. In general, photos by Jan Kouba 18 19 NATO Czech Air Force pilots with CASA C-295M airplanes made a successful entry into the ATARES program CCASAASA CC-295M-295M FLIGHT HOURS Instead of money

“Cleared for engine start,“ the tower instructs the Twelve hours credit

captain of C-295M CASA turbo-prop transport aircraft. No doubt it is a valuable accomplishment by Lieutenant-Colonel Milan Laniak switches one of the transportation pilots from Prague-Kbely air sta- Basic tactical data: tion, moreover performed with CASA airplanes selectors to the onboard power and another one on that are subject to popular criticism from time to Wingspan ...... 25.81 m time. “It was a successful demonstration of our Length ...... 24.5 m the left engine. Then he initiates ignition and pushes capabilities. We positively proved to our foreign Height ...... 8.66 m the start button. The six-blade propeller starts turning. partners that Czech Air Force pilots’ profes- Maximum speed ...... 576 km/h sional standards and CASA aircraft capabilities Cruise speed ...... 480 km/h Then he starts up the right engine. Major Radim Ulrich are good enough to perform task orders of this Max range ...... 5,630 km does the same in the second machine. kind,“ LTC Milan Laniak says that thanks to Ceiling ...... 7,620 m this premiere run of two C-295M machines the Czech Republic gained almost twelve so-called Airplane captains are cleared for taxiing to Such a scene would be commonplace at their credit fl ight hours, which may be used for realis- fi fty-fi ve Hungarian soldiers on each airplane WO L. Skořepa) had to prepare for. ”In terms Czech input: CASA, the runway threshold. They add power with their home station, the 24th Air Force Prague Kbely. ing own transport tasks with aircraft it does not including baggage from Kecskemet to Pristina, of passenger transportation, it was a completely right hand and steer the nosewheel with their But it was a bit exceptional situation this time. have in its inventory. and we took fi fty-nine passengers with their kits standard fl ight, nothing extraordinary. Just the Airbus and SALIS left. Both C-295M CASA planes already start The airport of departure was Kecskemet, Hun- It is correct to say that Czechs were not alone in the other direction. We completed the mission passenger instructions were in English,“ Lieu- off a couple of minutes later. Pratt & Whitney gary, the destination was Pristina, Kosovo, and to apply for this transportation order on the Kec- without refuelling, and accomplished the order tenant-Colonel Laniak elaborates and adds take- The Air Transport and Air to Air Refuel- PW127G engines are maxed out. passengers were Hungarian servicemembers skemet–Pristina route. Another nation interested one hundred percent,“ LTC Laniak says and offs from Kecskemet and Pristina airports were ling and other Exchanges of Services program The machine is rolling on the runway and rotating in KFOR. It was a premiere run for in taking up the task were Lithuanians with specifi es they learnt about this ATARES trans- performed almost at maximum take-off weight is designed to provide airlift for personnel and when it reaches VR (rotation speed), pilot slight- two Czech Air Force transport aircraft in the C-27J Spartan aircraft. Hungarians decided for port mission in about a thirty days’ advance. (23,200 kg for C-295M CASA aircraft). materiel using capacity available in involved ly pulls the stick. CASA starts climbing to FL ATARES program (Air Transport and Air to Air the Czech Republic because of less fl ight hours Realisation of this premiere ATARES fl ight Since that was a premiere transport of for- countries in support of NATO and the European 180, which is 18,000 feet. Refuelling and other Exchanges of Services). needed, to be more economic. ”We transported should also be credited to the deputy command- eign troops for both captains, their personal Union. ATARES program falls into the respon- er of the 24th Air Force Base, Colonel David impressions should not be omitted. “The feel- sibility of the Movement Coordination Centre Klement, whose effortful managerial activ- ing of responsibility is the same on each fl ight. Europe (MCCE), whose steering component is ity also helped obtain this task for Czechs. This You cannot compare transport tasks based on located in Eindhoven, Netherlands. also begs the question what peculiarities the whether you carry Czech, Hungarian or Ameri- Presently there are twenty-four countries in fl ight personnel (pilots LTC Laniak with CAPT can soldiers or cargo onboard. Nothing alters the the ATARES program, but they are not NATO Michal Malý and MAJ R. Ulrich with CAPT Vít fact that your mission is a safe transport into the and EU member states only; Sweden and Aus- Malina and systems engineers 1LT J. Rozhoň destination,“ both Czech Air Force pilots from tria are also signatory parties. The interesting with 1LT K. Hanulík and WO J. Kocour with Prague-Kbely concur thing is that the United States intends to join in this year as well. The Czech Republic became a member of that progressive group that shares individual capabilities of the signatory parties on 1 November 2011. ”Our fi rst contacts with the MCCE started already seven years ago. The capacity we had offered then however did not match the require- ment. The Tupolev Tu-154 and Antonov An-26 we had in the inventory then did not fi t into what had already been a well-proven and effec- tive transportation system,“ says Colonel Luděk Hradecký, Head of Military Transport and Lo- gistic Information Service Section at the MoD Logistic Policy Division. Two years ago, Czech military offi cials again travelled to Eindhoven. That time around with a much more sophisticated offer: four C-295M CASA transport airplanes, two Airbus A-319CJ machines and available capacity in the Strategic Airlift Interim Solution (SALIS). As for SALIS, the Czech Armed Forces realises strategic airlift by hiring oversize cargo airplanes mostly An- 124 Ruslan operated by Russian and Ukrainian LTC Milan Laniak commercial contractors. 20 21 NATO Operations

But let us get back into the MCCE HQ in program, for instance for training JAS-39 Grip- and cargo transport. The Czech Armed Forces Procedures for contact with Netherlands. The Czech offer was accepted by en supersonic fi ghter pilots on in-fl ight refuel- accepted four units from the manufacturer in the ATARES program management there. The ling. British and Swedish tankers are optimal 2010. In the Czech Air Force confi guration, the opposing forces must be negotiation was crowned by signing the deeds of for the Czech training requirements. In addition, C-295M may carry up to 66 passengers or 46 perfectly drilled – otherwise accession. The Czech Republic became a full- you get charged only three minutes, specifi cally paratroopers with full kits. The airplane is quick- fl edged member of this prestigious professional the period of time when the Gripen is connected ly reconfi gurable for transport or evacuation of completely unexpected reactions grouping. It should be mentioned that entry of with the tanker aircraft,“ COL Hradecký speci- casualties on 24 stretchers in the MEDEVAC additional parties into the ATARES program fi es and relishes both the opportunity to work variant, or equip with one Patient Transport Unit may come up must be approved by all signatories. Any one of with other types of transport platforms operated (PTU) and twelve stretchers. Its maximum range the signatory parties may veto the enlargement. in NATO, but chiefl y considerable fi nancial sav- exceeds 5,500 kilometres and the machines are Another condition is funding the agency opera- ings for the Czech MoD. able to operate from unpaved runways. The cab- tions. In the Czech case, that involves annual The Czech Republic won two credit hours in with total volume of 46.9 m3 accommodates contribution of sixteen thousand Euro. By the from France for a transfer from Afghanistan. palletised cargo with total weight up to 9.25 tons way, even grumps must admit it is a petty sum They used the Czech allocation on the SALIS – the range with such cargo amounts to 1,200 compared to the benefi ts ATARES program of- program to transport materiel. But they were kilometres. With payload weighing 6,000 kg, the fers. What are they? Chiefl y it is a cashless serv- not charged the whole time of fl ight, but only tactical range is about 3,900 kilometres. ice. Customers do not pay money for completed the proportion adequate to their cargo. This is fl ights hours. ATARES program signatories a truly unique air transportation system, the use do not exchange Euro among themselves or any of which is in no way diffi cult: you just enter Airbus A-319CJ Corporate national currency, but they charge fl ight hours. your request into the system. Then the MCCE Some could question fairness of the system. addresses signatory states with the demanded Jetliner Be assured that this is also strictly coordinated. capacity and the customer chooses the carrier. It is a short- to medium-range airplane. This As a matter of fact, every fl ight hour is an equiv- The chosen signatory however has the right to version has an extended range up to 11,670 km alent of a C-130 Hercules fl ight hour. In numeri- decide whether they are able to accomplish the through installing up to six extra fuel tanks in cal terms it translates as follows: the conversion assignment or not. In case the signatory’s capac- the aft and rear cargo bay. The fi rst machine (tail ratio for CASA aircraft is 0.75; Airbus A-319CJ ity has already been used in full, they may say number 2801) was commissioned with the 24th fl ight hour equals 2.55 and SALIS program no without any sanctions applied. Other signato- Transport Airbase Prague-Kbely on 6 February fl ight hour is 4.55 of that by C-130. Moreover, ries are addressed next. 2007 and has a honorary name of General Karel there are certain limitations – fi ve hundred fl ight As to timelines, they are not lengthy at all. Janoušek. The other Airbus (tail number 3085) hours over fi ve years. If someone gets under ”Air transportation tasks within Europe may be landed on Kbely runway in September 2007 BADGE limit, they have to pay for everything that is be- realised in the matter of days. Urgent cases may and was named after General Josef Ocelka. The low minus fi ve hundred hours. even be realised in hours. For fl ights into fara- cabin of both machines can be reconfi gured into The name of the game for signatories is to way destinations, it is necessary to count twenty two basic variants, either VIP with 44 seats, or fl y maximum credit hours for themselves. The days plus, because diplomatic clearances are re- 124 passenger seats. The plane number 3085 can transport of Hungarian soldiers won the Czech quired for military aircraft to transit over foreign be additionally reconfi gured for various versions for combat-proven warriors Republic over twelve fl ight hours. ”But it nev- territories,“ Colonel Hradecký says. of MEDEVAC. ertheless does not mean we would claim that Hungary delivered the same quantity of fl ight CASA C-295M by Pavel Lang Just a couple of years ago there was possibly a mere hours for us. We may use those credit hours vis- A two-engine turboprop tactical transport Photos by Jan Kouba and the 242nd Transport á-vis any other member state on the ATARES airplane for short to medium-range passenger and Special Squadron handful of the Czech Armed Forces service personnel who had got into contact with the enemy. But much Basic data: has changed since then. According to the last stats,

Wingspan ...... 34.09 m almost fi ve hundred Czech soldiers were already Length ...... 33.84 m awarded the Combat Contact Badge. But the number Height ...... 11.76 m Maximum takeoof weight ...... 64,000 kg of those who got into contact with opposing forces Cruising speed ...... 840–870 km/h is probably higher. Foreign operational deployments Maximum speed ...... 925 km/h Range with 124 pax, w/o extra tanks ...... 3,700 km progressively turn the Czech Armed Forces Range with 6 extra tanks...... 11,670 km servicemembers into combat-proven warfi ghters.

“Our patrol was tasked with clearing the road “MSG Martínek served as a member of the acted completely automatically. According to for a resupplying convoy. At the moment when 7th Provincial Reconstruction Team in Logar, the way they have drilled individual procedures. the insurgents attacked our convoy with ma- Afghanistan, in 2010. He got into contact in the It does not apply only to combat activities, but chineguns and RPGs, I was off the road with the Kharkh district. “I met with enemy fi re several to life-saving actions alike. ”If there is a casu- rest of the unit. We quickly moved to the area times during that tour. But it was mostly indirect alty, one does not have the time to think that it of contact, where additional attackers had been fi re, or they fi red RPGs at us. This was the most is a comrade you have spent a part of life with. waiting in concealed positions. intensive situation. First, one actually does not There is simply no room for any emotions. All We got into a disadvantageous position in realise to have gotten under fi re. You react in- lifesaving procedures must be drilled. Those the open,“ one of the holders of the combat stinctively. You apply the drills you have learnt. matters of heart only come when the individual contact badge and Military Police member, It took a relatively good end for us thanks to that. is already heading for a medical facility. People Master-Sergeant Karel Martínek, describes I did not feel adrenalin at all; I acted completely are trained to perform certain actions and they the firefight with the enemy. “In spite of that, mechanically,“ MSG Karel Martínek describes have to deliver,“ says another badge holder, we sought to answer the fire. Advancing tacti- the way he reacted then. Warrant Offi cer Petr Králik. cally, we mounted a counterattack and man- ”Such moments represent a huge strain for all aged to take over the initiative. But since we Drill makes the difference soldiers. It is something they are preparing for had casualties, we disengaged from the con- Soldiers who got under enemy fi re had simi- all the time. Those things are trained on long- AAirbusirbus A-319A-319 CJCJ tact, called in MEDEVAC and secured a land- lar feelings. In the most critical moments, they term basis. But the reality is nevertheless differ- ing zone. mostly did not realise any danger or stress; they ent than training,“ Czech Armed Forces Chief 22 23 Operations

Psychological Offi cer, Helena Sováková, elabo- Police Brigadier-General Milan Schulc said armed group of warriors. After a twenty min- team and made a retreat under fi re. The Brits ar- him and so he started to work with ambulance British forces. By coincidence, he was on the rates. ”And that is why individual training is so each number is associated with a unique story. utes’ contact, we managed to push them back rived in the meantime and took over their line. service. Later on he went to the U.S. for two base close to which a helicopter was landing to important. They need to be able to everything The badge will commemorate the most critical into a cave complex. Having recced the trenches Our warfi ghters made use of that and sought years to complete the combat medic course and resupply the Brits. The armoured vehicle that mechanically. When something you do not have moments in my life for me,“ Lieutenant Lidin- they fi red from, I was walking back to the ve- to provide treatment to their injured colleague. special operations medic course. He has recently went to fetch the materiel got into a high-threat a management strategy for happens to you, you ský assures. “Service with the SOG unit was the hicles. In that instant, one of the warriors fi red They stopped the bleeding, stabilised life func- started studying a school for paramedics. While area. A deafening explosion followed. get into a life situation for the very fi rst time, peak of my career. I was honoured to serve with an RPG-7 from the cave complex. My leg was tions and searched his body for additional in- he has valid U.S. certifi cates for medics, our leg- In a wink, WO Králik grabbed a medical kit, then the way you will act is hard to foresee. If the SOG and I very much appreciate the job did injured as the warhead exploded in close prox- juries. They inserted cannulas to introduce re- islation is nevertheless slightly different, so he checked weapons and ran for a British quadbike. you are not ready and you have not managed the there. We were in contact with the enemy almost imity to me,“ Lieutenant Lidinský describes. placement fl uids. Then they called MEDEVAC, has to complete some things. “When a colleague They did not muse much that the help of the situation successfully before, completely unpre- continuously. The injury I suffered in July 2007 “Afghans are very fi eld-expedient in adapting loaded the casualty and withdrew back to the of mine suffered a leg injury, fi rst we needed to medic was needed in a place full of improvised dictable reactions may occur. In case you wit- naturally changed my life.“ weapons for indirect fi re. I stood back to them base. stop bleeding and do the urgent care. The trend explosive devices. When they got to the vehicle ness an accident for the fi rst time in your life and On that fateful day, British forces proceeded in the critical moment. I did not have a slight- MEDEVAC took LT Lidinský into a British currently promoted is that in the fi rst phase when on fi re, the crew laid in a pool of blood. Together you see an injured man, but you are not prepared along the Helmand river. Insurgents opened fi re est clue the warhead had already been inbound. fi eld medical facility. When our warriors reached a soldier is hurt everybody continues fi ghting, with his colleague nicknamed Goos, they started for the situation the way medical personnel are, at them from the other bank. Tasked with moni- I perceived everything after the explosion. The him after some time, they were told they had including the medic. The medic cannot attend saving British soldiers. They sought to stabilise you petrify, freeze in response. Or you may toring the whole area, the SOG unit managed to fi rst idea that ran through my head was that I had given to their comrade a perfect treatment. The the casualty because if he would not help repel their life functions and get them ready for trans- leave everything the way it is and run away.“ discover the place rockets were fi red from, and to crawl away. I was convinced that small arms wound was sterile, well covered. He did not lose the opponent, he could get hurt too. The team port. MEDEVAC was called in the meantime. According to the Chief Psychological Offi cer, call in the air. First of all, the whole area was to fi re would follow immediately. As I was creep- his leg in the fi rst phase and there was a chance would then lose the medical specialist. So, it is One of the saved soldiers was Peter, with no cases like that have occurred in the Czech be recced from the air. Our warriors expected re- ing I realised I had a problem with my leg. I felt to save it for good. But the situation progres- essential to concentrate all power to suppress whom they had spoken in the canteen a day ago; Armed Forces so far. That is the result of a care- inforcements to be sent in based on the informa- my bones were rubbing against rocks. Had it not sively deteriorated. The wound did not cure the the enemy fi rst. Saving the casualty only starts now they had his blood all over their battledress- fully prepared training. ”We seek to pay a maxi- tion, and that the operation to suppress and ap- been for a perfect treatment by my comrades- way it ought to. That the situation got into stale- when the situation calms down at least a bit and es. They learnt later that they saved his life. He mum attention to it, including the psychological prehend the insurgents would only be launched in-arms, I would not be talking with you here mate two years on and LT Lidinský eventually disengagement from the very contact occurs. is even able to walk, although with artifi cial legs. aspect. Preparation, including specifi c drills, is then. today.“ lost his leg, was not their fault anymore. Until then, casualties have to help themselves. In another accident, British forces in Helmand extremely important. Individuals not trained for “While we were awaiting the arrival of Lieutenant Lidinský had an artery torn. First In case there is a comrade in close proximity and province were located about fi ve kilometres something like that get an acute stress reaction. friendly aircraft and watched insurgents, we of all they had to choke it; otherwise he would it is possible to provide the fi rst aid, it is pro- from the Czech troops. They had built a small It may happen that they are unable to perceive were assaulted by a numerous and strongly bleed to death. The unit worked as a compact Warrior and Medic vided,“ WO Králik explains. ”In such combat patrol post in the green zone, which came un- the situation at all, or they panic contrarily. The “It was in a tight spot. We had to defend situations, urgent care is often associated with der enemy fi re. They were running out of ammo fact that over four hundred and fi fty Combat against attacks from multiple directions. We fi - action normally performed by medical doctors. and supplies and it was vital to replenish them. Contact Badges were conferred and an over- nally managed to disengage from the contact, but What is done is chest drainage, punctures, surgi- The Czech team took up the task. ”We carried whelming majority of Czech service personnel the problem was that one of my colleagues was cal fi xation of airways, ... All of that in demand- a stock of ammunition and missiles for them. managed that extreme situation successfully, is seriously injured. But nobody panicked even in ing fi eld conditions, mostly in diffi cult security The green zone is diffi cult to pass even in good a good advert for our armed forces. It attests to such a diffi cult situation. They unit worked per- situation.“ weather. A storm was raging in addition, so visi- the fact that Czech Armed Forces not only well fectly,“ describes another holder of the Combat bility was close to zero. We moved on quadbikes prepared for operational deployments but also contact badge. One of those who contributed and an accident happened. A British soldier got well selected,“ MAJ Sováková adds. most to saving their colleague was Warrant Of- Assisting the Brits badly wounded. Again, we stabilised him and fi cer Petr Králik. He became a combat medic Warrant Offi cer Petr Králik was also deco- called help. Our lads arrived with trucks, loaded from his earnest interest. But at the same time, rated with the Medal for Heroism conferred by him and transported him to the hospital. British Most important moments he wanted to maintain the skills he acquired as the President of the Czech Republic. As a mat- soldiers were also injured in another action. We a soldier, as a warrior. He went through all med- ter of fact, there were more soldiers he helped provided fi rst aid to them and helped evacuate in life ical training courses the Czech Armed Forces to save, including Allied forces personnel. Dur- them too,“ WO Králik adds. Lieutenant Miroslav Lidinský is another offered at the time. But it was not enough for ing his tour in Afghanistan, he cooperated with holder of the Combat Contact Badge. He served by Vladimír Marek a tour in Afghanistan as a member of a Special photos by Vladimír Marek and SOG Operations Group (SOG) deployment in 2007. He lost his leg as a result of injury he suffered in a contact. ”I am glad the Czech Armed Forces introduced such a badge. Commander Military

24 25 Arms & Equipment ”If unmanned aerial vehicles have not saved several lives in Afghanistan directly, then they have defi nitely been instrumental in that,“ says the Chief of General Staff Czech Armed Forces Lieutenant-General Petr Pavel First time with Sokol

The operator controls the Sokol unmanned aerial During his visit, General Pavel expanded his familiarity with the operations of the MTI’s three vehicle into an area of interest thirty kilometres away. branches. First with the production of the Army Using the keyboard, the operator fl ies with the UAV Technology Institute in Vyškov, which special- ises in research, development and manufacture heading north and into altitude of approximately two of special wheeled and tracked vehicles. For the Czech Armed Forces, the institute developed kilometres. Once over the target, he activates a special medical system (mobile pharmacy, lab, tomog- fl ight mode – loitering. The picture transmitted from raphy system) or a prefab hall for fi eld helicop- ter maintenance. In the future, the Vyškov-based cameras onboard the UAV is carefully watched in the institute stands ready to play a key role in the control centre. modernisation of the Czech Armed Forces tracked armoured personnel carriers. The second branch called the Military Tech- The new Sokol (falcon) unmanned aerial ve- Commitment to an nology Institute of arms and ammunition in hicle will enable a realtime video coverage of Slavičín, engages in research, development and a target area, or indeed in of a crisis situation. intensifi ed cooperation manufacture of weapons, surveillance and am- The Military Technology Institute (MTI) has In mid-April earlier this year, the Military munition systems. For the Czech Armed Forces, already developed the demonstrator and pre- Technology Institute, a strategic state enterprise they developed and manufactured light 60mm pared it for fl ight tests. They plan to complete for defence research, development and limited mortars, including various types of ammuni- the development and commence manufacture manufacture of unique technologies established tion, whose SOF version called Commando only in the order of months; then it will be ready for by the Czech MoD at 1 September 2012, host- weighs fi ve kilos. The branch based in Slavičín delivery to potential customers. One of them ed a visit by the Chief of General Staff Czech was also extensively involved in the project may also be the Armed Forces of the Czech Re- Armed Forces Lieutenant-General Petr Pavel. of the reconnaissance variant of the Pandur with specifi c case needed,“ Mr. Jiří Kuzdas concludes and ex- public. “We would like to perform the maiden On that occasion, he met with Director MTI Mr. wheeled infantry fi ghting vehicle, which is the focus and in plains the Sokol can fl y in semiautomatic mode fl ight and initial fl ight tests with the Sokol by Václav Irovský and branch managers on deepen- most technologically complex of all versions in- small series. ”It is as well as preprogrammed fl ight missions. the middle of the year,“ specifi es Mr. Jiří Kuz- ing cooperation between the MTI and the Czech troduced to the Czech Armed Forces’ inventory. defi nitely more advan- The MTI staff described individual stages of das, whose responsibility UAVs fall into. Armed Forces. The Aviation and Air Defence Technology tageous to have an entity two-year development of this new unmanned Institute in Prague-Kbely focuses on communi- on the domestic soil, which is aerial vehicle realised in cooperation with the cation and information systems and unmanned able to offer such comprehensive Aviation research and testing institute, which is aerial vehicles. The Czech Armed Forces’ fi eld services from development to mainte- funded from the Ministry of the Interior’s grants communications system is largely based on nance, than if we would chase a product for security research. communication information modules, which in around the world to best approximate to our The demonstration of Sokol UAV peaks with use with the Czech Land Forces in various ver- requirements,“ Lieutenant-General Petr Pavel presentation of the fl ight controls. We are able to sions. General Pavel with concurred with the underscored and pointed out the fl exibility of see on our own that controlling the aircraft us- management there was a need for the institute contracting with domestic suppliers for possible ing a PC tablet is nothing diffi cult. Displaying of to deepen their cooperation with the military. adjustments. exact position is well rendered and supported by Director Irovský commented on that: “We are about thirty tactical and technical performance pleased with the Armed Forces’ interest in our parameters. state enterprise. While the state, specifi cally the Promising prospects Effectiveness of such an unmanned aerial be a whole gamut of discussions on that and we Ministry of Defence or Ministry of the Interior, Czech Armed Forces review had an exclusive system is undoubtedly contingent on details and will select the optimal solution. What I can say funds demanding research and development of opportunity to meet with the Sokol UAV. ”Sokol Sokol is no exception to that. Measures were for sure though is the fact that unmanned aerial special equipment, which is more affordable and has a composite design and is powered by a two- taken for the machine not to get into so-called vehicles have proven to be highly useful for us, sometimes even more advanced as opposed to stroke engine motor with eighty cubic centime- special position in fl ight, in other words to pre- particularly in Afghanistan. If they did not save foreign suppliers, then it is effective to introduce tres. Take-off speed of this twenty-kilogram air- vent it from looping, rolling or spinning. It is several lives directly, then they defi nitely been them into the inventory. That is sadly not always craft is 60 kilometres per hour and it may reach no secret that its control system also comprises instrumental in that,“ said General Pavel and the case. I trust the visit by the Chief of General maximum 140 kilometres per hours. It has endur- a number of emergency subsystems. emphasised that unmanned aerial vehicles have Staff General Pavel is marking a new era of the ance of roughly two and a half hours and range Any potential malfunction is immediately already become an integral part of mission per- relationship between the enterprise and the mili- about forty kilometres,“ Mr. Kuzdas explains and monitored and relevant measures are taken ac- formance in areas of interest. ”UAV do the dan- tary. Especially in today’s economic situation, adds there is still the potential to enhance that per- cording to the level of risk. Deploying the res- gerous job fi rst and make it possible to better the Czech Republic should follow the example formance parameters. Everything will be driven cue chute and subsequent landing is naturally an prepare for the situation on the ground real-time of the neighbouring states and support own de- by specifi c customer requirements. optimal option. and based on real information,“ said the Czech fence R&D and acquire the products of the do- It should also be mentioned that all compo- Chief of Defence and outlined the vision that the mestic industry. All of that to effectively protect nents on the Sokol UAV are Czech-made. In oth- Czech Armed Forces would like to follow the the lives of the service personnel and help them er words, there is no imported component com- Helping save life trend with mini UAVs that better match the op- accomplish their missions using state-of-the-art prising it. That will naturally refl ect positively in The exclusive demonstration of Sokol was erational requirements by deployed forces. technology.“ the product’s fi nal price. Sokol has both day and commented by the Chief of General Staff Czech In the conclusion of his visit, the Chief of night surveillance capability. ”The integrated Armed Forces. ”I cannot make any assumptions Defence stated the MTI’s main benefi t in his camera enables that. The sensor head is designed as to whether the Czech Armed Forces would be by Pavel Lang view was that it provides specialised products to facilitate expedient sensor replacements in interested specifi cally in Sokol or not. There will photos by Jan Kouba 26 27 Reaching out

the endurance of each individual and team to the utmost at almost every step. Post number two. The trainees’ teams were At the end of tether presented with a situation in which one of the locals had wandered into a minefi eld and had his foot blown off as a result of his curiosity. Just The beginning of April was a bit out of the ordinary The trainees were divided into four teams like experienced actors, Josef Pešek, a civilian which took their turns at four fi eld worksta- employee of the army, and Warrant Offi cer Tere- for the journalists and workers of humanitarian tions emulating different scenarios which jour- za Jančíková are absorbed by their roles and de- organizations who had enrolled in a special crisis nalists (and not only them) can encounter in liver a convincing performance full of blood and hotspots around the world. The team of Major shouts for the audience. Members of Ivo Ople- handling training course. In the Military Training Area Šebesta took two years to put their act together tal’s team at fi rst hesitated, but fi nally decided and they now have their courses honed to per- to run away, to save their own lives and not to of Březina, they experienced, albeit for only a few days, fection. They simply know what to do; when to enter into the minefi eld, the begging of the “hys- a situation in which fear is mixed with uncertainty and apply more physical or psychological pressure, terical daughter” running around her “seriously or when to suspend the simulation and bring the injured father” notwithstanding. the kidnapper’s word is far above the law. trainees back to reality. On the next day, the arduous trek was inter- Even the very fi rst station simulating a gov- rupted by unexpected gunfi re at the third post. “The special crisis handling training course examined and evaluated by a commission which ernment checkpoint which the trainees were re- The soldiers escorting the journalists through was mentioned for the fi rst time in 1990 or 1991, also decides whether a particular applicant is fi t quired to pass through made many an indifferent the dangerous territory had to repel a sudden when our soldiers and journalists were partici- for the course or not. observer ask a question where the people who attack. Major Šebesta, who was accompanying TV and Vendula Horníková from Czech TV, are a discussion with an interrogation specialist as pating in Operation Desert Shield and Operation The tests of selected candidates take place on had volunteered for the course took the courage us, commended the escorting soldiers for their forced to lie barefooted in snow-and-mud slush, very useful. “We have a feedback and we know Desert Storm in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. the premises of the DUKLA Army Sports Centre to allow themselves to be manipulated, humili- performance. They forced the journalists to lie just like other trainees, with dogs madly bark- that many of the former trainees recall moments Special training of journalists for assignments in and at the Sports Research Institute of the Czech ated and bullied. down and their accurate fi re routed the attack- ing above them, the limit of fear seems to have they spent here, in the Military Training Area. critical areas or situations proved indispensable. Armed Forces (CASRI). Major Šebesta’s men manning the post are ers. From there, the journalists had to advance been reached. However, the team does not give They admit that getting as close as possible to The fi rst course took place three years later, in The 2013 special crisis handling training posing as government soldiers of a fi ctitious on their own. up and deserves a commendation. Its members what they may encounter far from home during 1994. Until 2000, the course had been attended course was attended by fi fteen journalists and state, who train their egos on journalists coming The route was treacherous indeed, leading even survive a moment which seemed eternal – the training is exactly what they need,” Major mainly by journalists and later also by person- humanitarian workers, with Czech TV and to their country, often in a way which is diffi cult the group of volunteers to the fourth post where when the gang of goons stages a mock-up ex- Šebesta adds. nel of humanitarian organizations who began Czech Radio journalists accounting for the high- to comprehend. They manifest their superior- more hardships were in store for them. The pre- ecution of one of the journalists … Tomáš Hájek, a photographer working for to closely cooperate with Czech troops in the est number. ity by threats, shamelessly demand a bakshish, vious ones suddenly seemed trivial … The en- “The trainees actually do not know too much the Lidové noviny daily, who passed the course Balkans and in the Middle East,” says Vladimír The one-week practical part – and it was very and show who the boss is by displaying their counter with a paramilitary group of mercenar- what to expect. They only get a recommenda- some ten years ago, has confi rmed that he defi - Palán of the PR and Communication Department long week indeed for some of the trainees – was weapons and teasing their guard dogs into a fi t ies for whom torture and torment is a welcome tion from us what to take with them. Of course, nitely found the lessons learned useful when in of the Ministry of Defence, who is responsible a brainchild of Major Pavel Šebesta, an offi cer of rage. They mercilessly and noisily plunder distraction in long hours of boredom and emp- they have to take care of their food. What they Peru or in Kenya, where his work took him. He for the preparatory part of the training course. with ample experience acquired in missions the travellers’ backpacks, keeping what they tiness became a nightmare for the journalists. bring with them constitutes a substantial part knew what to expect from locals who are not al- The latter involves mutual communication abroad, who monitors the latest trends in the like or could use. Fortunately, the commander Under the unbelievable psychic pressure, some of the contents of the rucksacks and backpacks ways exactly friendly… between the media and humanitarian organiza- organization and curricula of training courses of the unit, which resembles a gang of thieves of the trainees fi nd their mental strength sapping they travel with through the local terrain,” em- Since 1994, almost 300 hundred journalists tions. It also contains the initial test of appli- similar to that in Vyškov. more than anything else, is in a good mood and away. Incessant shouting is interspersed with the phasized one of the experienced instructors, and humanitarian workers have been through cants. Roughly two months since the completion “Today is, as we say, the day that will make fi nally, after a lot of haggling, lets the group of ominous sound of gunfi re. All the luggage must Senior Warrant Offi cer Martin Beneš. He also the special crisis handling training course. There of the course, there is always a fi nal part consist- or break the trainees. After some theoretical les- journalists led by Ivo Opletal from the Czech be unpacked and the plundering, half-mad “sol- disclosed that the team of Major Šebesta re- is a high level of interest in it, but not everyone ing in individual interviews/debriefi ngs of the sons in the secrets of topography, medical aid Radio through. diers” confi scate everything. “Take your shoes acted to frequent kidnappings of journalists and passes the psychological examination or can graduates with the course commander, instruc- and fi eldcraft which they will need to be able to At that time, the trainees had already been off, all of you!” an order is snapped. “Shoes off, humanitarian workers which had recently taken present a medical certifi cate confi rming that he tors and psychologists. move around out in the boonies, the trainees will through two almost sleepless nights; moreover, didn’t you hear?” And another submachine burst place in hotspots around the world. This was or she can handle an extreme load or exercise. Due to the demanding nature of the training now have their physical and particularly psychi- they had to deal with the rigours of this year’s … This could really defeat even an individual why an expert on behaviour under stress, includ- course, each candidate is required to pass physi- cal strength put to the test,” we were told by Ma- winter, in particular cold and damp, all the time. who is mentally very strong. When two seem- ing its kidnapping-induced variety, was invited cal and psychological tests. Their results are jor Šebesta after the opening part. Snow was just a fi nal touch in the set-up testing ingly fragile girls, Zuzana Brzáková from Prima to deliver a lecture. The trainees also regard by Miroslav Šindelář 28 29 Psychological training led by the Texas National Guard for the 7th Mechanised Brigade NATO

engage intensively in family support. They or- developed in cooperation with the University assessment, desire to try new strategies and for- ganise charities to raise funds that may be used of Pennsylvania, and is based on so-called posi- ward thinking), personality strengths (ability to by families faced with urgent costly repair in tive psychology. It was fi rstly implemented in identify and aptly employ one’s strengths for their homes and the like. They organise and lead the U.S. armed forces fi ve years ago and there achieving objectives, developing strengths with meetings of families and are able to pay travel are plans to make it mandatory for all U.S. DoD other unit members), and relationships (building costs for families to arrive. Nevertheless, the service personnel. Simply put, the objective of strong relationships using positive and effective U.S. representatives offered during discussions the training is to foster and strengthen those communication, supporting the others and the training in another, probably more useful soldier abilities of service personnel that lead to an ef- ability to ask for help). and family support program. fective integration of high demands of life both The second module familiarised the Czech That was the opportunity the members of the in service and in private, teach them an amount servicemembers soldiers with several techniques 7th Brigade decided to make use of on the very of specifi c techniques they may then pass onto and concepts developing their mental resilience. same day. Lieutenant-Colonel John Williams of their subordinates or use in civilian sector. That involved, for example, the so-called ATC the U.S. Embassy in Prague was very instrumen- Military Resilience Training comprises four model (Activating Event – Thoughts – Conse- tal in arranging all that was needed, planned the modules. The fi rst covers elements and skills quences), which facilities a better understand- timing and formed the fi rst group of volunteers, forming the basis of balanced, resilient and tena- ing of the relationship between events, subjec- who included psychologists of the 7th Mecha- cious individuals. Those include self-awareness tive perception and the ensuing emotions and nised Brigade and selected members of the bri- (ability to conscientiously grasp one’s emotions, conduct. Attendees were also cautioned against gade’s battalions, including personnel from the thoughts and behaviour, including bad habits), ”mental traps“ (generalisation, self-blaming or signal company and the brigade HQ support self-control (the ability both to effectively con- blaming just the others) and ”icebergs“ (deeply platoon. That ”test “ group underwent so-called trol and regulate one’s emotions and thoughts, rooted internal conviction and values shaping Military Resilience Training (MRT) with the ob- but also the ability to aptly express one’s emo- our attitude to the world, people and ourselves). jective of making a maximum use of presented tions), optimism (the ability to see the good, In the military environment, such as ”iceberg” skills and abilities in the Czech Republic. The trust oneself and the others, estimate rightly standing in the way of mission accomplishment MRT forms one of the three elements compris- what is in my compass and good anchoring in includes, for example, a deep-rooted conviction ing the education support program that was life reality), brightness (mental fl exibility, good that asking for help is a sign of weakness. In ad- dition, soldiers learned the recommended ways to fi ght so-called catastrophic vision and coun- terproductive thoughts. The third module teaches students to identify theirs and others’ strengths and use them for achieving goals in the most effective ways. They also expand their familiarity with the ways to use their strengths in working and personal rela- tionships to a greater effect. BBEWAREEWARE The fi nal fourth module covers relationships, with specifi c focus on relations not only among soldiers in the team but also between soldiers and their families. They also learn how to posi- tively infl uence communication and ideally val- ue and motivate others. of mental traps Texan instructors commended an active approach by the servicemembers of the 7th Mechanised Brigade, their willingness to join Are you a balanced, tenacious and resilient attendees in the Military Resilience Training service personnel to effectively use their mental the discussion, brightness, as well as the sense individual? Do you control your emotions? learnt to answer. In cooperation with the Texas skills in working environments, in combat, dur- of humour and a relaxed atmosphere throughout Are you optimistic and can you estimate your National Guard experts, the pilot seminar for the ing recovery from injuries and in private. the seminar. Upon course completion, the stu- stamina rightly? Those were some of the ques- service personnel of the 7th Mechanised Bri- The three-day practical seminar was in a way dents should be able to act preventively in their tions relating to participants personal traits and gade took place at Hranice in February earlier a step into the unknown for all involved. On one units, recognise possible problems of their col- the position of individuals in a team that the this year. The objective was to teach selected hand, members of the 7th Mechanised Brigade leagues early and provide basic support on solv- did not have a clue what to expect before the ing those problems. start, and the U.S. instructors on the other hand presented the training program for the very fi rst by CAPT Martina Štěpánková, 7th MechBde Press time to other soldiers than U.S. armed forces, and Information Offi cer, and CAPT Ladislav Kabát, moreover outside the U.S. territory. 7th MechBde Psychologist For the 7th Mechanised Brigade’s Command Sergeant Major Vladimír Blažek and psycholo- gists Ladislav Kabát and Petr Osokin, this was not the fi rst time to meet the Texan instructors. PPleaselease meet:meet: They already met with chaplain Captain Mike Mike Mackrell is a member of the Texas National Guard (TNG). Ranked cap- Mackrell at the end of August 2012 in a one- tain, he serves as a military chaplain. He is 51. Although he was reared in day seminar named Family Support Group held a military family, as his father served with the U.S. Air Force for 30 years, he by the Training Command – Military Academy never inclined to the military; contrarily, he always maintained he would not in Vyškov. The invited members of the Texas like to live a military life. Aged eighteen, he became a pastor of the Texas con- National Guard (TNG) presented some of the gregation. He is married with three daughters. And his two daughters, who programs supporting their soldiers and families are both TNG members, made him also join the TNG when he was 48 years prior, during and after foreign operational de- old. He studied theology and counselling, and currently works to get PhD in ployments to military psychologists, chaplains applied psychology. In May earlier this year he went for his fi rst operational and command sergeant majors. deployment in Afghanistan. In his scarce free-time, he devotes himself to his During that meeting in August, the discussion family and his favourite hobby – repairing and renovating old Jaguar cars. also concluded it was hard to implement many of the support programs in the Czech environ- ment. For instance, commanding offi cers’ wives 30 31 rubrikaOperations AFGHANISTAN is never a routine...

The sun slowly sets over Kabul. Despite squeezed by a ring of mountains, the city does not suffer from a heavy cap of suffocating dusty smog; contrarily, the air is ploughed by light spring breeze and droplets come down from clouds fl owing away fast. The fi rst intake of breath affi xes the palate with a sweetish sticky substance, whose composition is better not to be thought of. They have mines and steelworks in Ostrava, whereas there is no sewerage in Kabul.

In March earlier this year, two editors of the MoD Public Diplomacy Department were offered an opportunity to visit the Czech Armed Forces’ deployments in Afghanistan. Espe- cially thanks to forthcoming attitude of Deputy Chief of Defence – Director Joint Operations Centre Major-General Aleš Opata and of all commanding offi cers and military personnel in Operation ISAF, a gamut of unique photos was gathered, video footage recorded and inter- views made with a number of Czech men and women in uniform about their service in the 32faraway country of Afghanistan, unknown and inaccessible to many. 33 Operations

It is eighteen thirty local time and the Vul- passengers and disappears. It is an airborne camp. Your life may be at stake, Commanding offi cer PRT Major Vladimír enough patience, although those lads handle by a combat training ninety-minutes’ fl ight in nerability Assessment Team (VAT) with invited Disciplined waiting lasts half an hour. Jelínek identifi es the composition of his team: U.S. M16 rifl es like sticks. Children come run- Mi-24 gunships. One makes the landing, the members are heading from the airport build- but your stomach does “We have the staff, force protection team, lo- ning to the shooting range to collect cartridges other provides cover. We fl y circuits above the ing for the Czech National Support Element not listen gistic support platoon, depot team, an EOD and get some money for them. Would it occur to landscape and then lower, about eighty metres (NSE). The faces of military specialists coming Finally at Shank. No time team and the smallest component is the aid you there could be a scrapyard around here? above the ground, and back to the town. We over here twice a year to identify and redress It is dinner time. Those familiar with the Din- station.“ Despite this variegated set-up, every- Then we attend mortar training and IED line. only learn afterwards from the air expert on the shortcomings hardly show their expectations. for downtime... ing Facility (DFAC) at Camp Shank will be de- body knows what to do; the whole day is busy “Our lads prepared for them something like VAT, Lieutenant-Colonel Čepelka, that in case Routine? Afghanistan is never a routine thing. Yahoo, our Chinook is back! Including our manding customers for buffet tables even in four- with activity. courage trial, where they are to seek planted the original Afghan machines would still be Inprocessing runs fast, it is still possible to bags. It does refuel this time and then takes us star hotels. Rib or thigh? “Incoming, incoming, The last dinner at Shank is calm. The two improvised explosive devices. They are atten- operated, it would not be advisable to fl y them. get some dinner, but no one intends to unpack back onboard. At FOB Shank, the delegation is incoming!“ the alarm went and our stomachs went days were over like nothing. While home news tive and quick-learning,“ First-Lieutenant Jiří J., But now Hinds and Hips with Czech origin are their kits – the journey actually only begins welcomed by the 11th Provincial Reconstruction rumbling in full as we were laying down. Fifteen announced frost and extreme snowfalls, Af- commanding offi cer of the 2nd mentoring team, used here. ”Pilots are good here, some with tal- tomorrow. Team (PRT), a quick inprocessing follows and minutes in the shelter, before the “All Clear“ sig- ghan spring sunshine synergised amber B-huts says in reference to Afghan trainees. ents from God. They will soon train the rookies then nobody loafs anymore, we need to make nal went. Then waiting a line to report you are that they would even make into a travel agency We are instructed to gather in the lectur- themselves,“ the commander of the tiger squad- up for the delay. VAT members disperse to ful- OK. Well, enemy seeks to disrupt morale. catalogue. On the next, sun was again shining ing tent shelter. We have kandak commander ron, Major Pavel Procházka, commends his Af- The fog may even last a week fi l their duties, the reporters are taken care of by Expectations that the Taleban would take care already from the dawn; only Black Hawk ro- inbound and Afghan interpreters prepare a fes- ghan students. At six o’clock in the morning, the sky is clear the chaplain. We do not waste time. Shooting of an early alarm did not materialise. The quiet tor blades cut the sunshine. And off we go for tive dinner. Medical doctor guarantees standards over Kabul, but Bagram is dipped in fog. Ameri- practice is going on at the range. They fi re from of the night was only pierced by helicopter ro- Wardak... of edibility, but even if no, it is still better than cans do no fl y, so there is no chance of starting various positions on a whistle. Glocks yield to tors and it guaranteed that they would not dare DFAC. Not even that, this is luxury. Hi Prague, you’re harder the itinerary in Logar. An Il-76 with three ISO Brens. ”I cannot complain about the new rifl e,“ another attack. Everything was again in full Stewed lean beef (probably), long-grain rice containers has just landed. Routine unloading one of the warriors confi des, although the oth- swing from the morning, everybody was do- Headache 2.400 metres ASL with raisins and carrot, mashed potatoes. Plus to adapt to only attracts the invited reporters. ”I graduated ers appear that they would also put up with the ing their job – CLS and also shooting practise, Mountains, sun, remnants of snow and crys- the excellent bread they make. I have to cook Good-bye, you goddamn and wonderful coun- from a military transportation program,“ Lieu- old Mod. 58 rifl es. Holding the CZ 805 for the which was where the MAT (Military Advisor tal bright air. Enchanted by High Tatras or the this at home too. try of Afghanistan. Onboard the airplane, we get tenant Terezie J., who is in charge of logistics fi rst time, it seems heavy and long to me. But Team) were coming from. Alps? Forget that. The White village aka Vyrou- bread with pate; they surely know how to satisfy at the airport, smiles without giving further ex- I do not feel the shots at all and gush about nice- ”It is the fi rst time in Afghanistan for most bal Czech Camp is a good match. Reporting and us and prepare for returning home at the same planation. The commander of the 6th Task Force ly low dispersion at the target. of the guys on my team. Contrarily to OMLT, inprocessing again swift. We go along with the None willing to travel time. After all, it is always the same, catering as Colonel Jaroslav Trakal then explains that hard- We are interested in the Explosive Ordnance the MAT effort focuses on mentoring staffs. But VAT to check materiel in the containers. General well as the movies shown. It is damned cold at ware and equipment already rather travels back Disposal (EOD) team. They are stationed in a dif- I would not say they lack action,“ the newest Opata heads into the Afghan section of the camp, back to Kabul Prague-Kbely. Farewell is done with hugs – it home. About one-fi fth of the unit personnel are ferent part of the base along with their U.S. col- Czech deployment is introduced by the com- and us into briefi ng room and the U.S. HQ. Opposed to how things were going in Logar just took almost two weeks. What about those assigned to handle that materiel. Speaking with leagues and contractors. By the way, the word manding offi cer, Major Přemysl Tuček. Then Some people on our team begin to suffer from and Wardak, the Kabul International Airport lads and gals spending there six months? him, the sun shines, but … Experienced observ- ”contractors” has come down in the Czech lan- he hurries to attend a briefi ng by his team, but headache in the afternoon. Thinner air is the rea- (KAIA) seems rather quiet. Local DFAC is not Jet lag weakens us over a couple of days. ers of the local sky do not foresee anything good guage almost as a sophisticated swearword for before he still manages to invite us for a cup of son. A handful of individuals suffer from viral bad, but it can be well substituted by pizza and The VAT must develop their reports and take and a couple of good souls tell the stories of mercenaries. In reality, those are individuals who coffee into an improvised club. infection they brought from home, spread by air- roasted chicken ”at Italian´s“. Our CBRN guys relevant measures; the editors have six hours of waiting as long as a week for the transfer fl ight. already served their contract term with the US conditioning system in the rooms. I have sun-burnt indicate for us that we should miss out Burger footage and thousands of photos. The trip was Indeed, it is only possible to see the other civil- Army, but Americans are not that stupid to let my nose. Nothing out of that may naturally restrict King. Contrarily, the dispel our concerns with defi nitely worth it for everybody involved. The ian part of the airport on the next day. Every- go their most experienced specialists so easily. Going like clockwork us. Only the diner in DFAC is a bit disappointing. the water system: “Salinity is high here, the chief editor of Refl ex magazine Ivan Hamšík body shuffl es back to the NSE from the depar- A bunch of them are now having fun watching us In the meantime, VAT specialists headed by Resupplying is a bit sluggish; forget about veggies. properties of subsoil with chlorinating combine, also had an impressive experience, you can feel ture hall. Sort of a déjà vu. But three hours later clowning in EOD suits and as the robot grabs the Major-General walked to the PRT logistic sup- It is Friday – equals seafood. At Shank, they would but it is not dangerous.“ Nevertheless, we still it in the magazine. If he would only authorised we already run in the other direction. A couple mic to interview a woman controlling it. port platoon and maintenance platoon. With have whole lobsters, here only crab claws. But it brush our teeth with bottled water same as on downloading the special edition for personnel of Black Hawks and one Chinook kick up the Her name is Petra and she decided to serve as a sincere interest, General Opata attended to is still not necessary to pull out from the bags the the previous days. The skin is dried from show- downrange and for veterans! It is good to have dust on the airport surface. Looks like..? an EOD specialists fi ve years ago: ”I did not have a technician, who did some troubleshooting; supplies we took from home. ers, rash appears. VAT works according to the such a support. And while time runs so fast for But the fl ight has a different direction – a clue what I was going for. But it grabbed me.“ seemed like the general would eventually repair plan, and the reporters are left to attend a cere- us, it contrarily drags on for men and women on Wardak. Pilots descend to an Afghan National It is her second tour in Afghanistan. ”The season the component for the maintainer in person. mony awarding NATO Non Article 5 medals to deployment. My hat off to everybody; I wish Police training camp and two Czech MPs join has not started yet this year, we go off base roughly Serving equally well for servicing trucks Afghan cuisine hitting the CZE 6th Task Force. Then the last episode them every success, much stamina, and a sound us onboard. The machine descends again after just once in two weeks,“ she describes their mis- and playing futnet, the multifunction hall is fi nally comes and with it the fi nal adrenalin. health. Do you know what OK stands for? It is a while, but no one recognises the base down on sion almost as ordinary stuff. One would think how surrounded by containers that teem with activ- the spot The 8th Air Advisory Team (AAT) deployment in fact zero killed. Wish you 0K. the ground. A U.S. soldier gestures: ”Get out, eve- does she manage among all men … “They are like ity. Forklifts help where human power is not Afghan National Army (ANA) personnel receives us in the camp. Instead of English, rybody, leave your bags here.“ Does he intend to my brothers, I confi de everything in them,“ Petra enough. The 11th PRT is indeed rather a with- go for a shooting practice. Several newcomers the commanding offi cer rather employs Rus- refuel? No, he takes onboard completely different smiles and others nod in agreement. drawal party than a reconstruction team. joined the local kandak, but our instructors have sian. A short briefi ng and tour are followed by Miroslava Pašková 34 35 A two-year effort of mentoring and training of Afghan police offi cers ended in the province of Wardak Operations

UP TO AFGHANS NOW Once the convoy departed the gate of the Police offi cer. A two-member U.S. team was responsi- ble for interpreters and a specifi c part of logistic Academy, impermeable darkness swallowed them. support. It was shortly after two o’clock in the morning on 31 March 2013. The Wardak province along with Durani Diplomatic management community was left behind out there. A two-year effort style training Afghan National Police offi cers has just ended “Instead of military command style, the French commander rather applied a diplomatic for the Czech MoD service personnel. form of management. It was defi nitely not easy to bring together soldiers from four nations with National Police Training Center was estab- Wojnar explains. ”There were lectures on all- varying cultural background. So I regarded his lished in 2011 in a place called Dash-E Towp arms training, shooting, topography, tactical management style appropriate. A very good team located about ten kilometres from Durani com- training and other basic subjects. It resembled is what primarily made this tour a success. Our of new recruits. Before every new course start- may be turned against you. Any apparent trivial- not mentoring, they did not get much into contact munity in the Wardak province. The center falls the training process we have back at home. My six-months plus deployment ran very fast thanks ed, Czechs were assigned to gain basic informa- ity may hurt them,“ Captain Wojnar underscores. with Afghans in their day-to-day activities. into the responsibility of the NATO Training subordinates were tasked with overseeing the to that. We had high-quality cooperation with our tion on the applicants. “As students, they are nevertheless the same as They went off base exceptionally, mostly for Mission – Afghanistan (NTM-A) and its mission process. Individual mentors attended the lec- Slovak colleagues. I had concerns initially, but it Our intelligence cell collected biometric data our students are. Some are eager to learn, others shooting practice. Contacts with locals were is to help train the Afghan National Police to be tures. To start with they checked whether the showed over time that it was the right step to take to be entered into the system. The software iden- enjoy the ride. If the lecturer did not keep them close to zero. able to take over the responsibility for security number of student was right and whether the and everything worked out fi ne. There are minor tifi ed undesirable persons and those were not at arm’s length, they tended to require breaks and Shortly before the tour ended for the Czech 4th situation in their country. The police academy lecturer was present at all. differences in equipment and procedures, but it is admitted for studies. Desertion occurred from extend them artifi cially as much as they could. Military Police Mentoring Team, the fi nal apprais- is a large structure equipped with state-of-the- As a matter of fact, lack of communication nothing substantial. Likewise, cooperation with time to time nevertheless. There were no lessons They tried to come later for the lecture, one sim- al was performed of lecturers at the academy. art lecturing aids, including computers and and high bureaucracy sometimes caused that other military police offi cers was seamless. The at weekend and students were free to visit their ply had to keep a tight rein on them.“ The evaluation concluded they were already projectors. lecturers did not attend the lecturers at all. The fundamental difference was that except for us, families back at home. Some of them did not The international mentoring team was as- able to operate on their own. Based on that, Amer- The total capacity of the facility was up to Czech team also made sure the subject planned Slovaks and Americans, other units were mem- return. But it only happened on a small scale, signed a fenced area with dedicated security on icans decided that the academy would be handed three thousand students. The Czech Republic is actually taught. Then they had at least a part bers of the military gendarmeries association. moreover during the fi rst weeks into the course. the Police Academy compound. Contrarily to over into the hands of the Afghans. Now it is the supported accomplishment of the assignment by of the lecture translated by an interpreter. In case But given the nature of missions we per- Once they got settled in the academy, they usu- others, the Czech MPs were housed in modern question to what extent our Afghan partners will deploying four Military Police units consecu- they identifi ed some shortcomings or things they formed, it did not really play a role. It is proven ally held on till the end. brick buildings. Besides the U.S., logistic support be able to capitalise on those two years of training tively in six-month tours. The last deployment could possibly comment on, they called the lec- by the fact that I personally learnt that only af- was mainly provided by the French. The only mentored by the Czech, Slovak, French, Roma- was led by Captain Michal Wojnar and it com- turer aside at the end of the lesson and explained ter three months into the tour,“ Captain Wojnar problem that all national contingents struggled nian and Portuguese military police offi cers. The prised ten Czech and two Slovak military police to him it would be appropriate to do things a dif- explains. Different mentality with in this respect was cuisine and dining. Ef- important factor will also be whether the security offi cers. ferent way. They also solved problems that ap- When our mentors fi gured out how bad com- The standards of law enforcement we have forts to improve boarding standards have failed situation in the training centre remains calm or peared from time to time.“ puter literacy was with some of the ANP mem- in the Czech Republic are substantially higher. throughout their tour. Meals were prepared by not. Failing that, it would mean the academy is Czech and Slovak MPs were a part of an inter- bers, they decided to organise an information Afghans are at the outset of some sort of a mod- a contractor employing Afghans and Indians for unable to provide for own security. “The Czech Largest police academy national mentoring team led by Colonel Jérôme technology course outside the basic training pro- ernisation process. They are still learning. ”I must cooking. Instead of European meals, they were Armed Forces, including myself, can be proud ”We operated in the largest police academy Delcambre of France. The French also had the gram. That course lasted four months and ended admit they surprised me in the positive way. up to Asian cuisine. Before they got used to it, the of the soldiers and airmen we have. Their high in Afghanistan, which trains students in a broad commanding offi cer post because that they had in fi nal examination. Persons to study individual Contrarily to their media image, they are quite cuisine caused various digestion problems for our professionalism, readiness and loyalty are higher spectrum of training courses from entry-level to the largest representation in the contingent with courses were recruited directly by the Afghan forthcoming people. If one treats them decently servicemembers. Food quality was not very high than that of coalition partners we had a chance to offi cers’ courses. But those are only held mar- forty-nine members of Gendarmerie nationale. Ministry of the Interior. Afghans showed quite and shows respect to them and their habits, then either. Security situation in the Wardak province work with so far. I am very grateful to them for ginally there, as police academy for offi cers is The second largest on the team were Romani- a high interest in studying at the academy, and you have no problems. But they have a different is not really simple. It is a region with a strong that,“ Captain Wojnar concluded. in Kabul. During our tour, the academy trained ans with twenty-three personnel. Portuguese the higher was the threat of infi ltration by oppos- mentality. One has to approach them sensitively religious background. Religious songs could over eighteen hundred students in courses last- with fi fteen members of Guarda Nacional Re- ing forces. That was why the missions the Czech and weigh every word. They are a very proud be heard as far as behind the walls of the Police by Vladimír Marek ing from two weeks to two months,“ Captain publicana held the post of deputy commanding unit performed included so-called inprocessing nation. Any transgression of their cultural habits Academy compound. When the Czech MPs were photos by the 4th MP mentoring team 36 37 Profi le

Regardless of Czechoslovakia’s division, the life paths of Robert and Jaroslav Bielený military, which is clearly a matter of the heart twins unrolled like duplicates for both twins. Not regretting to have stayed Two paths, Robert Bielený has never regretted that he stayed in the Czech Republic. There is an en- gineer brigade here, whereas Slovakia only has a battalion. “That is not a problem; the land the way, the platoon only comprised nine cadets one hundred per cent on what they had promised forces are smaller in Slovakia, although they and was one of the best at the academy. with his brother many years ago. do have two manoeuvre brigades. So it is ad- one direction We even had same hobbies. We went in for Colonel Robert Bielený has recently been equate to have just a single battalion forming the When Czechoslovakia was splitting at the end of 1992, the division social dance, military heptathlon and sport assigned as an engineer brigade commander. core of their engineer service. But Slovaks pres- shooting,“ Jaroslav Bielený recalls his fi rst years Apparently, that could be regarded a step back. ently regret that they abolished the chief offi cers affected everything from territory, currency, joint enterprises to military hardware. at the Military Academy. “We only parted after But Robert Bielený disagrees. According to the of individual services. The military is not just Identical twins Robert Bielený and Jaroslav Bielený also parted then. Four minutes graduation in July 1991. I had already been mar- Colonel, Chief of the engineer service is an in- about manoeuvre units. If you do not have suf- ried by then, my wife was from Slovakia and dividual who is there to set visions and goals. fi cient combat support and a well-balanced com- older than his brother, Robert Bielený stayed in the Czech Republic and started to so I wanted to return. I was posted as a platoon He cares for the whole engineer service, not bat support service, neither your manoeuvre nor leader with the 13th Engineer Battalion in Sered, just the Brigade of the service. On the other fi re may work,“ Colonel Robert Bielený argues. develop his career in the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. Jaroslav contrarily Slovakia. My brother was dating his partner hand, Brigade commander is a very prestigious “On the other hand, the engineer corps suc- became a member of the Slovak Armed Forces. It could have seemed that their paths from the social dance club, and so he decided post. It may not be completely correct, that it is ceeded in raising its visibility in the internation- to stay in Moravia. He was posted as a platoon higher than the chief of an armed forces’ service al arena. Everything is the matter of opportuni- have parted for good. Taking a closer look at their life paths, however, we will fi nd leader at a civil defence regiment in Bučovice. in terms of prestige. ”My career puzzle misses ties and the personalities leading the military. out it is not completely true. After twenty years that have passed since, both are Naturally, none of us thought then that Czecho- commanding a brigade. If I want to stay in the In 1990s, there were people in Slovakia who slovak Republic could split one day.“ military and bring up a new generation of engi- seized the opportunity. Chiefs of the CBRN de- engineers, full colonels and are one of the leading subject-matter experts. Upon graduation, the eldest brother Marian neers, I have to complete service in that echelon. fence service did it similarly then in the Czech started service career as an engineer in Hodonín. Otherwise I would be handicapped vis-à-vis Republic. Around world, you need engineers, Reorganisations and force reductions started in people who have already served as brigade com- CBRN, gunners, medics and recce guys. All de- Childhood dream 1992, and he decided to leave the military. He manders. So, I do not think it would be a step fence forces lack those specialisms. Contrarily, There were four sons in the Bielený family. lived some time in Moravia and then he moved backwards.“ they mostly do have enough mechanised forces. In addition to the twins, there was the eldest to Bratislava, Slovakia. Today he works as a de- This also shows in Afghanistan at the moment. Marian and youngest Roman. They were still fence civilian at the Slovak Defence Ministry. Americans they would give us materiel, but we kids when a big dream was born. They decided Popped out for logistics have to provide the specialists. They are a high- to enlist with the air force and form an aircrew Jaroslav Bielený progressively served in demand-low-density asset.“ of a large transport aircraft. ”We even split the Each in a different country Sered as platoon leader and company com- According to Robert Bielený, engineers in posts among us,“ Robert Bielený recalls. ”Mar- Czechoslovakia divided into the Czech Re- mander; he was responsible for NCO school for Slovakia represent a display window. It is an ian was meant to be the fi rst pilot, me the navi- public and Slovak Republic at the beginning of miners and demining. Then he was assigned as area their armed forces specialises in. ”They gator, Jaroslav intended to become the second 1993. The newly created borderline also sepa- deputy battalion commander for technical mat- went for it headlong then. They were in Kabul pilot and Roman thought he would be the sys- rated the Bielený twins. Jaroslav was in Slova- ters. In 1994, he got an offer to go for studies to from the very start and later also in Kandahar, tems engineer.“ kia whereas Robert stayed in Bohemia. After Germany. “I spoke no German at that time, but where they maintained the Kandahar airfi eld But life may be cruel sometimes. And so the three years in Bučovice, he was assigned from the commander told me: You are young, you are with a pretty small engineer unit. Everybody dream was altered in this case as well. Mar- the post of deputy battalion commander of Civil able to learn. In four months’ time, I really learnt knew of them, it was a huge promotion. But ian was the fi rst one to enrol at the air college Defence regiment to the staff of the 6th Mecha- something at the German language school in when they arrive to our installations, they get in Košice. But since he had suffered infective nised Brigade. In 1995, he served a tour as a UN Huerta. Only later, during a stay at Bundeswehr jealous both over our equipment and the train- hepatitis before, he did not make it in medical observer in the Iraqi part of Kurdistan. ”Hav- units, I found out it was not that much. I went ing standards achieved by our engineers. But we terms. Similar destiny awaited the twins too. ing returned, I was assigned to the 4th Rapid through a supply battalion, transport battalion, do no have such opportunities to show our class When they were in the fourth grade of the Mili- Deployment Brigade (RDBde). I served as the I was explained how logistic supports works in the international arena.“ tary Grammar school of the Slovak National chief engineer offi cer with the 4th Reconnais- in the Bundeswehr. I also completed a techni- People knowing the two brothers concur on Uprising in Banská Bystrica, they enlisted with sance Battalion. When the RDBde 4th Engineer cal battalion commanders’ course. When I came the point that their service achievements are pri- the air college in Košice, but heart murmur was Battalion was formed, I was involved in build- back, infrastructure was just being changed back marily driven by strong-mindedness, tenacity and found with them. It did not help that they were ing the unit; I was assigned to the organisational at home. The technical component was merged a huge energy. ”It is diffi cult to judge oneself, but in excellent shape; they even ran half marathon core of the 4th engineer battalion. In 1999, I ad- with the rear so as to form the logistic support. it may be determined by what we have been en- runs. vanced to the post of division chief engineer Germans showed me how the whole system dowed with. When we were still young Lieuten- Their brother Marian then studied the engi- offi cer. Twelve months later, I was assigned to should work comprehensively, and so I became ants, many Colonels told us: You have some sort neer program at the Army College in Vyškov. NATO structures.“ a logistician.“ of energy source inside. You are the engine haul- They, too, took interest in technology. And Upon return, Robert Bielený served nine Jaroslav Bielený advanced in logistic post- ing the carriages,“ Robert Bielený smiles. ”W also so they eventually enlisted with the Military months at the General Staff Czech Armed ings through tactical and operational echelons. have in common that it is not a problem for us to Academy in Brno, the engineer – mechanical Forces, where he was responsible for organis- His career in this specialty peaked in a twelve- learn foreign languages. That is naturally a great engineering program. Finding of doctors that ing a large international exercise. In Bechyně, month tour in Afghanistan in 2010, when be- advantage. We are also very inquisitive, always their heart murmur was gone and that they were he fi rst served as deputy commander and then came Deputy Chief Logistic Support of ISAF. keen to learn new stuff, and look far ahead. But completely fi t in medical terms did not changed commander of engineer battalion. Posted as Having returned to Slovakia, he nevertheless there are many hard-working lads in the military, that. They were not permitted to transfer to the the Joint Force Chief Engineer Offi cer, he also came back to what they promised themselves so we should humbly say that we have naturally Košice air college in Košice anymore. served two tours in Kosovo, fi rst as deputy chief with his brother: his engineer profession. He been very lucky. We were in the right place at the In the instant the youngest brother Roman of staff operations of the Multinational Brigade was appointed the Director of NATO EOD Cen- right time. Circumstances were simply favour- had to make a decision about his profession, it Centre and second time as the commanding of- tre of based in Trenčín, Slovakia. able to us. We are also grateful to God and our was already cleared to him that their old dream fi ce of the Czech contingent. He studied at the Although living in two countries, the Bielený families for their support.“ would not materialise, and so he started study- US Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, family members meet three or four times a year ing the Police School in Holešov. from June 2011 till June 2012. When he became in Slovakia, in the house where the brothers by Vladimír Marek “We were together all the time. We slept in the Chief Engineer Offi cer of the Czech Armed spent their childhood. They talk about every- photos by Vladimír Marek the same room and were in the same platoon. By Forces several years ago, he knew he delivered thing, but their conversations always turn to the and the Bielený brothers 38 39 One of the tasks of the large crisis management exercise was aerial radiation reconnaissance of the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant area IZS

Major Vladimír Vigaš performs an IGE hover to check all systems work all right and starts off. In about sixty minutes, he must be at the point of entry for reconnaissance - the air team of the 314th CBRN Warning and Reporting Centre Hostivice-Břve has been activated in conjunction with the 3rd degree emergency. Their mission is Zona 2013 to cooperate with specialists from the mobile team of the National Radiation Protection Insti- tute (NRPI) on performance of an aerial radia- tion reconnaissance in the Dukovany NPP area. ”Before take-off, the IRIS (Integrated Radiation Information System) was installed onboard the Mi-17 helicopter for the NRPI staff to perform monitoring of the area with,“ says Captain Mar- tin Kytka, chief of the 314th CBRN WRC aerial monitoring and surveillance team, and adds that there are just two monitoring devices of the kind in the Czech Republic. ”One is available to the NRPI and the other one is used by the 314th CBRN WRC. Ours is more sophisticated, as it is equipped with the Geiger-Műller tube that detects high doses of radiation,“ Captain Kytka highlights and specifi es that installation of the IRIS system onboard the helicopter, which in- volves securing two small blocks and installa- tion of cabling, takes about thirty minutes. The course of the monitoring fl ight is de- termined by the current situation in the danger area, which in turn drives development of the On March 25, 2013, at night, a rupture occurs on the specialists of the 314th CBRN Warning and so-called monitoring polygon. ”The fl ight path Reporting Centre, plus service personnel of the follows line routes separated by about two kilo- main steam collector of the Dukovany Nuclear Power 7th Mechanised Brigade, 24th Transport Airbase metres’ distance. One this is completed, perpen- Plant’s second block. The duty systems engineer then and Military Police, students of the University dicular fl ights follow on so-called tying lines. of Defence, personnel of the Regional Military That creates a thick monitoring network in the classifi es the situation as a second degree emergency Headquarters in Jihlava and Brno and duty of- polygon of interest. fi cers of the Support Command and Joint Force In reality, that is a rectangle about twenty- and calls the emergency management staff. That is Command. The Czech Armed Forces involve- eight kilometres long and roughly ten kilome- the initial status for the Zona 2013 three-day crisis ment was coordinated by the duty team of the tres wide in the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant MoD Joint Operations Centre (MoD JOC). The area. The machine fl ies almost four hundred management exercise to start. Czech Armed Forces’ forces and assets ear- kilometres altogether. The data taken onboard marked for the Integrated Emergency System the helicopter are then compared to the radia- Zona 2013 has been the third exercise of zero, we have to be prepared adequately,“ First and for reinforcing the Czech Police are quite tion measured one metre above the ground. The this type to assess readiness of governmental Deputy Minister for Internal Security Jaroslav sizeable: hundreds of military professionals, measurements are used to develop a map of dos- authorities and agencies, municipalities and Hruška said in a press conference. dozens of vehicles and other types of hardware, ages, which is transmitted to the exercise crisis communities, components of the Integrated airplanes and helicopters form the permanent management staff,“ the head of air team, First- Emergency System and other organisations to standby forces. In reality, that involves decon- Lieutenant Veronika Topičová, explains. manage an accident at some the nuclear power Armed Forces’ tamination detachments, detachments for emer- The Mi-17 helicrew of the 243rd Helicopter plants in the Czech Republic. The previous edi- gency housing, humanitarian aid distribution Squadron the 24th Transport Airbase Prague- tions took place in 2008 and 2010. The test in involvement in simulated and emergency supply detachments, vehicle Kbely comprising MAJ Vladimír Vigaš, 1LT March, which involved roughly 1,600 personnel accident recovery detachments, road clearance detach- Filip Vodička and WO Michal Sajfert performed and 100 vehicles, was divided into three phases. ments, earthmoving detachments, radiation and two two-hour monitoring fl ights to accomplish It started out upon the declaration of the 2nd de- Participants in exercise Zona 2013 also in- chemical sampling and identifi cation teams, air the radiation reconnaissance tasking order. ”The gree emergency at the NPP. A simulated leak of volved the Ministry of Defence of the Czech team for radiation monitoring or veterinary re- fl ight altitude for aerial monitoring was one hun- radioactive agents into the air takes place subse- Republic and the Czech Armed Forces. ”In sponse teams. dred metres and speed one hundred kilometres quently and the situation is newly classifi ed as case capabilities of the Integrated Emergency Earmarked forces and assets defi ned under per hour. It showed in practice that those fl ight 3rd class emergency – nuclear accident. The last System’s primary components do not suffi ce or the Agreement on planned assistance on request parameters provide the most effective gathering phase activated the nationwide radiation moni- those components do not have them, the Czech are assigned to the IES central alarm plan and of aerial reconnaissance data. It is nothing out of toring network, including activation of mobile Armed Forces’ forces and assets are employed are requested by the Operations and Informa- the ordinary for us. The key thing is to observe teams and an air team to perform aerial radia- in accordance with regulations, agreements and tion Centre of the General Directorate the Fire the route fl ying the lines and the required fl ight to the cockpit to show everything went all right. tion reconnaissance. In addition, the Integrated Governmental ordinances,“ says Deputy Direc- Rescue Service of the Czech Republic. It is not parameters. In addition, you have to be excep- The helicopter returns back to its home station. Emergency System (Police, Fire, Ambulance) is tor MoD Joint Operations Centre, Brigadier- a secret that the Czech Armed Forces’ forces and tionally watchful for possible obstacles above Soon after landing, however, he is up to an in- called to rehearse response to a road accident in General Jaroslav Kankia and goes on to specify assets are also a part of emergency management the terrain,“ the helicopter captain says and un- depth dosimeter check. Registering of doses contaminated zone (Kožichovice community), that the legislation framework, including the plans for both Czech Nuclear Power Plants. derscores the 24th airbase fl ight personnel trains sustained will also be performed with all other where three personnel and equipment decon- ways to request and assign military forces and together with National Radiation Protection In- personnel involved in the aerial monitoring mis- tamination sites had been set up using forces and assets, is elaborated upon in a Directive of the stitute experts at least twice a year. The greatest sion. Although it is a fi ction, all participants in assets of the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Chief of General Staff. The consequence man- Recce around eight benefi t of aerial radiation reconnaissance is that the Zona 2013 interoperability exercise work as Republic and the Czech Armed Forces. agement effort following the simulated 3rd it enables covering quite a large area, including if this was for real … ”In reality, this is a highly unlikely scenario, degree emergency at the Dukovany Nuclear cooling towers inaccessible spots, in a relatively short period of but yet not impossible. Such a situation could Power Plant swathe involvement of the service- It is shortly after eight o’clock as Mi-17 time. only occur in a completely exceptional coinci- members of the 31st Chemical, Biologic, Radio- transport helicopter with tail number 0834 lifts The leader of the NRPI mobile team group by Pavel Lang dence. Although the probability almost equals to logical and Nuclear Defence brigade, including off the concrete helipad. Helicopter captain ends the monitoring effort and gives an o.k. sign photos by Jan Kouba 40 41 Training

Czech military snipers stroke success at Libavá training area despite facing a strong line very well, but it is necessary to estimate such. Miloš Kamenčák and Lukáš Urbánek from And not only the equipment used by indi- wind velocity one-hundred metres from you or the Military Police Command Olomouc were vidual competitors. ”Their team leader continu- competition of police and military marksmen from Central and Eastern Europe in the target area. For instance, if you shoot over placed highest among military snipers. In the ously watched the shots with a spotting scope a river, the air temperature will probably be dif- team competition, they ended up fi fth among and immediately informed them about necessary ferent there. Picking those changes right is what Czech teams. In the table including foreign par- corrections to be made. We shot over those long makes a truly perfect sniping professional. In the ticipants, they took the fi fteenth position. distances without knowing till the last moment end, it is does not matter at all whether you enter Snipers from the elite Czech Police URNA unit where our shots impacted. Alfa snipers fi red When you can’t the data into a computer or write down them on were placed behind them. Our boys shot the Finn- three rounds and made corrections immediately. some table,“ Captain Zámečník explains. ish Sako rifl es and used Sellier & Bellot and Swis Moreover, the winning team, who used the same ammunition. ”This competition had a very high weapons later, made use of that information,“ quality. We had the complete elite from Czech Mr. Kamenčák said. Large foreign Republic here. We can perhaps be happy with the Shooting SVD Dragunov standard army snip- placing. Of course we aim higher. If we would er rifl es, marksmen of the 7th Mechanised Bri- even see the target participation not make a couple of tactical mistakes, such as gade must have felt as complete outsiders from Besides police teams from the URNA and that we wrongly determined how we would fi re, the outset. It was literally a fi ght between David At the end of May earlier this year, elite snipers Diffi cult assessment regional Police SWAT units, the participants it was in our compass to achieve a higher rank- and Goliath. Although they were placed in the included marksmen from the Czech Armed ing. I believe the third or fourth place in the team last fourth of the competitors, they managed, arrived at the Libavá Military Training Area, at least The fi re line is busy. A complex alchemy be- Forces, Meopta Přerov, CZ České zbrojovka competition was quite realistic,“ Miloš Kamenčák specifi cally the team from the 74th Light Motor- those representing the Central and Eastern Europe. gins shortly before shooting. It is naturally not and some other companies. Foreign participants describes. ”There are already better weapons and ised Battalion based at Bučovice comprising Jan just about loading the rifl e, laying down and were Russians, Ukrainians, Lithuanians, Mon- sights in the market than those we had available. Krejčí, Jakub Machala, Zdeněk Vítek and David One-hundred and twenty six police and military pulling the trigger. The most critical part is ad- golians, Slovaks, Germans and Americans. The Our military sights have a very rough reticle that Juráček, to defeat rifl emen from the Police swat justing the sight rightly. Sniping has recently fi ring line somewhat resembled an arms exhibi- is not very well suited for high-precision police team Pilsen, members of the Omega force and snipers competed in the fi fteenth edition of the Police been infl uenced namely by technology devel- tion showcasing the latest equipment. And it is operations. The reticle covered the whole target, U.S. snipers with substantially better equipment. President’s Sniper Rifl e Shooting Trophy. Besides opments. And it is not just about ever more ad- the equipment that largely shapes accuracy of so we could not even see it.“ “I personally very much admire those boys. vanced optical devices. Today you can also get shooting at the moment. State-of-the-art opti- They are putting their heart into it. They have marksmen from the 7th Mechanised Brigade, 4th Rapid pocket computers for snipers, into which you cal devices offer a high magnifi cation, and also absolutely no chance of taking top places with Deployment Brigade and the 601st Special Operation would enter the ambient temperature, air humid- combine rangefi nders and computers. They are Obsolete rifl es such a weapon in competitions like these any- ity, wind velocity and other data. The computer even able to measure wind velocity. The price more. In spite of that, they go for it head fi rst. Forces Group, the Czech Armed Forces was represented then calculates settings for the weapon. tags on such devices are not in thousands, but notwithstanding My hat off for them,“ Mr. Kamenčák smiles. “It could seem at the fi rst sight that snipers rather in the magnitude of hundred thousands Snipers of the elite Russian Alfa force won Following achievements in similar contests in in the contest by Military Police snipers. today are better off than in World War II for and even millions in some cases. The armed both the individual as well the team competition. America, the competition in Libavá MTA again instance, but it is not always correct. It is still forces simply does not have enough money for According Mr. Kamenčák, however, it was not confi rmed that Czech military snipers manage to about obtaining the most accurate information. that in the time of austerity. just about their being able to select from a truly stay in contact with the world’s elite. “Although the competition involved much scenarios at the same time. It is exclusively an Oftentimes you have no choice but to estimate It was not just the question of sights or spot- broad base of high-quality marksmen. They also more tactical situations rather in the past, par- aimed affair. Accuracy of fi re makes the differ- it. You can measure wind velocity on the fi ring ting scopes, but also munitions and rifl es as had fi rst-class equipment. by Vladimír Marek ticipation of Czech Armed Forces’ snipers is ence. Police snipers operate over ranges up to Photos by Jaroslav Banszel nevertheless very important. It is not just about one hundred metres and they must perform one showing performance of individual marks- hundred percent. Military snipers shoot over men, but namely about sharing experience and substantially greater distances. Based on the na- most recent observations. It is also interesting ture of the mission they are to perform, it may to compare their equipment. There is naturally be suffi cient for them just to hurt the target. One a considerable difference between military and of the events was shot over fi ve hundred metres police snipers, especially in terms of tactics. But here, but that is exceptional in police contests,“ it does not matter in such competitions whether Jaroslav Banszel adds. “There is a global trend you have a police or army sniper on the fi re line. of some sort of transition to rapidfi re sniping. In the end, marksmanship skills make the differ- It is a precision shooting, when one gets into ence,“ Captain Radek Zámečník of the Head- a time stress. The presumption is that the condi- quarters Military Police explains. tions on the range are better than in real-world “Snipers are a sort of a family. Almost eve- situation.“ rybody knows each other. Police snipers attend competitions organised by the military and vice versa. In addition, we have a long-standing co- operation in place on basic training.“ Factsheet A trend of rapidfi re Alfa is an elite unit with the mission Mr. Jaroslav Banszel of the Headquarters to perform precise operations. It is Military Police has helped organise sniping a Russian equivalent of British SAS or contests in the Czech Armed Forces for several American Delta Force. Their mission years already. Those several days’ sessions are is to perform counterterrorist ope- always a part of specifi c tactical situation; they rations (such as that in the Moscow include working with maps, movement plan- theatre), and targeted assaults on ning, preparation and assuming positions. There small high-value targets, eliminati- are multiple competitions for snipers and they on of opposing leaders and the like. complement each other very well. Some of them Alfa’s basic cadre comprises selected prove not only marksmanship skills but also members of army SPECNAZ special more complex abilities. Military snipers are not forces. The unit is subordinate to the just soldiers who can shoot well. They are spe- intelligence, the Federal Security Ser- cialists employing a range of skills in their job. vice (FSB). Alfa is said to be one of ”Contrarily to military contests, the police com- the best counterterrorist units in the petitions are specifi c in that they involve special world and to have achieved a high shooting over shorter ranges and without tactical degree of success. 42 4343 From Ostrava to Zadar or from fl ight sim into cockpits of Mi-171Sh rubrikaand Mi-24V helicopters Two two six, cleared for takeoff! “Two two six, position ten, requesting start-up,“ reports the captain of Mi-171 transport helicopter to the air traffi c control. The rotor on a one-seven-oner at the Zemunik airbase in Croatia starts to spin shortly. A couple of minutes later, the machine with number 229 follows the suit. The joint training of Czech, Croat and Hungarian helicopter aircrews ahead of their deployment in Afghanistan continues with another fl ight mission

44 45 Training

Shortly before eight o’clock, instructor Lieu- tenant-Colonel Michael Križanec of Croatia begins prefl ight briefi ng for Czech, Croat and Hungarian helicrews. After seven days on the fl ight simulator at Ostrava airport, they are faced with a two-week practical training in Croatia, specifi cally at Zemunik airbase at Zadar. Flight crews of Mi-171 transport helos and Mi-24/35 gunships together with gunners and ground spe- cialists undergo a mission rehearsal training here before they fi ll the next rotation of the Air Advi- sor Team (AAT) that trains Afghan Air Force pi- lots and ground personnel downrange. The Czech Armed Forces military profession- als have already done so at the Kabul Interna- tional Airport already for fi ve years. Lieutenant-Colonel Križanec specifi es the a valley, I chose the optimal route at my discre- fl ight plan and once again goes through the ac- tion. It may not happen in formation fl ight that tivities in mission training areas, where they will my manoeuvring would cause inconvenience be- perform operational assignments. Preparation hind me. I cannot restrict the others. It requires of multinational helicopter crews follows. The a much higher ability to foresee and emphasis morning mission is particularly challenging with on cooperation,“ Captain Šamaj argues. its tactical scenario. It goes without saying that After the morning mission, he fi nds some instructors onboard the machines do not make team (formerly OMLT and AMT) would concur. their professionals who are then to cooperate time to describe the cooperation onboard the life any easier for the aircrews and face them By the way, most of the Czech mentors have on mentoring in Afghanistan. That is the value one-seven-oner in detail. “We fl ew together with unexpected and complicated situations. been downrange repeatedly. added of this training course,“ argues the gun- with Zoran for the fi rst time. It was a success- Those are in fact commonplace on deployment A pair of Hips with Mi-24V attack helicopter ship captain. ful premiere in my view. He is a professional in Afghanistan. With just a couple of minutes covering their back sets off in the northwest di- To the objection that Czechs, Croats and Hun- with much more extensive experience from to go to ten o’clock, rotor blades on two Croat rection. The tactical scenario tasked the helos to garians are highly likely to provide mentoring operational deployments. He gave me valuable Mi-171Sh with tail numbers 229 and 226 and pick a team of warfi ghters and materiel at a for- in various locations, CAPT Vanický responds advice in many respects. I gained new experi- the Czech Mi-24V (0981) gunship of the “Ti- ward operating base and airlift them into desig- in no time: “If we are not together at the Kabul ence. When there was time, we consulted some ger“ 221st Helicopter Squadron from the 22nd nated area. Their fl ight mission is to take over airport, the more we need to harmonise proce- procedures. The fi nal decision nevertheless was airbase Náměšť nad Oslavou start spinning at two hours. None of them however has a clue dures for delivering instructions to the members up to me to make as the helicopter captain. That apron of the Zadar airbase. what surprises await them among the Velebit’s of Afghan Air Force. Experience sharing must is the exclusively responsibility of the man con- Over the next fi fteen minutes, aircrews per- two thousand metres high peaks. be as effective as possible. There is no time to trolling the machine. The more I was pleased to form so-called engine test, in which they check waste,“ CAPT Vanický states and pleads for an hear him say after the fl ight that he also learnt on correct operation of all systems. “Two two increased involvement of Mi-24/35 helicopter something,“ says the pilot of the 243rd Helicop- six, requesting taxiing to runway three two,“ Missions in Velebit aircrews in the AAT PTC. ter Squadron and adds that every fl ight in multi- says Captain Petr Šamaj and cleared by the Flight missions for AAT PTC participants get national aircrew increases his confi dence in his tower he rolls to the takeoff point. He is closely more complex every day. “The initial part famil- Croat and Hungarian colleagues onboard. followed by another one-seven-oner and the iarises students with air traffi c rules at the local Piloting with tactical Hind. Machines get aligned behind each other airfi eld and tactical procedures on the upcoming at two rotors’ intervals. They receive some addi- mission in Afghanistan,“ says Captain Jan Van- elements Hinds eliminating tional information from the tower. ”Two two six, ický, an experienced pilot Mi-24/35 gunship pi- Captain Petr Šamaj of the 243rd helicopter cleared for take-off “, the Czech Air Force pilot lot. Then they proceed, already in multinational squadron stationed at Prague-Kbely is rather the threat hears in his headset. Captain Šamaj increases the crews, to practical fl ight training. First they known in the community as a pilot of the W-3A “Fire at three, distance two kilometres, elimi- performance and hovers with nearly thirteen-ton practise takeoffs and landings at various angles Sokol helicopter, with which he accomplished nate the threat,“ Mi-24V helicopter captain, machine about fi ve metres above the runway. and at maximum takeoff weight, then emergen- many rescue missions. Nevertheless, his pre- CAPT Jaroslav Šimek, receives instructions The last check shows everything is the way it cy procedures and fi nally landing on small size miere tour in the AAT is also conditioned on in his headset. It just takes a short time for the should be. He pushes the control stick forward areas in the mountains. ”In the fi nal phase we fl y a successful completion of that training course. gunships aircrew to recognise the target on the and lifts the collective-pitch control some more. operational missions with tactical scenario in- ”There are several aspects that come on top of ground and open fi re with onboard weapon The helicopter starts accelerating and climb- volving a group of helicopters. Aircrews receive my experience as military pilot. It is not that systems. The effort of opposing forces to shoot ing. The Czech-Croat crew (Pilot Captain Petr an air transport tasking order from their superior much about piloting techniques, but the point is down the Mi-171 transport helos is soon over. Šamaj and pilot Major Zoran Veselko, systems command headquarters, which they have to plan we do formation fl ying and use tactics in com- “Our mission is direct air support to the one- engineer Warrant Offi cer Michal Sajfert, gun- into a fi ne level of detail and then perform,“ the bat situations. Your high professional standards seven-oners. That is normally performed by ner Warrant Offi cer Jaroslav Fiedor) follows Czech instructor explains and adds that he and have to complemented with tactical elements two Mi-24 machines. We escort them along the given heading into the assigned area. In reality, his Croat and Hungarian colleagues introduce and also relevant communication, including planned route with the gunships. Depending on they are heading for the Velebit mountain range additional tactical situations into the course of code-words,“ says the pilot home-stationed at current situation, we eliminate enemy ground that became a high-fi delity copy of Afghanistan the mission. ”We assess the fl ight personnel’s Prague-Kbely airport and emphasises safety: assets or we secure the external perimeter of the for the members of the AAT PTC (Air Advi- ability to react quickly and correctly to the “Formation fl ying has specifi c rules. Naturally, landing zone,“ CAPT Šimek says and explains sor Team Pre-deployment Training Course) for changed situation. That is commonplace in fl ight the wingman still keeps his position behind the that they do not fl y with the Mi-24 close to the a fortnight in May earlier this year. Not only effort in Afghanistan,“ underscores the pilot of leader. Nevertheless the second’s position must Mi-171 helicopters but roughly fi ve to eight hun- because of certain similarity in mountain envi- the 221st Helicopter Squadron based at Náměšť be managed well and not to make a manoeuvre dred metres from them. Normally one machine ronment and meteo conditions, but also with the airbase, who already served two rotations in the that would cause trouble in midair. Own mis- rides the shotgun, clearing the way in the front names of the Forward Operating Bases (FOBs): AAT at the Kabul International Airport. Captain takes are the most dangerous factor. In other and the other one secures the back. Manoeuvres Tillman, Fenty, Kalagush and Parun. No wonder Vanický maintains that the key factor is previ- words, they may result in air incidents.“ performed by the Hinds are contingent on the – every single detail matters in accomplishing ous operational experience. “We share the les- That W-3A Sokol and Mi-171Sh helicop- nature of potential threat the opposing forces the mission. And it is truly fl ying to the limits in sons learnt not only at our squadron but we also ters require different piloting is understood. pose to the transport helicopters. Afghanistan. In the mountains, at high tempera- discuss them with colleagues from other Czech But so-called composite fl ight involving three The instruction to assault does not have to tures and in dust, at maximum take-off weight, Air Force airbases. That is the basis informing machines, moreover in much more demanding come from the group commander. In case of moreover in a crisis area with increased level of the development of operating procedures. Ze- conditions than back at home, demand addi- threat, any helicopter captain performing the threat. Everybody who served a tour in the AAT munik airbase is where the three nations send tional skills. Example? ”When I fl y solo through operational fl ight may ask for assistance. That is 46 47 Training NATO

either done in overt communication or in code- helicopter just to pull the trigger. They perform are certain differences in preparing the aircraft. words. a range of specifi c tasks. Shooting is just a small When I went for a tour in the AAT for the fi rst ”This task has become a standard assign- part of their job, lasting a couple of seconds. time, there was no targeted mission rehearsal ment for our helicopter squadron. We fl y escorts Their success is nevertheless conditioned on training like this. The longer it takes for you RReserveeserve OOfffi ccers’ers’ not only back at home, but also on exercises in their ability to foresee, but especially by expe- to get adapted in the new environment. Afghan foreign countries,“ says the pilot of the 221st rience that can only be gained through a long- machines are not completely identical with our Squadron from Náměšť airbase and turns to standing practice. The key thing is that aerial hardware, particularly as to the aviation suite.“ his participation in AAT PTC. ”We will shortly gunners are the pilot’s additional eyes,“ says the It also applies in this trade that every piece of SSEMINAREMINAR deploy for the next rotation of the Air Advisor instructor from Přerov airbase. advice is valuable. “One has to be very patient, Team to train Mi-24 pilots of the Afghan Air because time fl ows differently in Afghanistan. The issues of command in multinational en- Force. It will be a premiere for me. I am better Under any circumstances, however, you may vironments, basics of NATO structures and co- prepared thanks to this course. Moreover, I can Shared responsibility for not give an inch on the procedures mandatory operation between the offi cers and NCOs, those build on the observations my colleagues have for maintaining aircraft in serviceability condi- were the principal topics discussed in the Young made. Our squadron has a body of experience safety tion. Ground technical personnel bear a part of Reserve Offi cers Outreach Seminar (YROS), with mentoring in Kabul. I trust I will be able to The professional puzzle comprising the AAT responsibility for air traffi c safety and that holds which took place in the second half of March at accomplish the assignment,“ CAPT Šimek says. PTC would be incomplete without the ground true anywhere on the globe. You may be faced University of Defence in Brno. Organised by the He does not hesitate to describe professional specialists. The Zemunik airbase also hosted with minor or major infl uences, but you cannot Defence University together with the Reserve priorities in the upcoming operational tour: ”It nine ground technical specialists for deployment fl inch in any case,“ CAPT Pecha concludes. The Brigades Association (RBA), the seminar was de- retired Brigadier-General Rudolf Urban. One his/her qualities and then recommend his/her fu- will be about prudence and about not losing in the second half of this year. Their instructor noise of helicopters landing in sequence on the signed to provide sharing of experience in security of the fi rst speakers, dean of the Faculty of ture career. concentration under any circumstances. I have was Captain Ondrej Pecha of the 24th Trans- runway breaks into our conversation. A cou- issues and to assist young reserve offi cers in inte- Economics and Management, Colonel Vladan Colonel Bruno Bucherie, ex French marine (he no concerns as to working with Afghan pilots, port airbase in Prague-Kbely. “It will be a pro- ple of minutes later, the ground specialists are grating into the coalition environment. Holcner, covered the subject of Czech defence was on multiple French armed forces’ operational although there is certain unfamiliarity with their fessional premiere for some of them. But there already getting the machines ready for the next Attendees to the international seminar included education and leadership in his exposé. Colonel deployments in Africa, for example in Chad, Con- personality and the language barrier. Contrarily are also maintainers who will go into Afghani- fl ight. Every military occupational special- 21 reserve offi cers and foreign students in the Er- Holcner, who completed the 21st century lead- go and the Republic of Central Africa) and former to the cockpit in Mi-171, where they may show stan for their third tour,“ CAPT Pecha says and ity contributes their unique part. The afternoon asmus program. ”The seminar was addressed by ers’ course at the College of International Stud- French defence attaché in the Czech Republic things to each other, we have to communicate gives a positive evaluation of the joint training missions are scheduled for start in about ninety lecturers from the University of Defence, Czech ies of the Marshall Center for Security Studies discussed the advance of French armed forces in everything on the radio in the Mi-24. The more involving Czech, Croat and Hungarian ground minutes … Armed Forces, France and the U.S, and the partic- in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, and the Mali, analysed security situation in the country demanding it is, especially when potentially do- specialists and maintainers. “In my perspective, ipating reserve offi cers came from Denmark, Ger- defence resource management course in the U.S. and the rationale behind the French endeavour. In ing emergency procedures.“ this course has a range of benefi ts. I can con- by Pavel Lang many and Switzerland,“ elaborated Major Arnošt Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, alerted his address, he treated the importance of Opera- fi rm based on my practical experience that there photos by Jan Kouba Líbezný, President of the Association of Reserve to the need to change education of offi cers, as tion Serval, which saw a French airborne forces’ Brigades and Vice-President CIOR (Interallied new wars and different confl icts occur. ”It is also battalion deployed in Africa for the fi rst time from Not just about pulling the Confederation of Reserve Offi cers) representing essential to learn how to work with non-military 1978. The aim of the operation described as suc- the Czech Republic. organisations,“ Colonel Holcner underscored cessful by French President Francois Hollande trigger The agenda also included a presentation on the and accentuated the importance of ethical con- and his Malian counterpart Diocounda Traoré, The gunners on the AAT PTC are not left be- current situation in Mali, Czech Armed Forces duct in combat and the topic of developing the was to assist the Malian armed forces on stopping hind in any respect. The fourth edition is no ex- transformation and the Czech military education armed forces’ positive image in the society. the advance of radical Islamists. ception to that. Warrant Offi cer Jaroslav Fiedor system. There was a discussion after every con- Apart from vice-rector Urban and dean Hol- Chief Warrant Offi cer Luděk Kolesa, who of the 23rd helicopter airbase stationed in Přerov tribution, which saw an active involvement by cner, the speakers from the Defence University served for four years as the senior enlisted leader was in intensive training here for his third de- Defence University students who are a part of the also included LTC Jaroslav Průcha, LTC Miroslav at the Headquarters Allied Command Transfor- ployment in Afghanistan. Erasmus program. They were mostly not familiar Krčmář and LTC Vladimír Šidla. LTC Průcha mation in Norfolk and was awarded the high- “The substantial benefi t of this course is the with the topics, and that was why they frequently spoke about the Czech Armed Forces’ transfor- est NATO decoration, the Meritorious Service live fi re exercise at an aerial shooting range near- asked about basic data on CIOR and its coopera- mation from the end of bipolarity, LTC Krčmář Medal, also delivered an interesting presentation. by. It is a pity that the live fi re cannot be more tion with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. dealt with the history of Czechoslovak and Czech In his exposé, he discussed the metamorphosis in frequent,“ says the gunner instructor. But he has ”Besides gaining specialist knowledge in selected foreign operational deployments. Cultural and the responsibilities performed by individual rank reasons to stay optimistic. ”There is less shoot- areas, the principal benefi t of seminars like these historical presentation by the Defence University corps. “The tasks performed by offi cers not a long ing here, but it is compensated on the other hand is sharing of experience on international level and spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Šidla was specifi c, time ago are today managed by senior non-com- by realistic fl ight missions, especially thanks to expanding international team working skills, in- as it was not held on the premises of the Univer- missioned offi cers, which results from the system cooperation with the Croat Special Operations cluding development of language skills,“ Major sity as the YROS participants visited the main of their education in the NATO Alliance,“ Chief Forces. We are able to prove our professional Líbezný explained the importance of the meeting. sights in the centre of Brno during that lecture. Warrant Offi cer Kolesa said. readiness in extreme conditions and adjust our The seminar was meant primarily for NATO Captain Christoph Merki, member of the Swiss The students themselves also presented basic training focus back at home accordingly,“ WO reserve offi cers and was already the third edition Armed Forces, described the key working princi- information on their own country and the armed Fiedor argues. He reveals a novelty associated to have taken place in the Czech Republic. “I be- ples of CIOR. He described how the Interallied forces and reserve mobilisation system. The par- with the next rotation of the AAT. “One aerial lieve the key benefi t is the opportunity to share Confederation of Reserve Offi cers came into be- ticipants in the young reserve offi cers’ seminar gunner has been sent from the Přerov airbase experience, integration of both normally separated ing in 1948, and explained the principle of rotat- both improved their presentation skills in English, into the AAT so far. Preparation of Afghan per- communities into a joint teamwork and joint per- ing presidency. Following questions by Erasmus but they also gained new knowledge in security sonnel for combat operations now claims de- formance of assignments in a multinational envi- students, Captain Merki said CIOR membership issues, particularly in terms of command and con- ploying two specialists. In general terms, one ronment,“ said Lieutenant Jan Smetana of the 13th was not limited to NATO Allies only. ”Any coun- trol in multinational environments. The next re- will perform training onboard the helicopter Artillery Brigade based in Jince, Czech Republic, try may become a part, although one of the goals serve offi cers meeting will take place in summer and the other one will do ground training for the who have taken part in several similar events and of CIOR is to support NATO’s policy,“ he told the later this year and will become a part of a CIOR gunners,“ the Czech Armed Forces servicemem- have been responsible, together with Major Líbez- students. international congress again held in Brno. Mem- ber explains and adds the cornerstone of success ný, for the cooperation between the 13th Arty Bde Distinguished guests of the international semi- bers of CIOR committee, Captain Merki from is a highly individual approach to Afghan col- and CIOR/RBA since 2011. nar included retired Colonel Bruno Bucherie from Switzerland and Lieutenant Flinthøj of Denmark, leagues. “They mostly do not have a problem ”Those courses provide benefi ts for reserve France and Major-General Robert Willson Smith, who were also involved in organising the meet- operating the onboard weapon systems. Certain and active-duty personnel alike. Some of the who travelled thousands of kilometres from the ing in Brno back in March, are now involved in shortfalls show in their personal motivation to previous participants were then deployed for op- U.S. to Brno just for the sake of the seminar. Gen- setting up the summer seminar. ”Our thanks go become professionals. It is therefore our goal to erations in ISAF, where they could capitalise on eral Smith lectured on leadership and he animated to all participants for an excellent presentation of make them identify more with the post of aerial the knowledge they gained here,“ LT Smetana his lecture by frequently interacting with the audi- their respective countries, but also to those who gunner, to make them work on themselves more summarised. Most of the participants and speak- ence. Students split into multinational teams and helped to realise the seminar, and particularly to intensively,“ WO Fiedor elaborates. ers arrived Brno already on March 20, 2013, in learnt, for example, what information they can the management of the University of Defence, His rich experience makes him eligible to the evening. The opening ceremony took place get from uniforms. The lecture by Major-General who made it possible to hold this international comment on the notional recipe for soldiers on the next day in the morning. Participants were Smith was highly illustrative and also comprised seminar in decent premises,“ said retired Major to become successful gunners: “Practise and welcomed by the vice-rector of the University of a practical exercise: the participants students were Arnošt Líbezný. practise, nothing more. The gunners’ are in the Defence for Marketing and External Relations, tasked to make up a fi ctive subordinate, evaluate by Markéta Malá 48 49 Military Police

Military Police authorities have the possibility to use a specialised cannot do without a truly fi ddly patience. “Ide- ally, your job should become a hobby for you. forensic facility I have been lucky to have it that way,“ Major Vokálek smiles. In case the prints are not dis- cernible with the naked eye, the target area is illuminated with spectral light at various wave- lengths. To that effect, the Gold Panther foren- POCKET-SIZED sic light source system is used to identify latent traces in the crime scene. The Krimesite Imager is also an excellent aid – it provides a stand-off detection of latent prints on smooth surfaces without the use of powders Forensic Institute or chemicals. But there are other methods as well. For in- The murderer pressed his ear against the door and of Criminology. It would not be very effective to stance, it is quite diffi cult to fi nd fi ngerprints on create an in-house facility for instance for DNA paper. That is why that corpus delicti is frozen listened for a while. He probably sought to fi gure out analysis and for some other fi elds of expertise. to minus eighty degrees Celsius. Only such tem- how many people were behind the closed door at the We also go to analogous police facilities for perature makes it possible to identify possible stints, training courses and possible certifi cation fi ngerprints. Advanced forensic equipment ena- moment. But the room only contained the person tests,“ Major Vokálek explains. “But there are bles recovering text, or a part of it, on a paper also situations when we contrarily help the Po- burnt in a stove under certain circumstances. In whose fate was sealed. The gloved hand therefore lice of the Czech Republic, or the Customs Ad- such case, everything depends on the forensic pressed the bell. When the door opened the killer ministration. We are sometimes called up to help experts’ skills: how they manage to stabilise and them with our state-of-the-art equipment. As to fi x the charred remnants of the paper right on the attacked instantly. some types of forensic expertise, we have almost spot. an exclusive position in the Czech Republic. For Not only footwear and car tyres, but also It looked like a perfect crime at the outset. It was a Military Police specialised forensic and instance, that involves situations requiring tak- a range of other objects used on day-to-day ba- It seemed the killer had left no traces. Then the technical component with the mission to develop ing fi ngerprints from classifi ed documents. The sis leave unique traces. Military experts also use forensic experts discovered an ear print on the expert opinions in fi ngerprint, trace evidence, tool Police usually does not have experts cleared for dedicated software that identifi es the types of door. The Head of the Military Police Forensic mark examination, digital forensics, analysis of that level, and so we have step in. shoes in question upon scanning the trace. Equipment and Expertise Major Tomáš Vokálek data media and pyrotechnics. Computers operated in classifi ed mode is After several years’ effort, Major Vokálek managed to evidence that the trace had belonged The section has been registered with the Min- a similar case.“ For example, members of the managed to compile a catalogue of car tyres to the murderer. Eventually, that was instrumen- istry of Justice as a forensic expert institute. It forensic equipment and expertise managed to with two hundred specimens. Nothing like that tal to convicting and sentencing the criminal. is currently staffed with fi ve military personnel identify the way from a drug lab to the product existed in the Czech Republic before. It is an ”While humans have the same papillary lines and one defence civilian. distribution network. They also won laurels in excellent trace evidence tool used by a number on their hands and feet, any part of human body Tomáš Vokálek got into this profession more or countering computer crime, especially as con- of forensic experts in the Czech Republic, Slo- may leave a provable trace of evidence. And not less by coincidence. In 1992, he started to study at cerns the distribution of child pornography and vakia and in Poland as well. The Czech Police only that, but essentially any material,“ Tomáš the Military Police Specialised School in Moravská narcotics. Many of those transactions are ar- Academy included the catalogue in its specialist Vokálek adds. Třebová. He underwent an eighteen months’ ranged using the internet and mobile phones. library.

Thirteen years’ history academic training for the performance of service Two members of the MP Forensic Equipment perhaps in a more diffi cult situation in the forensic dactyloscopy (fi ngerprints), or trace Forensic sciences have fl ourished in the past with the Military Police. After graduating from the and Expertise Section specialising in the subject domain of fi ngerprint. Military profession- evidence science, demand specifi c abilities couple of years. That is why the MP forensic ex- The Military Police Forensic Equipment and school, he had a placement as a forensic expert. have available a high-quality forensic software als may not have any criminal record, and so and certain talents. Incumbents should have perts also focus on testing new procedures and Expertise Section was established in 1999 based And there he was selected by the founder that enables both data searching and recovery. servicemembers’ fi ngerprints are not normally an excellent sense of vision and colour per- evaluating forensic equipment and materials for on the requirement to rationalise and accelerate of the section, Mr. Zdeněk Kubů. He progres- included in the central database. If a crime is ception. In addition, they should have a pho- practical use. That involves drug testing kits, actions in the criminal proceedings. At that time, sively worked his way up to the head. “We have committed in a military installation it is neces- tographic memory and a sense of detail. It is new types of fi ngerprint powders data analysis the need was increasing to develop forensic expert a close cooperation with our counterpart com- Tracing down sary to fi ngerprint all those who have been in essential that apparent details that common software. opinions in the specifi c military environment and ponents at the regional units of Police of the Tomáš Vokálek engages in fi ngerprint and the area. The scans are then confronted with people would usually not notice at all would naturally where classifi ed information is handled. Czech Republic and primarily with the Institute trace analysis. Military Police offi cers are the traces identifi ed. Expert opinions, be it in not escape the expert’s attention. And they also by Vladimír Marek 50 51 Research & Technology

Not emitting anything, not operates on receiving 1,090 MHz SIF trans- In other words, PCL technology would ex- Czech Armed Forces, the key factor is appar- ponder frequency. pand the existing radiolocation operations sys- ently the use the passive system’s capabilities generating any heat and possibly The year 2001 saw the fi rst supply of the tem. Once passive coherent location develops to gather information for an effective processing hidden anywhere – that is a unique VERA-S/M mobile broadband system for the to the extent it will be able to operate autono- in the C4ISR (Command, Control, Communica- Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. Multi- mously, it will turn from a support system into tions, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and passive coherent location system! mode operation enables locating and tracking a full-fl edged part of the system. The potential of Reconnaissance), whose development is also in approximately two hundred aerial, ground or PCL is unique in this respect and offers a range line with the Chicago NATO Summit. At the end naval targets simultaneously. Upon analysing of other applications. It should be mentioned in of the day, every system has its pros and cons. the received signal, the system identifi es the this respect that the PCL technology is not en- Therefore, combining primary radars with pas- type of target and its operating mode, which tirely new in this fi eld. The world’s leading busi- sive systems appears to be the most effective also makes it a very effective electronic war- nesses have intensively pursued development of way. TO SEE fare tool that provides both air picture aware- the technology. Available information neverthe- ness and the detection of potential threats. less shows that ERA Pardubice has achieved the Today’s variant, VERA-NG, represent greatest progress. No enterprise has presented Parasitic principle a new alternative radiolocation system, being such an advanced stage of the passive coher- Let us take a peak behind the scenes of PCL. the fi fth generation of passive surveillance sys- ent location system. Technology demonstrator The new technology is in line with current tem developed and manufactured in the Czech and the mobile facility are a proof of that. The trends in radiolocation and fi lls the role of pas- aandnd nnotot toto bebe seenseen Republic. It uses the well-proven multilatera- concept of air defence sensors supports new sive surveillance systems – “to see and not to be tion technology that combines the surveillance technologies to the effect of an effective mission seen“. Contrarily to PSS that use various types From Kopáč to VERA-NG: Passive and tracking functions. VERA-NG was intro- performance in the long run. The Czech Armed of the targets’ electromagnetic emissions, a PCL Surveillance Systems (PSS) have duced to the Czech Armed Forces’ inventory Forces commitment to this fi eld is therefore system is able to use signals refl ected by objects, in January 2012. That is however not the end quite natural. and is so able to detect so-called silent targets a long-standing record of unique to the progress in this area as ERA launched (not using any radio devices). milestones. Already in 1960s, then the phase of testing and fi netuning the PCL The key benefi ts of the PCL include a con- technology demonstrator and offers it for use, Combination is the best siderable increase of the effective radar cross Czechoslovakia made a remarkable including for the Armed Forces of the Czech “There are never enough sensors,“ said Gen- section (RCS) as opposed to traditional radiolo- Republic. eral Henry Obering, former Director of the U.S. cation methods, a signifi cant suppression of the discovery of a method named Missile Defence Agency. The Czech Armed stealth effect, excellent coverage of lower alti- time-measuring-hyperbolic. Instant Forces’ military air traffi c management authori- tudes and minimisation of own electromagnetic A step ahead of the others ties should therefore also contribute its part to signature. The unique capability of the system is position of the target then was The ERA company premises in Pardubice the protection of national airspace. A mention that detects stealth aircraft as well as small air- determined by the intersection of were recently visited by the Chief of General should be made that the fusion of data from planes with communications switched off. And Staff Czech Armed Forces Lieutenant-General individual sensors generates an integrated rec- while it does not use normal transponders, it is hyperbolic curves calculated using Petr Pavel with several military experts for dem- ognised air picture fed by domestic and foreign almost impossible for attackers to acquire a PCL onstrations of current trends in passive surveil- civilian sensors in addition to military systems. system. time differences between the arrival lance technology by ERA, which ranks among In February 2012, the Government of the In simplistic terms, classic so-called primary of signal to three receiver stations global leaders in this branch. Czech Republic endorsed a document that also radar works the way that it sends out a signal It is no secret that the largest part of the elaborated in depth the options available for and locate the target based on the refl ections it separated by dozens of kilometres. presentation focused on radiolocation method the provision of radar coverage for the airspace receives. ERA comes up with a different philos- Fifty years later, trends are set by that detects aerial targets with random incoher- above the Czech Republic’s territory. One of the ophy – it is a parasitic principle. Moreover, the ent sources of electromagnetic waves such as conclusions was to acquire ten units of mobile PCL system (informally referred to as ELIZA) new passive technology based on radio and TV receivers, i.e. the passive coher- 3D MADR (Mobile Air Defence Radar) radars is very small-sized as opposed to traditional ra- ent location technology. The reason is obvious and three airfi eld radars that would provide both dars and may be positioned virtually anywhere. the principle of Passive Coherent – this trend, as an alternative to classic radi- full information in line with the Czech Armed With just a bit of exaggeration, aerial targets Location (PCL). olocation, appears to be the right step ahead. Forces’ operational requirements and for the have nowhere to hide before PCL. It is a passive That is the path the Czech Armed Forces would NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence Sys- system that in fact cannot be traced down – it like to follow in the years ahead. ”Why should tem (NATINAMDS). does not emit anything, does not generate heat monitoring of the Czech airspace employ just The MoD nevertheless intensively seeks ad- and is very much concealable. Combined with a single-sensor coverage, when it is much more ditional ways to reduce the costs associated with the VERA-NG system… effective to combine the technologies,“ said the that step. One of the options considered involves Chief of General Staff on the conclusion of his a more extensive use of new passive surveillance by Pavel Lang visit. technologies. Attaining the intended capabilities photo by Pavel Lang ”The intention has been elaborated on for could also reduce the requirement some time and specifi c measures have been for the quantity of MADR type of progressively taken to bring it to the reali- radars to be acquired. sation phase,“ says the Head of Operations The good news is that genera- Branch the MoD Force Development – Op- tion of radar fi eld over the Czech erations Division, Colonel Pert Milčický, and Republic will be enhanced by op- points out the targeted project owned by two erational employment of FADR MoD components (MoD Force Development – (Fixed Air Defence Radar) sta- Operations Division and MoD Reconnaissance tionary radars at the Nepolisy and The fi rst passive surveillance system devel- informed the development of new generations stations for the Czech Armed Forces. The mili- and Electronic Warfare Branch) responsible for Sokolnice sites. Those are planned oped in then TESLA Pardubice was KOPAC of passive surveillance systems. The fi rst ma- tary acquired the system to have air picture this subject-matter area. ”We have completed for operational use upon essential which translates as accurate radio-technical spe- jor order for the Czech military came up at the awareness independent of data provided by the research assignment project by mid-2012, operational worthiness certifi ca- cifi cally correlation seeker. The Armed Forces beginning of 1990s. ERA Pardubice company civilian air traffi c management. The system but the project sadly failed to make it into the tion sometime during 2013. introduced it to its inventory in 1964. The sys- started developing the VERA systems. Those comprises several remote-controlled stationary 2013 plan. It will be commenced as a top prior- The radar picture is broad- tem was able to track maximum six targets and were designed from the outset to be integrated receiver stations located expediently and one ity project at the beginning of 2014,“ the head based and suffi ciently sophisti- type identifi cation was done manually. into the Czech Air Force command and control central processing site. of operations branch explains and goes on to cated. There are nevertheless cer- Kopáč was followed by RAMONA (1979) system as one of the key elements of generating The system is capable of automati- say that their target is a technology demonstra- tain dead zones specifi c altitudes and TAMARA (1987) that was code-named a recognised air picture. cally tracking up to three hundred targets tor with relevant software, which will be able as a result of landscape profi les or ”trash bin” in reference to the antenna unit’s dis- In 1995, ERA started to build a nationwide over up to four hundred and fi fty kilome- to effectively process all data to support air de- the systems’ performance limits. tinctive cylindrical shape. Acquired experience system comprising twenty-eight VERA-A3D tres. But it is not a broadband system; it only fence coverage of the Czech Republic. In terms of the tasks facing the 52 53 Operations

Ten years have recently passed from the commencement of Operation Iraqi Freedom, defence battalion formed in February 2003 to before midnight on 18 March the guards report- present. The reconnaissance team returned back be reinforced with a Slovak company a month ed to have heard fi re in the area of highway near- to the Mishref exhibition centre shortly after ten in which Czech NBC defence service played an important role later. As a result of the reorganisation, the unit by. Those incidents repeated twice during that o’clock. Iraqi missiles carried on bombarding was renamed the 1st Czechoslovak Nuclear, night. The Czech-Slovak unit was mustered on Kuwait through the next day. Shortly before ten Biologic and Chemical Defence Battalion. Its the next day. The battalion commanding offi cer o’clock, Commander CJTF/CM General Wilson organisation comprised a CBRN defence com- updated soldiers on current situation and options visited the staging area of the battalion’s core pany, a (Slovak) CBRN defence company, spe- of employment of the 1st and 2nd Radiation, forces. Remnants of one downed Iraqi rockets WAITING cial medical detachment, command and combat Chemical and Biological defence detachment in hit the ground close to Camp Doha in Jahra in support company, national support element and the upcoming war operation. All equipment was the afternoon and caused fi re there. The deputy a CIMIC team. At the beginning of March 2003, transported an in case the Iraqi army would use commanding offi cer of our battalion ordered there was every indication that it was just days weapons of mass destruction; it was ready for that a forecast be developed for the contingency before the operation would begin. As a part of airlift into designated areas. Since then it was all that Iraqi rockets would be armed with war- the effort to disperse over eight thousand mili- about waiting for the front to approximate to the heads with one thousand kilograms of yperite. for the Red Line tary personnel concentrated at Camp red line at which Saddam Hussein was allegedly U.S. forces managed to capture two airbases and Doha, the CZE-SVK to order the use of weapons of mass destruc- several important bridges on the Euphrates river. Thursday 20 March 2003 at fi ve hours thirty-four According to intelligence, Saddam Hussein battalion was ordered to tion. By the way of conclusion, General Dušan Oilfi elds south of Basra got into the hands of the with his sons was assumed to be at Doura Farms move over to the Mishref Lupuljev read out an open letter by then Czech Allies. minutes a.m. local time the U.S. Central Command in Baghdad city southern suburb. And that was international exhibition Minister Defence, Jaroslav Tvrdík. It was just Seven oil drills were set on fi re in south- ordered the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom. First where the fi rst strike went. centre area. The battalion hours before the strike on Iraq. ern Iraq. Coalition losses started to grow too. Iraqi dictator however went away unharmed core forces achieved full Early in the morning on March 20th, the bat- Twelve American and British warriors died in forty cruise missiles and four laser-guided bombs hit and immediately called inhabitants to mount re- combat readiness in their talion duty offi cer reported to have heard an ex- a helicopter crash in Kuwait. Shortly before two sistance. Flight activities were followed by land new operating location on 9 plosion in the direction of the exhibition centre o’clock in the morning on March 29th, an Iraqi their targets in Baghdad and its surroundings. A much operations on the very same day in the evening. March 2003 and started moni- head offi ce. The combat readiness was increased rocket hit the Sharq Market in Kuwait causing more massive wave of bombing followed instantly. Iraqi Coalition forces crossed the Iraqi border and toring the radiation and chemi- to the highest alert, Delta, in noontime. A se- material damage and two casualties. Czech and operation Iraqi Freedom started to gain cal situation in Kuwait City. Just ries of bombardment alarms started. The rocket Slovak CBRN personnel, who were the fi rst to positions in the vicinity of Basra were also targeted by momentum. three days later, Czech and Slovak thankfully impacted south of the demilitarised arrive to the site, performed necessary measure- intensive raids. The Czech CBRN unit experienced in- servicepeople were involved in evac- zone. Some of the SCUDs were successfully ments. Even subsequent lab tests however did itial moments of the operation far from uation of Czech and Slovak citizens shot down. Shortly after three o’clock in the not prove the presence of either chemical or bio- the places hit by fi rst American war- back to the homeland. On order Com- afternoon, Czech Ambassador in Kuwait Jana logical warfare agents. heads. Intelligence showed that mander CJTF-CM, an interoperability Hybášková arrived the area the NBC unit was Over the two weeks when Kuwait was bom- Saddam Hussein could have exercise involving the Czech-Slovak battal- located in. barded, Czech soldiers had sleepless nights weapons of mass destruction ion and the Kuwaiti civil defence emergency Battalion commander General Dušan Lu- fi lled with rocket alarms and a range of response available. And that was management system was organised on March puljev briefed her on current security situation operations at impact points and in areas where why Czech force had 13th. The exercise scenario foresaw the events in Kuwait. Exactly at 16:00 hrs, continuous unknown chemical agents appeared unexpect- moved to Camp Doha that materialised only less then two weeks later: monitoring of radiation and chemical situa- edly. Based on a request by Kuwaiti authorities, in Kuwait already SCUD missile hits on Kuwait City. tion was commenced in the core forces’ area of the number of locations with NBC situation in March 2002. Security measures continue to step up over deployment. monitoring by Czech and Slovak soldiers was The 1st Czech the next days, including that all battalion per- Shortly before ten p.m., a member of the Ku- increased from April 2, 2013. On that night, Nuclear, Bi- sonnel were issued personal defence weapons waiti fi re department reported suspicious smell however, a radical turnover occurred in the ologic and and ammunition. Supplies of food and water in close proximity to the Czech embassy. The development of war. The probability of Iraqi Chemi- were prepositioned into shelters. Guards were embassy staff were all alerted. Escorted by Mili- rockets successfully striking Kuwait decreased cal reinforced and an order was issued prohibiting tary Police, NBC Land Rover and UAZ vehicles so, that the members of the 1st Czech-Slovak personnel to leave the building. A rehearsal of with a stand-off detector started out, but meas- were ordered to move from the dispersal area – area defence covering the exhibition facility uring on spot however did not Mishref fairgrounds – back to Camp Doha. First followed. Kuwaiti armoured vehicles assumed prove chemical agents to be U.S. tanks rolled into Baghdad city center just positions about three hundred metres from three days later. the area. Shortly Neither any holdings of chemical weapons by Iraq were confi rmed. The mission of Czech CBRN personnel slowly drew to an end. Prior to their departure, nevertheless, they had to pave the way for deploy- ment of our next unit, the 7th Field Hospital, in the territory of Iraq, but also to provide humanitarian as- sistance to for war-stricken popu- lation of the city of Basra and its surroundings. As a matter of fact, the two op- erational tours by Czech Armed Forces fi eld hospitals in Opera- tion Iraqi Freedom did not end the Czech endeavour. Several rotations comprising mostly Czech Military Police took turns to train Iraqi po- lice offi cers. The Czech Republic also assisted on training Iraqi tank and mechanised forces and provid- ing security to the coalition base located at the Basra air station.

by Vladimír Marek 54 55 History The Man without a Face “Dear brother, accept my heartfelt regards and best show mostly Kubiš’s friends from the army and date back to between 1937 and 1938. They have wishes from me and Lída. Lída thanks for your regards naturally been ravaged by time. They are yel- and sends one to you as well. How have you been lowed, their edges bitten by mice, but some of them are obviously neatly clipped by scissors. doing? We are fi ne. We have already been to two There is thus a hypothesis they might have shown Kubiš himself. However, during the times of the balls, social and police, and now we want to go to Protectorate someone intentionally removed his a masquerade as well. We are rather short of money; we face for security reasons. Who hid the articles in- side the staircase and how long they were there is have been partying too much. Regards, Fanda.” a mystery. “We of course do not know who could hide them there. However, what is so interesting If it had not been for the discovery of a treas- personal documents, such as Jan Kubiš’s work about the whole set of photographs is that it does ure in a staircase leading to the attic by workers book, domicile certifi cate, social insurance card, not contain a single image of Kubiš. It is thus renovating the native house of one of the heroes certifi cate of release from active service and reasonable to assume that the articles must have of our WWII resistance and the executor of the school reports. The correspondence contained been hidden at the time when Kubiš was in the assassination of the Deputy Reichsprotektor Re- various wish cards and letters, often very per- Protectorate, in 1942. Until then, his appearance inhard Heydrich, we probably would have never sonal. Just a month before Kubiš left the coun- had been irrelevant. He was just one of thousands read the above lines. The letter of Kubiš’s sib- try, one of his female acquaintances had written of men fi ghting in our armed forces abroad. How- lings, Františka and Rudolf, dated February 4, the following lines to him: “Hello Jan. Thanks ever, the situation changed upon his arrival to the 1937, was hidden under the tread of one of the for your letter; you can’t even image the worries Protectorate. If his photograph had found its way steps, together with a number of other artifacts, I was opening it with. I thought I would be sur- to the Gestapo, it would have meant an immedi- documents, photographs and personal letters. prised by your wedding card, with you not let- ate threat and danger not only to his own life, but “There is no museum in the Czech Republic ting me know about you for so long. It wouldn’t to the existence of his fellow paratroopers. This remembering our famous and courageous native, be surprising. We haven’t seen each other for is why we believe the things were hidden only Jan Kubiš. As a matter of fact, the municipality half a year, which is a long time. Out of sight, when he met with his family,” explains Colonel acquired his native house some three years ago. out of mind.” Michal Burian of the Institute of Military History It was in a bad state of disrepair, but it had ac- The set of thirty photographs found in the in Prague. However, there is another hypothesis. tually retained its pre-war appearance thanks to staircase also drew the attention of experts. They There is a testimony to the effect that Jan Kubiš the lack of maintenance. We decided to organize a whip-round to raise funds needed to repair the gave his brother some personal documents which been found. As already mentioned, we do not the renovation of the native house of Jan Kubiš house and opening a museum in it,” said Jitka were to be hidden and buried. These have never have almost any information on the time when and the exhibition remembering this outstanding Boučková, Mayor of Dolní Vilémovice. “In less been found. It is thus possible that the fi nding is my uncle was serving in Opava. I think these personality by that date. than three years, more than two million crowns the set that Jan Kubiš gave to his brother. In any articles were hidden when the Germans had The municipality of Dolní Vilémovice donat- had accrued on the account. This was why we case, the selection of the articles is very interest- already been looking for the paratroopers. One ed the fi nding to the Institute of Military Histo- were able to start the renovation this year.” ing for us, because it is another piece of the jigsaw of the brothers of my uncle or another relative ry. “The three-dimensional uniform exhibits will “The project is 80% completed now. And we puzzle as to who Jan Kubiš was. We know quite knew something was going on and, perhaps ad- undergo a preservation treatment and at least have been hoping all the time that we will dis- well what he did during the war. However, we vised by Jan Kubiš, perhaps acting on his own, some of them will be displayed in the new mu- cover some articles related to Jan Kubiš in the know next to nothing about his pre-war life. The he destroyed all photographs with Kubiš’s face seum. The documents will also undergo a pres- course of the renovation. But there was noth- articles, whether selected by Jan Kubiš himself or and hid the remaining ones. He probably did so ervation treatment and be kept in the depository ing. Everything changed on April 10, when the his next of kin, indicate what was important for to protect our family.” The worries were well- of the institute; the exhibition will display very renovation got to the staircase leading to the at- him and his family, what they wanted to retain founded – following the assassination of Deputy good copies of them,” says Aleš Knížek, Direc- tic. We intended to leave it as it was. But one of as a keepsake. For us, it is a clear signal that the Reichsprotektor Reinhard Heydrich, the Nazis tor of the Institute of Military History. “In ad- the steps looked a bit rotten. We thus tore off the moment when Kubiš volunteered for a mission took a cruel revenge on Kubiš’s family. On Oc- dition to the above exhibits, the visitors will be tread and this was where the cache was hidden. in the Protectorate was not any dramatic turning tober 24, 1942, fourteen of his relatives were able to see not only the articles somehow related The articles just lay in the open, under a thin point in his life. His patriotism and determination murdered in Mauthausen. Only one of his broth- to Jan Kubiš and provided from our collections, layer of clay, grain and what had fallen off the to defend his country, and indeed his relationship ers survived. but also donations received from next of kin of soles of those going up over those seventy years. to his motherland and the army, had been there Jan Kubiš was born in Dolní Vilémovice on former Czechoslovak soldiers, including a set of It is nothing short of a miracle the things have long before he did that. It is quite obvious that Jan June 24, 1913. In the next few days, military uniforms donated by Václav Málek from Třebíč, been preserved in such a good condition.” Kubiš had been professing to these ideals since history fans and many other people will thus be whose father was a friend of Jan Kubiš.” The hidden articles included an NCO bayo- 1935 able to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of net, a rifl e round, rank insignia, a silver cap Mayor of Dolní Vilémovice community, Jitka Boučková, seated next to Director of the Institute of Military Jiří Dusík, nephew of Jan Kubiš, is of a simi- his birth. According to Mayor Jitka Boučková, by Vladimír Marek badge or a uniform button. There were also History COL Aleš Knížek lar opinion. “I am very happy these things have the municipality will do everything to complete photos by Vladimír Marek and IMH 56 57 History Col. (ret.) Vladimír Maděra, a member of the resistance movement and the designer of our fi rst parachute, died at the age of 95 belt, but no experience with the work that was required of them. Maděra had to return to Zlaté Hory for a while to arrange necessary matters in connec- tion with the company. When he came back to Prague, he brought with him a sewing machine TTHEHE WORKHORSEWORKHORSE and a 1 m scale model of a parachute. He set the sewing machine up in his new offi ce in the Gen- eral Staff building in Dejvice. And this was also where different designs took on a tangible form. “We could not start developing a brand new parachute, there was not enough time, which of Paratroops was why our design was based on the parachute we knew best, the British Parachute X. How- ever, we tried to eliminate its weaknesses. We “Closer to you, my God, knew it oscillated too much. In the end, I di- vided the parachute by openings into three parts. always closer to you!” and modifying parachutes. Together they started Thanks to this arrangement, the canopy was echoes through the a design and equipment depot. Step by step, he taut, the middle part was less taut and the bot- became a respected and recognized expert in tom part was soft and limp. When deployed, its Basilica of St. Cyrillus and this fi eld. shape was that of a fl at cap, which reduced the In the end of the war, Senior Lieutenant oscillations,” he explained. Methodius in Velehrad. It Maděra together with other Czechoslovak intel- The company PAK manufactured the fi rst is Saturday, January 19, ligence offi cers made his way to Sebastopol via batch of ten new parachutes designated VJ-1/47 the Mediterranean and Black Seas. From there for type-approval tests. In addition to a number and Col. (ret.) Vladimír of tearing and strength tests, the test programme Maděra, who died just included 25 drops with a dummy. The next phase consisted of “live” jumps. The fi rst to short of 96, is setting jump was Maděra himself. With one parachute If this member of our exile army in the only, as there was no time to develop back-up out for his last journey United Kingdom and one of the founders of our ones. “I had no fear. Why, I had participated in in the direction of the airborne troops had lived in Prague and taken the development and manufacture from the very a more active part in various meetings and as- beginning. And the parachute functionality had azure sky which he had semblies, he would have been a general with been tested with dummies.” viewed lovingly so many several stars long ago. However, Vladimír Maděra did more than However, something like that would have that. He not only collected all salvaged materiel, times. Representatives been out of his character. When we met him for but designed twelve new equipment articles to the fi rst time some ten years ago, we were greet- capitulated, he managed to escape to the United make the combat deployment of paratroopers of the Regional Military ed by a lean and wiry man, still full of drive in Kingdom aboard the Egyptian coal ship Rod el as easy as possible. For example, he introduced Command in Zlín and spite of his age. The storage space of his cottage Farag. a camoufl age battledress which was quite excep- as a rule, dynamic and impulsive characters; if in Velehrad was literally crammed with a variety There he was approached by members of the tional in those days. It was a blouse with a cam- someone wanted to take their berets away from soldiers of the 74th Light of parachute materials. He was keenly interested 2nd Intelligence Branch of our army in exile. they travelled across Rumania and Carpathian oufl age pattern which the paratrooper could but- them, they might decide to come to Prague and Motorised Battalion came in the development of new parachutes that our They knew he had contacts to the Defence of the Ruthenia to the city of Košice, which had al- ton between his legs – basically a cross between the things would then take a very bad turn. So, at army was to be equipped with. He disliked lime- Nation in Czechoslovakia and information on ready been liberated at that time. an overall and a combat jacket. The Czechoslo- the end of the day, the chose to approve every- to pay tribute on behalf light and lengthy speeches. He kept a low profi le the location of its secret caches. He joined the After the war, Vladimír Maděra decided vak Army was also the fi rst European army to thing,” said Vladimír Maděra. and worked. A workhorse of paratroops. parachute training course with a promise that he to leave the army. He was put in charge of the introduce jump boots (Model 25 boots). At that time he did not know that the hard- of the Army of the Czech could be airdropped to the Protectorate soon. Adenzhamer textile factory in Zlaté Hory. After “It’s the feet and legs that suffer most in est ordeal of his life was still waiting for him. Republic. It was a common practice to drop ten trainees all, he had his pre-war certifi cate of apprentice- jumps. We wanted to protect the ankles to the In 1951, Maděra, then a major, was arrested and From Sokol to the at a time from the airplane. In Maděra’s case, ship and could still work as a tailor. However, maximum extent possible. When in Britain, sentenced to two years in prison for conspiracy there were twelve of them. “I and my com- before assuming the position, he had promised I had noticed that US soldiers had excellent and a failure to announce a criminal act; he was Intelligence Community mander, Captain Šeda, were the last to jump out. Colonel Karel Paleček, his superior at the 2nd boots. I drew a design based on what I remem- also demoted and all his decorations were taken Vladimír Maděra was born on March 19, Suddenly the airplane shook under a strong gust Intelligence Branch, that if he ever needed him bered, and we ordered the boots from Baťa. away from him. 1917, in Velehrad. His greatest hobby was of wind. The wind was driving our parachutes again all he had to do was call. I even fl ew to Otrokovice with a Junkers air- In 1957, the sentence he had already served sports, particularly soccer. He was a member directly into trees. I ended up on a massive oak. This was actually what happened shortly af- plane to bring the fi rst lot. It was quite an occa- was annulled, the explanation being that there of the local cell of Sokol. Having fi nished the I was all beaten-up, but I was lucky, Captain ter Paleček had been put in charge of a newly sion,” he recalled. was no proof indicating the perpetration of any State Textile and Tailoring Vocational School in Šeda unfortunately did not survive,” he recalled constituted team tasked with building up a new The red beret and winged parachute badge criminal act on his part. However, he continued Prostějov, he started working at Baťa. Shortly after long years. paratroop branch of the Czechoslovak Army. of the unit, which our paratroopers had already to be persecuted and harassed. He could not fi nd after the occupation of Czechoslovakia, his He was taken to a hospital in Manchester. He “I arrived to Prague with almost nothing and used in Britain, posed the greatest problem. a job and ended up as a coalminer in Ostrava Sokol fellow members brought him to the “De- was subsequently treated in quite a few others. stayed for the whole week,” he related. “We had There were objections alleging that the red be- for 15 years. He had to wait until 1990 for a full fence of the Nation” resistance organization. The doctors patched him up, but he could only to design a new parachute as soon as possible. rets reminded of the time when Churchill had rehabilitation. He was promoted to the rank of After some time, however, he was about to be dream about a parachute drop to the Protector- The soldiers had nothing to jump with; there used the army to quelch workers’ unrest. How- colonel and all his decorations were returned to arrested and had to fl ee abroad. He got to France ate. Yet he remained with the 2nd Intelligence could be no paratroopers without a parachute.” ever, by that time Czech paratroops had already him. via Hungary, Syria, Beirut and the Foreign Le- Branch. He was in charge of logistic support of They put their basic ideas on paper and made accepted all the gear articles as theirs. gion. He underwent a crash course and was im- various teams airdropped to the Protectorate. He drawings. Paleček liked the designs; as a matter They were tremendously proud of their red be- by Vladimír Marek mediately dispatched to the frontline, to defend cooperated with Brits, devising new transport of fact, Maděra’s predecessors were frontline rets and to belong to the army elite. “I explained Photo by Vladimír Marek, Otomar Jiroušek and the section along the Marne River. When France containers and new equipment for paratroops paratroopers who had had many jumps at their to all those functionaries that paratroopers were, CMA-MHA 58 59 Profi le

Military doctor received the 601st Special Forces Group. At the same time, he successfully completed the postgradu- a prestigious award ate exams on general medicine for adults and in relation with his expanded his professional knowledge with the subject of urgent medicine. operational deployment Three deployments in Afghanistan, in 2008 through 2011 crossed his lifepath then. In 2012, he was assigned to the to the post of the chief medical doctor of standard care ward of the 6th In dangerous situations, Field Hospital, a component of the Hospital Base headquartered in Hradec Králové. But that he contributed his part was not the end of twists in his life – an unfor- to the accomplishment tunate leg fracture gave a red light to his active- duty service career. of the operational “The injury prevents me from delivering a full-fl edged physical performance. And to assignment the Czech be in a post without being fi t for going down- Special Operations Forces range is counterproductive both for me and for the Armed Forces,“ the thirty-fi ve year old man team had in their areas of says sternly and resolutely. After pondering for deployment and, besides a while, he gives a short comment on his ten- year experience as military doctor: ”It is not the that, he also provided end of the world for me. I will stay in the medi- cal doctor profession and start a new life phase medical care to the local without the uniform. I would leave the military inhabitants. His merit was anyway. Today it is only about contracts for this or that period of time. To sit in the medical of- recognised by the Czech fi ce until the age of sixty-fi ve, then switch the Medical Doctors’ Trade light off and leave for old-age pension is not in line with my vision. I will naturally miss some Union (LOK-SCL) as Major things badly, but I cannot do anything about that.“ MUDr. Jiří Lysák was After certain pushing, MAJ Lysák says con- awarded the 2012 LOK- fi dentially that the military service and particu- larly tours in Afghanistan enriched him with at SCL prize for bravery. least two things. ”One has to be able to make de- cisions in a short period of time and under pres- sure, naturally the right decisions, and hold the judgement. Furthermore, it is about genuine to- getherness. Especially in extreme situations, you rely on each other. I was lucky enough to serve with true professionals. I trusted them fully and RREWARDEWARD fforor braverybravery they trusted me. Had there not been something connecting us, it would not work. You cannot For the very fi rst time, the prestigious award medical care, but especially about our mutual take it that you were downrange with this or that by the Czech Medical Doctors’ Trade Union was trust. The way it showed was for example that task force and that is it for everybody. awarded to a military medical doctor, Major we spoke about things we would not normally This notional tie is there to stay forever. MUDr. Jiří Lysák. Thus he has ranked among tell to anybody,“ Doctor Lysák argues. Those having a similar experience like me know MAJ Lysák recalls and goes on to say that treat- or elimination of opposing forces. Although it national celebrities who received the prize in very well what I am talking about.“ ment was also provided at the forward operat- was not his primary mission to be in the front- previous years. In Prague, he was awarded the ing base to locals, spanning newborn babies to line, he did not evade critical moments. ”There statue of David! Unforgettable ten years senior citizens. was a high level of threat everywhere at the for- It goes without saying that it was not the When he was in school-age, he entertained Danger all around “There was no operational medical facility ward base. Days when we were fi red at by the original of the renaissance sculpture work by the idea of becoming a vet. In the fi nal year of Eighteen months translated as three opera- was operation roughly within two hundred kilo- opponent were not exceptional. You never knew Michelangelo Buonarotti, which depicts bibli- grammar school, he enrolled at universities. The tional tours in the territory of Afghanistan with metres from us. It was an area with population whether the situation escalates or not. Sipping cal David just before the fi ght with Goliath, but military one was among them. Why? “Some the primary mission to provide medical sup- around forty thousand. At the forward operating on coffee once, we relished that nothing had im- a high-fi delity miniature. ”This prize should be sort of independence and that sort of unknown. port to the force members. That involved the base, an ambulance was available for three days pacted our post for long, and a grenade exploded awarded to all military doctors and medics who And which boy would not like to be a soldier? fi rst (Aug 08 – Jan 09) and then the third (Aug a week to treatment of a broad spectrum of dis- near to us just a couple of moments later. I had have taken part in foreign missions, not only in Everybody played something. Moreover, Czech – Dec 09) rotation in Operation Enduring Free- eases. Outside those hours, patients with acute the greatest portion of good luck when I left the Afghanistan, but in other hotspots as well. soldiers began to go for foreign missions. And dom. The Czech SOF task force performed mis- problems were coming in. Thirty to fi fty people med room and the spot I had been sitting on ten They often worked in conditions hardly im- I wanted to experience that too,“ the native from sions there, including reconnaissance, off Camp were treated during the opening hours, roughly minutes ago was hit by a rocket. aginable here at home and they always put in Moravia recalls. Prostějov in Kandahar. In 2011, MAJ Lysák was a half of them being children. Since that was an You get used to it over time. The fear inside and a highly professional performance. But In 1996, he started studying the general medi- a member of the 601st Special Forces task force agricultural area, most of the injuries were relat- you progressively gets dull. If you would have I was just one of the many medical doctors. I re- cine branch at the Military Medical Academy. in Operation ISAF, deployed at Jalalabad. ”Eve- ed to works on the fi elds and treating cattle. Dog daily worries of improvised explosive devices or gard a collective award,“ Major Lysák says and After six years, as a doctor in preparation for ry mission was different in nature and that was and snake bites or injuries caused by cows were an enemy attack, you could not function at all. adds he has placed the statue of David on the his postgraduate examinations and ranked First- the key factor as the medical doctor responsible our daily routine,“ the doctor specifi es. MAJ Jiří We were lucky enough to stay out of harm’s way shelf at home. Lieutenant, he started his career at the Military for providing care to the deployment personnel. Lysák experienced much more action in 2011. In and all of us safely returned home. We accom- He highly values the fact that he was selected, Hospital Olomouc in the internal medicine ward From Kandahar, we used to go to the manoeuvre the Nangarhar province, he was involved in sev- plished the operational assignment and gained but he does not overstate it. “The highest acco- as a general practitioner for adults. component stationed at a forward operating base eral dozens of operations, that can generally be new valuable combat lessons,“ MAJ Lysák lade for me is a complete trust of my patients. Three years later, circumstances brought him in mountains in Uruzgan province. Our warriors described as ”kinetic”. As a member of the 601st concludes. And I was trusted it in Afghanistan. Not only to the Prostějov garrison nearby to serve with did not suffer from serious injuries or indeed Special Forces Group, he was always within by the members of my unit, but also by the lo- the special operation forces. First he was a dep- diseases. There was a Canadian medical facility reach of SOF operators who performed mis- by Pavel Lang cals. Downrange, it was not just about providing uty chief and then the chief of the aid station of available at Kandahar for more complex cases,“ sions in the area of interest, be it reconnaissance photos by MAJ MUDr. Jiří Lysák and Macciani 60 61 First-Lieutenant Gabriela Horáková of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren reported for the duty of a military chaplain at the Training Chaplaincy Command – Military Academy in as a priest in Jilemnice, where we also lived at chose the spiritual service in the the local rectory. I commuted to Křížlice, eight army, where chaplains have been Vyškov. kilometres away. It was quite tough, especially working for many years.” She in winter,” she observes. discussed her vision at length Gabriela Horáková does not see the transition with her family, colleagues and from the academic environment to everyday life military chaplain, including the as overly dramatic. “Of course, you sort of fum- Chief Chaplain of Czech Armed ble around in the beginning. But then the fi rst Forces, Colonel Jan Kozler. Of wedding comes, followed by the fi rst funeral, equal importance was the place and with them the necessary experience. You of work in Vyškov, where she just need some time,” she explains, adding that can commute every day from her reception by both believers and non-believ- her residence in Brno. ers in Křížlice was excellent, one of the reasons being that her predecessor was also a woman. They served there as pastors of the Evangeli- A Dialogue in cal Church of Czech Brethren for thirteen years. By the way, Gabriela Horáková gave birth to a Military Chapel their three children, two daughters and a son, We met in the ecumenical during that time. In the autumn of 2011, the chapel on the premises of the TThehe FFirstirst LLadyady Horáks faced yet another challenge – a one-year Training Command – Military stint in the United Kingdom, in London, to be Academy in Vyškov. exact. “We worked together for two local con- It was the fi rst time for CChaplainhaplain gregations. We were both half-timers. I was the both of us. I, as a journalist, Captain Josef Konečný discussing with First-Lieutenant Gabriela Horáková

She has spiced her thirty-eight years of age, already chequered enough, with another challenge. Spiritual service in the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. She is the fi rst woman among the thirty-or-so strong corps of army chaplains to share the ups and downs of both professional and personal life of each military professional and civilian employee. Gabriela Horáková.

For starters, it should be noted that the fi rst battalions and other organizational elements of that have been associated with the life of Gabrie- military chaplain started working in the Czech the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces la Horáková until now. She attended elementary IFOR/SFOR unit in Bosnia and Herzegovina in or the Ministry of Defence. Until recently, the and then secondary schools in Eastern Bohemia. female part of the priest and my husband was interviewed a female military chaplain for the army is narrow and you have to sort yourself 1996. It was particularly this positive experience chaplaincy was a strictly male profession. How- She enjoyed learning, and university education the male one,” she smiles, adding that the Eng- fi rst time and it was the fi rst time she spoke to out to fi t into it.” which prompted the then Minister of Defence ever, it took a dramatic turn in April 2013, when was thus a logical choice. She initially wanted lish mission was undertaken by the whole fam- a journalist in her military chaplain’s capacity. Her biggest problem was special barriers on Michael Lobkowicz to order the establishment a woman – First-Lieutenant Gabriela Horáková to study English, but fi nally opted for theology. ily, including the children who attended school The initial barrier of the dialogue was quickly the obstacle course. Although she admits she of the Spiritual Services of the Czech Armed of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren “I suddenly realized that faith is not just a one- there. eliminated by a short comment on a 3.2 m high is no sharpshooter, she managed to hit a few Forces in June 1998. – joined the corps of chaplains. In the years to off answer, but rather a process of seeking and When looking briefl y back, Gabriela Horáko- cross made of 18th century wooden beams and targets with a Model 58 submachine gun. She Military chaplains are priests assigned to their come, she will serve at the Training Command – asking oneself questions. As a matter of fact, vá does not forget to emphasize the local social on the Way of the Cross consisting of photo- honoured the team spirit of the group. Her goal spiritual duties jointly by all Christian churches Military Academy in Vyškov. there are more questions than answers in faith at involvement, consideration and charity activi- graphs taken in zones of local confl icts and war was to pass, no matter how, even without fl ying that are members of the Ecumenical Council of “It is a new thing and we are all looking for- the end of the day,” she recalls. ties. These traits fascinated her most during the operations in foreign countries where our sol- colours. Churches and the Czech Catholic Conference. ward to cooperation. We believe she will quick- In 1992, she started at the Protestant Theolog- London Olympic Games. “Seventy thousand diers were deployed. On March 21, her moment of glory came. Their motto paraphrases an essential sentence ly fi nd her way particularly to soldiers who, as ical Faculty of the Charles University in Prague. volunteers were doing their best to make sure “The beginning of the three-month boot During a ceremonial roll-out of new offi cers, from the Catholic Church’s document “Joy and a rule, start their military career here, and vice After some time, she added medical psychology the Olympics would proceed smoothly and camp was a bit of a shock for me. I was sud- Gabriela Horáková was promoted First-Lieu- Hope”, which says that ups and downs of the sol- versa. We are convinced she will be an asset for and psychotherapy to her studies. She complet- peacefully,” she argues. denly thrown into a completely different world. tenant and assigned as a chaplain to the Training dier are ups and downs of the military chaplain. the armed forces’ spiritual service,” says Cap- ed her triple-majoring programme at the Charles The year elapsed quickly and suddenly there I really hit the rock bottom during the train- Department of the Training Command – Military Their work is based on respect to freedoms tain Mgr. Josef Konečný, the resident chaplain University in 1997 with a master’s degree. By was the time to return to the Czech Republic. ing course, just like many others. There were Academy in Vyškov. She has a six-year contract of every individual. It is mostly about listening, in Vyškov, when referring to the assignment of a coincidence, at the same time as her husband- Not to Jilemnice, but to Brno, where the hus- no exemptions for the future chaplain. The with the armed forces. In addition to spiritual sharing professional and personal joys and hard- First-Lieutenant Gabriela Horáková to the Train- to-be, also a Protestant. band of Gabriela Horáková was elected a pastor. instructors treated all of us equally; they were services for rookies of the military profession, ships, but also about respecting personal secrets ing Department of the Military Academy. “We got married in the same year. Our church However, she had started thinking about her fu- demanding, but also professional and fair,” she she will also conduct holy masses in the chapel. of anyone who confesses to the chaplain. It is permits men and women to marry and have fam- ture career even earlier. She was happy within says, recalling that she did not experience any As a rule, she will enter the chapel dressed in not about spreading the word of gospel. In a bit ilies,” she explains. the church, but, as she herself says, it reminded major crisis during the boot camp. “Even if a black cassock with so-called white tabs. She less than fi fteen years, almost forty chaplains The Diverse Ways Their common fate fi rst took them to Brno her of a centre which was not moving anywhere. there had been one, I would have had to bite wants to be close to her soldiers, whether believ- from eight Christian churches have served in – for a year of “priesthood under supervision” “I felt I needed a change, but at the same time the bullet and go on. I would not have given ers or not, listen to and support them … the armed forces. The highest-ranking one is the of a Protestant called a vicariate. With this period over, they ac- I did not want to drop the pastoral work. Unfor- up because of a momentary indisposition. It re- Chief Chaplain; you can meet his almost thirty Pardubice, Přelouč, Praha, Brno, Jilemnice, cepted an invitation to the Giant Mountains – in tunately, there are not too many opportunities minded me of a rite of passage which you have colleagues at brigade headquarters, air bases, Křížlice, London, Vyškov – this is a list of places fact to two congregations. “My husband worked for a priest to work outside the church. I fi nally to experience yourself. The passage into the by Pavel Lang 62 63 JAPCCJ Conference 2013 – Air Power Post-Afghanistan Unmanned Technology: Key to Success or Limiting Factor

The past decade has witnessed an explosion in the use of remotely operated military capability. But this capability poses tough political, legal, and ethical challenges that are keenly debated by the nations of the Alliance. The air- men and women undertaking these missions and the air forces conducting them have entered a sphere of military operations which some see as a natural continuation of the past and others see as a dramatic deviation from the Since 9/11 air power has evolved in a way that makes the certainties of today significantly different to those of 2001. The normal ways of warfare. Reaching consensus on this new aspect of air and military power is vital as we develop new Afghanistan change of mission provides an ideal time to take stock and reflect on what our recent experience means for thinking to take us beyond Afghanistan. the future of air power as a military, diplomatic and political tool. However, it would be wrong to see the Afghanistan ex- perience as just another mission requiring the application of the ‘lessons learned process’ and the publication of a heavy- Air Power: Independent Action and Independent Effect weight but largely unread report. Independent Air Power has been an enduring theme of military aviation since man first took to the skies. It under- Our reflections must address the vectors of change that we now face. Air power precepts from 2001 have evolved but pinned the establishment of air forces and led some airmen to adopt particularly firm views on the ‘correct’ use of identifying those which lead to longer term development, rather than marking the circumstantial needs of Afghanistan, is air power. But this debate has clouded the real issue and made an examination of the proper independent applica- the key challenge. Inaccurate analysis leads to flawed observations and erroneous understanding. This incorrect starting tion of air power a challenging topic. Afghanistan saw a predominantly auxiliary application of air power, but is that point could lead to creating air forces with inappropriate equipment, ineffective organisation, and unsound thinking and the enduring model for the future? In what ways can air power be integrated with diplomatic and political action to doctrine. This analysis must take place against a background of great economic uncertainty, debate on the utility of force, bring about crisis resolution without the need for extensive surface deployments? Can air power act in a wider con- ethical and moral discourse over the increasing use of remotely controlled military capability, steeply declining defence tainment role without the establishment of extensive deployed infrastructure? And where do cyber operations in- budgets, and the emergence, through cyberspace, of a possible ‘way of warfare’ that has the potential to be as revolution- teract with air power in this independent realm? ary in its implications as the invention of the aeroplane. Education and Training Post Afghanistan: The Dawn of Real Joint Efforts?

Education and training are essential pillars upon which future Alliance capability must stand. But financial pres- The JAPCC Annual Conference ‘Air Power Post Afghanistan’ sures may reduce the frequency of training and deny younger leaders the valuable experience needed to com- will be held in Kleve from 8th to 10th October 2013 focussing mand in the field. Innovation in the development of future commanders, leaders, and strategists will be essential. on 4 key themes: But how will this be achieved? How will the best from across the Alliance form and develop the necessary net- works to support future capability? How will we exchange ideas and challenge thinking in ways that add to under- NATO’s Air Strategy After Afghanistan standing and effectiveness?

How relevant are the circumstances of the Afghanistan operation to the likely needs of fu- The 2013 JAPCC Annual Conference will offer an excellent and unique opportunity to debate these issues and begin the ture missions? The military are continually criticised for preparing for the last war and our process of strategic assessment so necessary after combat operations in Afghanistan come to an end. This year’s new for- record at predicting the future and configuring and preparing for it is poor. Too often mat will encourage greater debate and audience engagement allowing all viewpoints to be heard, debated and consid- new crises are marked by the slow and difficult transition from the certainties of the ered. It should not be missed! past to the needs of the present. Afghanistan, or Libya, or Chad, are circumstantial operations, just as the Cold War, the Vietnam War and the previous conflicts of the air power age were defined by the needs of their time. They contain enduring and transi- tory aspects which are disguised behind the imperative of the moment. Untangling the true les- sons from Afghanistan will be a long and complex process in which thought, patience and humility will be vitally important. This Conference will provide an excellent launch point. To secure your place at this event please be sure to register in advance. There are three easy ways to do this:

Website: www.japcc.org Joint Air & Space Power Conference – t t Email: [email protected] Air Power Post-Afghanistan t Phone: +49 (0) 2824 90 2239 08th –10th October 2013 Joint Air Power Competence Centre CCapableapable LLogisticianogistician 22013013